Why SWMBO thinks I have lost the plot

I saw this on ebay over Christmas and couldnt resist it for less than a tenner . After all as its powered by a Tenshodo unit its got to be worth it for that alone .

Its a  1/32nd scale battery mine loco and two wagons which run on 0-16.5 gauge track .

I have had an idea for a while for a fun rather than serious micro layout that would appeal to kids at shows . As 1/32 is the scale used by many toy manufacturers for example Britains Farm Figures and Tractors and many diecast vehicles children could identify with it quite easily .

A couple of idea so far for the theme is a "Sweet Mine" or  Childrens Farm Railway .

Anyone else like to suggest a possible theme ?

 




 

I think that you have a great idea there, Richard. I particularly like the suggestion of a sweet mine. Perhaps, for a small fee, you could actually get a train to deliver sweets from the mine to the viewing children? I am sure that would bring a lot of attention from the younger visitors.

[user=412]BLG[/user] wrote:

How about a prototypical Treacle Mine  :shock:

Further details should be obtainable with a little research.

Try    http://www.treacleminer.com/docs/england.htm

I was enthralled with that page - learnt some more history about  England.

How about a prototypical Treacle Mine 

 

…or better still a pease pudding quarry.  We still have a few working ones left near here.

How about a hard toffee mine you could break up lumps of hard toffee to put in the trucks that could be brought out of the mine in its raw looking broken state then given to the kids to eat.

Do i see a posible bit of space needed at the show in september here?

cheers Brian

[user=52]henryparrot[/user] wrote:

How about a hard toffee mine you could break up lumps of hard toffee to put in the trucks that could be brought out of the mine in its raw looking broken state then given to the kids to eat

Cor blimey guv, 'elf an safety won't allow that!

Think allergies, broken teeth, hyper-activity, dietary requirements, taking sweets from strangers, unhygenic handling……..

The council would throw the book at you!

[user=339]Ian Morton[/user] wrote:

[user=52]henryparrot[/user] wrote:

How about a hard toffee mine you could break up lumps of hard toffee to put in the trucks that could be brought out of the mine in its raw looking broken state then given to the kids to eat

Cor blimey guv, 'elf an safety won't allow that!

Think allergies, broken teeth, hyper-activity, dietary requirements, taking sweets from strangers, unhygenic handling……..

The council would throw the book at you!

Ian you are probably right there in this mamby pamby society we have now

Im sure the kids of today wont live as long as the older ones due to the way they are kept in this super sterile enviroment.

cheers Brian

:Red Card  MODULE :exclam:exclam:exclam:exclam:exclam

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[user=316]Gwiwer[/user] wrote:

:Red Card  MODULE :exclam:exclam:exclam:exclam:exclam

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When they dig the treacle out, is it already in tins ?

They import the tins from the Cornish tin mines

And that is very logical. Treacle Tins from tin mines - where else would they come from?

Sompting Treacle Mines which are referred to in the site linked and which are just up the road from young Phill are said to be among the best producers.

The Dunchideock site benefits from the slightly warmer climate of the south west and produces sweeter, creamier treacle.

As a geologist by education I can understand the importance f the correct location and source rock.

[user=316]Gwiwer[/user] wrote:

………………………………………………………As a geologist by education I can understand the importance f the correct location and source rock.

They tell be Blackpool produces some of the best rock in UK. :roll::roll:

Talskiddy, near St Columb, is famous for its treacle mine, the tailings were sold as cinder toffee.  It is of course also noted for its splendid harbour. ;-) 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talskiddy

[user=339]Ian Morton[/user] wrote:

[user=52]henryparrot[/user] wrote:

How about a hard toffee mine you could break up lumps of hard toffee to put in the trucks that could be brought out of the mine in its raw looking broken state then given to the kids to eat

Cor blimey guv, 'elf an safety won't allow that!

Think allergies, broken teeth, hyper-activity, dietary requirements, taking sweets from strangers, unhygenic handling……..

The council would throw the book at you!

Sadly that is probably very true plus any operators would have to be CRB checked as well . Unfortunately  there are many people today who are very quick to see evil intent in the most innocent and well intentioned actions where children are concerned .

It would seem therefore that any "involvement " of spectators is a non starter .

So suggestions so far from here and elsewhere are :-

A Treacle Mine

A Pease Pudding Production Facility

A Dolly Mixture or Blackpool Rock Quarry

A Santas Workshop

A Wombles Recycling Plant

Anymore from anyone ?

To go "international", you could have either a haggis farm or (appologies to the BBC) a spaghetti orchard.

Personally, I like the idea of a treacle mine. I have this picture in my mind of a rock face made of solidified treacle (toffee) and the train exiting the mine with the trucks loaded with broken up bits of toffee. there's even scope for a small smelting plant where the raw material is melted down into treacle and a set of sidings (could be non-working) with treacle tankers (suitably stained) awaiting departure.

Now concerning location - I need to make sure that you know that all the mine sites mentioned above, are in fact spoof reports. All of the well informed mining communities around the UK will confirm the fact that due to the normally small deposits of raw material naturally occuring at those sites, the only treacle mine that ever went into commercial production was in fact the world famous mine at Abergorki.

I append a photograph and short account reproduced by kind permission of the Rhondda Council's Treacle Archive.

Abergorki Colliery, Treorchy 1913



Situated near Treorchy this treacle mine was sunk in 1865 by George Insole & Son Ltd. During 1874 it was deepened by the new owners Burnyeat Brown and Co.

From the Inspector of Mines 1896 list, there was a workforce of 790 men employed here. Also mentioned in this list is the Abergorki treacle drift mine, under the same ownership as the above and employing a total of 14 men.

Later the Ocean treacle Company took over the running of Abergorki and by 1920 the workforce had grown to 1,800.

It was modernised in 1978 and worker safety conditions improved after several sticky incidents. :roll::roll::roll: