0 gauge micro 6ft 6" x 21"

Mining in the Black Country.
The Earl of Dudley Wallows Pit Number 29 Brierley Hill. An 0 gauge micro layout.
 
The mining subsidence, open shafts, cinder tips, heaps of slag and waves of black smoke made the Hill a very unappetising place to live on, so much so that a rhyme was composed comparing it to Hell.
When Satan stood on Brierley Hill
And far around it gazed,
He said, “I never more shall feel
At hell’s fierce flames amazed.”
 
As far as the eye can reach, on all sides, tall chimneys vomit forth clouds of black smoke, and the sulphurous flames of the fiery furnaces are observed in all directions.
From ancient times it was known that Staffordshire was rich in ironstone and coal. In fact, during the Roman occupation iron was manufactured in the Dudley area by primitive means. During the 19^th century the Earl of Dudley was to own the ground under which lay the coal seam 10-15 yards thick which would provide the fuel for the ironmaking and the industries that would make the Black Country the industrial heartland of Britain. There is a simple formula: (Coal + Iron ore) + (limestone + clay + sand) = Black Country industrial development.
One of the last working pits was on Burton Road in Upper Gornal, worked until about 1950. True to form, I have massaged history for the Wallows Pit Number 29 (often referred to as Nine Locks) to be still working around the same time.
The model, my tenth in a series of Black Country themed layouts, is purely a snapshot of one of the Earls Mines. More than 40 such mines are shown on old plans and this model represents a typical small pit. Small scale, rough and ready. In th attached photo it shows the headframe and small winding house under construction and placed on a very temporary raised section.

 

Hi Mike,

Not just coal and not just in the Black Country. Hook Norton in Oxfordshire had an open cast ironstone mine with ropeway narrow gauge, calcining oven, and a gravity incline to the standard gauge GWR at the top of the hill.

Nigel

I look forward to seeing this develop. I like little mine setups, and I've always thought mine headframes looked really neat

Just a bit more bodging, work on the terraces and the pub "The Jolly Colliers". The pub building is a Petite Properties low relief model which I have converted to full depth. Still work in progress with lots to do, base colour painted then I will apply the cement courses and finally dry brush the brick colour before weathering. 







 

Very nice, Mike.   :thumbs

Playing around with ghost signs on the pub end wall. Just couldn't wait until I had finished dry brushing the brickwork or for that matter the rest of the paintwork prior to weathering. So here it is, sign printed on standard printer paper, then sanded on the back until it's almost through, then sanded on the front and then applied. They say patience is a virtue, Oh well, must have missed out on that. The hole in the sky needs to be sorted.
 

That sign has turned out very well, Mike.   :thumbs

Those ghost signs really add life to a layout - you see them everywhere on old properties.

There was a "how to" on Model Railroad Hobbyist some time back but I can't remember how far back …………….

Your sanding system seems to work well Mike.  :thumbs

More work on the pub or should it really be a beer house? Still far from finished but it now has a sign and 1940's curtains at the windows.

Building in the process of being constructed from a variety of bits and bobs. First coat of basic colour applied to the screens and corrugated sheets on roof although I must put the bolt head details on this and the engine shed


]
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The Newcomen Engine House has moved on, but still very much work in progress. The rather strange mark on the building just below the roof is were I unfortunately had left a piece of masking tape. The front roof panel will not be fixed until the building has been painted and the glazing added

Taking a break from buildings, I thought why not do a bit of scenic bodging. The map shows the location of the pit, followed by a photo of the type of area and finally a photo of the bodge as work in progress. Some of the white bits you can see is wet white glue, couldn't wait for it to dry before doing a happy snap.- sad I know.

Wallows Pit 29.A selection of photos showing where everything goes, some things still to be finished including the ground cover, ballast and fascias.

Very nice. I like the attention to detail. Spaced out sleepers under the dries. Bath tub hanging on the pub wall.

Very nice. Those three definately look like they are discussing the weekends Pigeon racing !
Cheers

Matt

Great work. Well done.

Evan

Spent an enjoyable day in the shed (gentleman's retreat) building a railcar from a kit purchased from Alphagraphix at Guildex. Everything fitted, no fettling required, nice simple instructions and exploded diagrams. It still needs a motor/gearbox and the roof and glazing fitting after painting. I still have to tidy it up and give it a good clean but I'm quite pleased with the result so far. Just noticed I will need to adjust the tie bar on the fuel tank side

Work worn Hudswell stands awaiting crew who are on their PNB. (actually haven't finished painting the yet)  ;)
(PNB= Personal needs break)