The Wallows Pit number 29
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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.â€
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 19th 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.
'Twor Mee Iday Doit' (Black Country Latin)
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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
©Nigel C. Phillips
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'Twor Mee Iday Doit' (Black Country Latin)
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Max
Port Elderley
Port Elderley
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'Twor Mee Iday Doit' (Black Country Latin)
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Max
Port Elderley
Port Elderley
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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
'Petermac
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'Twor Mee Iday Doit' (Black Country Latin)
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Last edit: by jelicoe 1914
'Twor Mee Iday Doit' (Black Country Latin)
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'Twor Mee Iday Doit' (Black Country Latin)
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Cheers
Matt
Wasnie me, a big boy did it and ran away
"Why did you volunteer ? I didn't Sir, the other three stepped backwards"
"Why did you volunteer ? I didn't Sir, the other three stepped backwards"
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Evan
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'Twor Mee Iday Doit' (Black Country Latin)
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Work worn Hudswell stands awaiting crew who are on their PNB. (actually haven't finished painting the yet) ;)
(PNB= Personal needs break)
Last edit: by jelicoe 1914
'Twor Mee Iday Doit' (Black Country Latin)
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