Construction Update #31 - B. Hanley Mining Co. at Mattahorn, Fascia, Station Names & Elevated Platforms

The Base - Mine & Ore Bins

June 12, 2024

 

There were several mines and at least two mills in or around Matterhorn.  The largest was the San Bernardo Mill located along the RGS at Matterhorn.  Building a model of the prototype mine, mill and supporting structures really wasn't an option; there just isn't enough room.  Most of the mining structures at Matterhorn were built by Bruce Hanley.

Back in January a base was built for the mine and it, along with the mine components, found a home on the chair in my work room. And there it sat for five months, gathering dust, waiting for me to figure out how it was going fit in the available space.  The plan was to reconfigure the spur, make room for the tailing dump, and install the complex on my layout just as it had been installed on Bruce's layout.  Once the base was on the layout room, I decided to extend the existing spur and shorten the trestle leading to the tailing dump. 

 

The revised trestle leading to the tailing dump dump required taller bents.  I built three.  (Only two were used)..  They were built to match the existing bents.  One has a retaining wall built into it to prevent the tailing pile from spilling out on to the mine spur.

Here is the base set in place on the layout.  The power house and tailing pile will be on the near side of the spur (plywood).  The mainline is in the foreground curving around the end of the peninsula to the left towards Ophir.

June 15, 2024

Here is the scene with the base and structures temporarily set in place.  .

Basic Land Forms around Matterhorn

June 19, 2024

Looking north at the end of the peninsula.  Ophir siding is just around the bend behind the hill, on the right.  The trestle location shown in the next photo is just to the south.

The future location of two trestles.based upon a couple on the "High Line".

Looking south, the mine will be on the left and the Montezuma Lumber Spur is on the right.  The hills in the distance are just high enough to obscure the Ophir siding which is on the other side of the peninsula.

Here's a view looking north.  The Ophir siding is right on the other side of the hills on the right.  The little dock/open sided shed, another structure built by Bruce Hanley, is on the Montezuma Lumber spur. 

 

 

Station Names and Fascia

June 19, 2025

 

While I was wandering around the Dollar Store, I came across some small picture frames that I thought might work to hold and protect the 1st District station names on the fascia.  The signs were created in Excel and cut to fit the frames.  The frames cost $1.25 each.

 

There are lots of options when it comes to fascia color but I decided to test a low lustre dark gray.  

 

Platforms for the Vertically Challenged

June 16, 2024 (Father's Day)

I'm 6 foot 3 inches tall, probably a bit taller than most, so the lowest point on the railroad (Ridgway) is 52 inches off the floor.  While this is ideal for someone my height, ti doesn't work for a lot of my friends.  Luckily, my friend and fellow Sn3 modeler Dale Kruetzer came up with a perfect solution; a series of platforms that are spread around the layout.  They are 32 inches by 14 inches and 5 inches tall.  Placing them side by side creates a longer platform while stacking can increase the height.

Two sheets of 3/4 inch cabinet grade plywood were used.  My son Andrew pre-cut all the components before we started assembly.  Andrew has a hi-tech wood working shop at home with all the bells and whistles; table saw, miter saw, planner, joiner, band saw, wood dust collector, etc. 

A rabbet was cut into the top, bottom and ends of the long sides on a table saw.  The upper rabbet allows the top to drop down 3/8 of a inch into the sides.  The lower rabbet allows a second platform to rest on top of a lower platform without sliding around.  The short sides slip in between the rabbets on the ends.  The two sheets of plywood yielded enough material to build nine platforms.  

Here are all the components laid out on the work table along with first test build.

The platforms were assembled with a nail gun and carpenters glue.  Here is that first test bio;d platform clamped and waiting for the glue to dry.

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Note

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sdepolo@outlook.com