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 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.
I like the idea you have got going there jelico 1914 ... an interesting thread I'm following. York Paul
Building the terrace that will hide the traverser and head shunt from a couple of Petite Properties kits with embossed overlays.
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.
Some great progress an interesting subject to be modeling. I really like the visuals of a mine poppet head and asociated buildings loaders etc your capturing it very nicely. I will be exhibiting my O scale layout next weekend at a former Coal mine site now Rail and mining museum I believe I will be in the former mine administration building for the John Brown colliery.
Some brilliant modelling there. Well done. Quick question. Where did you get the track fishplates from? I've seen them on other layouts, both brass and plastic. They look far better than the Peco joiners! Cheer's, Pete.
Hi Pete, the fishplates are from C&L http://www.finescale.org.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=395_396_540 and I have used the locking type.
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.
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.
Looking well Jellicoe . The brickwork is well modelled, and I love the ghost sign and the pub/beerhouse sign. (personally I like beerhouse!) Cheer's, Pete.