Dinkaws Tunnel
Dinkaws tunnel hides a secret!
The tunnel is at the end of the baseboard. And covered by a drop down door.
What's going on in here then?
'Something' being developed.
Why waste the space inside a tunnel? You have to access to clean the track anyway.... so why not do something with that 'blank canvas?'
So I set to.... to build the underground workings of a coal mine - complete with narrow gauge railway. All underneath the tunnel and the track of the existing oo gauge layout.
Painting and laying the track, including the wagon turn tables leading to the proposed site of the lift shaft.
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The mine walls are moulded and painted. Now setting the floor of the mine and bedding in the track down the passage which leads to the belly of the mine. Normal train service is in operation while these alterations are ongoing!
A close up of the entrance to one of the passages. The coal wagons are scratch built.
A closer look down the passage. There is another door accessing the mine further down - hence the light. Notice the puddles on the floor. Coal mines were traditionally wet places!
Activity in the mine.
All the coal wagons are scratch built with balsa wood
Building narrow gauge coal mine wagons
The workbench is busy with projects, and the loco is awaiting the arrival of its directional light in the post.
Static display of scratch built loco and wagons
Lights off and mine lights on!
Positioning the lift shaft. It's very wet just by the turntables
The lift shaft will continue on the surface.
Lift shaft and cages painted. Lamp Deployment Hut in place.
Add another track, electricity has now been introduced - plus a battery charger for the battery electric locos, note how the cable is floor laid and runs under the track.
Scratch built mining cars, take the miners to and from the coal face.
Lamp Deployment room and bottom of lift shaft.
Lift shaft seated and painted.