Well the purpose of building two GE 85 Ton Locomotives was so I could run them in an open pit much like they did for HBMS Flin Flon and in the Bingham Canyon Pit Utah, if not in other places as well.

So one of the last posts had this picture showing the two locomotives on the tracks along the rock cliff over looking a lake. I only have so much space and was not about to rip every thing apart and start again. So this was the starting point for the mine.

I started with the 5% grade into the pit as the tracks could only come in one way. That also meant I could start rock work while waiting for my switches to arrive. Some of the painting of the rock has started but there is still a lot of  texturing to go.

The basic track arrangement is based on a photo taken during the beginning phases of the Flin Flon Open pit. The track is fit to the space, no pre-drawn arrangement. Several rights and Wyes and this is what it will look like. I used one of my 70 ton locomotives to test the arrangement. It will be a bit before I put those expensive 85 tonners on these tracks. After all better to have a $80  locomotive drop to the floor during testing than have one of my one of a kind 85 ton GE's fall to the floor.

Now to get all the feeders in and switch throws  put in and fix the track down. The details, paint etc... Thank goodness it is -20 out, night starts at 5pm and I have nothing else to do but enjoy the hobby.

Until Next Time.

Tim