Iron City Mill near Black Hawk Info/Plans?

[Martin Wade]

I have found this great picture of the Iron City Mill in Keith Pashina's Gazette article March 1993.   I also found this Mill on Sanborn Maps I only have up to 1900.   A snapshot of that Map appears to show only the right half and with out the upper "terrace" and "gabled" extension.  Also, it looks like the lower section is now more of an office entrance where as the product is handled on the "new" left side.
I am interested in any further references on this mine, the extension, and most importantly any plans.   I did hear about a Trains of Texas kit but I think it is the right section and matching the 1900 Sanborn footprint.   The whole left expansion has a fantastic "look" and I think looks to be a fit in a corner area of my layout.   With the two boxcars in front it appears to be about 80ft across on the new section.  That's 12" in my HO scale.  
Thanks for any info offered.
Martin Wade

[GRUMPY]

GO to  gilpin tram/iron city mill. photos of new addition in 1908 and other good photos

[drgwcs]

Clif Schans had shared these in the mining and mines group in Facebook then we also put them on the FB C&S narrow gauge group. I am not sure of the original source (although there are probably 5 that are DPL)  but here you go hope these help.

[Martin Wade]

Thanks to both of you.   I figured out the first reference was to the following site:
http://www.gilpintram.com/ironcity.html

And Jim posted the pictures so I could see them directly.  It seems rare to see pictures of the actual expansion in progress so that is pretty cool.   Together this is very large so I will have to decide where to make my "compression" compromises, but it is a very cool look and my "developing" layout plans brings the gilpin line up along a back wall and around a corner with Black Hawk and the C&S below.  This mill configuration could work great and also fit a nice corner location.   Wish me luck.  It will take me a long time as I am in layout planning stage but am trying to define my signature elements to include AND get them to fit.  
These extra pics are extremely helpful.  
I hope to be posting a few more questions in the weeks ahead as well as showing my draft layout plans to get feedback.

Martin Wade

[drgwcs]

Martin Wade wrote

Thanks to both of you.   I figured out the first reference was to the following site:
http://www.gilpintram.com/ironcity.html

And Jim posted the pictures so I could see them directly.  It seems rare to see pictures of the actual expansion in progress so that is pretty cool.   Together this is very large so I will have to decide where to make my "compression" compromises, but it is a very cool look and my "developing" layout plans brings the gilpin line up along a back wall and around a corner with Black Hawk and the C&S below.  This mill configuration could work great and also fit a nice corner location.   Wish me luck.  It will take me a long time as I am in layout planning stage but am trying to define my signature elements to include AND get them to fit.  
These extra pics are extremely helpful.  
I hope to be posting a few more questions in the weeks ahead as well as showing my draft layout plans to get feedback.

Martin Wade

OK Thanks for posting the source-I had wondered as it came third hand to the C&S group. (Thanks to Grumpy who had the right reference but without the HTML I did not get it to work- now I know where they are from )  I know the interior photo and some of the ones that are not the construction are from the DPL originally. I have questioned the interior photo might be of the Bobtail- something I have went back and forth on. (It is not positively identified in the DPL) The one you posted at the start of the thread showed that the mills were conjoined (I was a little fuzzy from the other pictures) so it may be the Iron City after all. I had suspected because of the jog to the extreme right that it might be the ore bin tower for the Bobtail that was in the center. There are similarities yet some differences to the Bobtail in the interior photo. The stamps in the mortar box appear very similar. The walkways in this photo show a bit of slant in the platforms by the wheels. This is different from the Bobtail. There are differences in the shaker tables too that are pretty significant. The Bobtails were originally up on cribbing like this though. I am still not sure but I am leaning more to the Iron City now- the second mill was built at about the same time as the Bobtail and it could simply be they bought the equipment from the same place. The following are from the Bobtails prospectus.




I do have a freelanced mining area at the end of my Black Hawk Scene that if I can figure out how to redo the track arrangement that might be ideal for a compressed version of the Iron City.  (This was taken before I ballasted (dirted?? on the C&S) the track)



Demolition of the area might be fairly easy however as they have been lax with dynamite storage   

[Rich Rands]

My version in O scale.

[Rich Rands]

[Martin Wade]

WOW!!!
That is so perfect for what I am visualizing.   The "expansion" (left side) was the visual side my wife and I loved.   Interestingly you chose to compress the right side and keep the left side prominent which is exactly what I would have done.   I am curious on the right side if you chose to add the "chute" for visuals or if you actually had a picture with this in place.  I didn't see it but think its a great add.
While I am in HO, converting the plans would be nothing compared to drawing them from scratch.  
The second part that is so cool is I just met you in person at the Kansas City Division Train show.  I so enjoyed talking to you and your wife and then this last week we were talking about the timing of next year's show and your involvement in the St. Louis NG Convention.   Now here we are and you are posting exactly what I need.  You can look forward to my personal email where I beg you for more information and any plans you are willing to share.  Also, hoping you will be in Pittsburgh as my wife and I will be there as well.
Fantastic Model and thanks so much for sharing your work.

Martin

[Jeff Young]

Lovely modelling, Rich!