Polar Mill dimension/plans

[Martin Wade]

Hi all,

I have attempted to read up on all the posts on the Polar Mill with great pictures.  But was curious if anyone had actual dimensions of the foot print but also height especially the Ore delivery track height compared to the C&S grade at the front for the processed ore.   Based on the side door height and just wild estimation I put it at about 15ft above the C&S grade.   I also made some estimates from the Sanborn maps for the footprint.   Fortunately its a fairly simple external structure.
Although, I may have to maintain some modelers license to get it all to fit, I was hoping for a starting point.
So any dimensions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Martin Wade
HMR Railway

[Mike Trent]

Hi Martin. I spoke to Joe Crea this morning, he says he did a set of drawings for the Gazette some years ago. Hopefully, someone can look up what issue that might be and post it here.

[Norm Acker]

Those were in the Nov/Dec 2005 issue.

And by the way, here's a good site to index NGSL back issues:
https://gazette.timbercreekeng.com/

[Mike Trent]

Thanks, Norm!

[Martin Wade]

Fantastic.  Very appreciated on locating the info.  I own the Gazette on disc so that was very easy to pull it up, print it out, and now I'm ready to go forward.

This forum always has the best info and the best help.

Thanks so much,

Martin Wade

BTW, it appears that rail height at the back is about 20.5ft above the rail height at the front.   I was a wee short on my 15ft guess.  
I was close on the foot print from the Sanborn map

Thanks again

[Dave Eggleston]

If curious, the Sanborn Blackhawk maps show the Polar Star and have a scale rule.

Here's the 1890 Sanborn, Sheet 3. Polar Star is visible just above Chase Street and the scale is at the bottom (right edge) of the sheet.



Sadly getting it to post crisply and larger--more legible--is limited somewhat here. If you want a higher res, larger image, I'll email you the full page PDF.