A loop at the prototype. I'm looking for the solution. Must be something like a big industry, a pit or open mine??? Wolfgang
I suspect there is an open pit mine northeast of the loading area. I doubt if it's a shaft mine, because I don't see any elevator machinery. The piles of what I assume to be ore appear to be medium gray, thus eliminating the following ores....coal (not black, or shiny), ilmenite (again not black), bauxite (not red), or boron ( not white). It could be copper, but I don't think it's grey....? The landscape, shadows, locomotives, and cars lead me to think the southwest US. I think there is a fair amount of open pit mining in central and northern Arizona, but not sure.
It's a Coal Mine and I think RRfan is in the right area but exactly where on the map is this place? :tb-err: :tb-err: :tb-err: :tb-err:
Not PRB, at least not on the Orin Line. The mines there are different, even with multiple loading loops at several mines. As arid is this area is, this one makes me think Utah.
Way way way to small of an operation at the load out to be Antelope or Thunder, also the Orin line runs basicly north and south. Adam
Thunder claims to be the 'largest open pit coal mine in the world' at 5 square miles. Once you get to Reno Jct. there is some change of direction on the way to Gillette.
I've tracked all the way from billings to casper,wy nothing matches.I think right region but not in the powder river basin.
No it's not. Mine Name Location Tonnage Operating Company 1. Black Thunder Wyoming 92.5 Arch Coal, Inc. 2. North Antelope/Rochelle Wyoming 88.5 Peabody Energy Subsidiary 3. Jacobs Ranch Wyoming 40.0 Rio Tinto Energy America (Kennecott) 4. Cordero Rojo Wyoming 39.8 Rio Tinto Energy America (Kennecott) 5. Antelope Wyoming 33.9 Rio Tinto Energy America (Kennecott) 6. Caballo Wyoming 32.8 Peabody Energy Subsidiary 7. Eagle Butte Wyoming 25.4 Foundation Coal West, Inc. 8. Belle Ayr Wyoming 24.6 Foundation Coal West, Inc. 9. Buckskin Wyoming 22.8 Buckskin Mining Co. (Kiewit) 10. Rawhide Wyoming 17.1 Peabody Energy Subsidiary 11. Freedom North Dakota 15.2 Coteau Properties Co. (North American) 12. Spring Creek Montana 14.5 Rio Tinto Energy America (Kennecott) 13. Rosebud Montana 12.4 Western Energy Co. (Westmoreland) 14. Martin Lake Texas 12.1 TXU Mining Co. 15. Navajo New Mexico 8.4 BHP Billiton 16. Falkirk North Dakota 8.2 The Falkirk Mining Co. (North American) 17. Kayenta Arizona 8.0 Peabody Energy Subsidiary
Gee, I've been in 8 of the top 17 in within spiting distance of 2 more. I find that kinda cool. But if I never go back to North Antelope it will be to soon. Back on topic. I am 99.9% sure it is not any of the top ten on the above list. I also was thinking Utah but I can't find it. Then again, I'm not to good at this, but it sure is fun. Adam
I have been trying to find the ones in Arizona on the Navajo reservation like Black Mesa but no luck so far.
For a while I was thinking the Minnesota iron range because some of that area has similar coloring (and it looks more like taconite than coal), but had no luck. (Did find a walking dragline, though)
