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The Federal Mine
HO Scale version shown above & below
| more pictures to come... |
The Federal Mine is one of the few remaining mine
structures still standing in the Central City – Black
Hawk area of Gilpin County, Colorado. The historic
region has a rich history of gold mining and
railroads. Gold mining began here in the 1850s, and
Gilpin County was one of the earliest and most
productive districts in the state. Later, as the mining
industry expanded, the Colorado Central (later the
Colorado and Southern) and Gilpin Tramway
railroads served this area.
The Federal is on the southwest side of Russell
Gulch, near the Old Town Mine vein - one of the
district’s largest ore producers. Photographs
published in Sundance Publication’s “The Gilpin
Tram Era” hint that this mine building was built
sometime between 1900 and 1908. The mine was
situated above the Gilpin Tram mainline, and a short
spur branched off near the south side of the mine.
Though there are no records of this mine having
shipped ore over the Gilpin Tram, a large ore bin is
located where a spur could have existed.
The rugged winter weather in the Rocky Mountains
required a year-round, weather-proof structure. The
size of the enclosing structure was determined by the
prosperity and financial backing of the operation.
Typical of most operations, the mine enclosure was
just big enough to house the head frame, hoist,
boiler, forge (for sharpening drill bits), and other odds
and ends. Skilled craftsmen of the era assembled
structural members, such as head frame timbers,
with mortise and tenon-type joints. Exterior walls
were saw cut planks nailed to irregularly-spaced
studs and other framing members. Many of these
mines were covered with tar paper, and sometimes a
second layer of wood siding as the original layer
weathered. More prosperous mines later clad
exterior walls in flat metal (“tin”) siding, and
corrugated metal siding nailed to the wood roof
decking. The siding and metal roofing likely was
painted, typically in the earth-browns and reds
common for the time.
Today, the hillsides of Gilpin County have regrown
with pines and aspen trees, and the mine quietly
weathers away in the woods. Someday, this mine
will succumb, like many others, to time and the
elements.
structures still standing in the Central City – Black
Hawk area of Gilpin County, Colorado. The historic
region has a rich history of gold mining and
railroads. Gold mining began here in the 1850s, and
Gilpin County was one of the earliest and most
productive districts in the state. Later, as the mining
industry expanded, the Colorado Central (later the
Colorado and Southern) and Gilpin Tramway
railroads served this area.
The Federal is on the southwest side of Russell
Gulch, near the Old Town Mine vein - one of the
district’s largest ore producers. Photographs
published in Sundance Publication’s “The Gilpin
Tram Era” hint that this mine building was built
sometime between 1900 and 1908. The mine was
situated above the Gilpin Tram mainline, and a short
spur branched off near the south side of the mine.
Though there are no records of this mine having
shipped ore over the Gilpin Tram, a large ore bin is
located where a spur could have existed.
The rugged winter weather in the Rocky Mountains
required a year-round, weather-proof structure. The
size of the enclosing structure was determined by the
prosperity and financial backing of the operation.
Typical of most operations, the mine enclosure was
just big enough to house the head frame, hoist,
boiler, forge (for sharpening drill bits), and other odds
and ends. Skilled craftsmen of the era assembled
structural members, such as head frame timbers,
with mortise and tenon-type joints. Exterior walls
were saw cut planks nailed to irregularly-spaced
studs and other framing members. Many of these
mines were covered with tar paper, and sometimes a
second layer of wood siding as the original layer
weathered. More prosperous mines later clad
exterior walls in flat metal (“tin”) siding, and
corrugated metal siding nailed to the wood roof
decking. The siding and metal roofing likely was
painted, typically in the earth-browns and reds
common for the time.
Today, the hillsides of Gilpin County have regrown
with pines and aspen trees, and the mine quietly
weathers away in the woods. Someday, this mine
will succumb, like many others, to time and the
elements.
A Brief History:
Kit #122
N/A
N/A
| Kit #220 $79.95 |
S
Kit #322
$69.95
$69.95
O
Kit #222
coming
coming
| Kit #820 coming |
| Kit #320 coming |
| Kit #120 coming |
| To place your order - click on the "Add to Cart" button in the box of your scale |
- Out trademark EASY to follow FULLY
Illustrated Step-By-Step instructions
make building easy!
- Precision Laser cut wood construction.
- Doors can be positioned open or closed
and all windows include laser-cut glazing.
- Details include etched floor boards,
interior framing, forge, work bench, coal
storage bin, full head frame with
moving parts, main hoist area, additional
compressor room option, walls scribed
on both sides for great interior
detailing, and removable roofs.
- Our NEW corrugated roofing, our own
tar paper roofing, and "metal" siding.
- Footprint N = 2.2" x 3.6"
- Footprint HO = 4.0" x 6.6"
- Footprint S = 5.4" x 8.9"
- Footprint O = 7.2" x 11.8"
- Build with boards exposed or cover with
"metal" siding. Add optional shed on the
back!
- Special thanks go to Joe Crea for
providing drawings, and to Keith
Pashina for pictures and a test/display
model.
| Optional rear addition shown in place above |
