Hey gang,
I realize that the mine I'm discussing here is not in your area (it's in Cranberry, North Carolina just over the state line from Tenn.) but I'm writing in hopes of getting some leads on some information about the processes that iron ore was subjected to when being "separated", either magnetically or by a crusher. I'm looking to you guys as the experts.
My main interest here is the Cranberry Iron Mine that operated from the 1880s up to 1929 when it was shut down. Iron ore was hauled to the furnace by the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad and the mine was the principal reason for the building of the 34 mile, narrow-gauge railroad in the 1880s. I've been in the mine numerous times with and without our railroad historical society, and have researched and mapped it extensively for information that was published in a book about the ET&WNC RR.
I know a good bit about the mining operation (how the ore was taken out) but have been unable to find much or any information about how the ore was separated, treated, crushed, etc. after it came out of the mine. I'm building an HO scale model (to actual scale size) of the mine buildings and trackage and would like to find some old books, photos, drawings, whatever, that would give me some insight on what went on inside these buildings that I'm modeling. I think that knowing what was going on inside will help me more accurately model them and the immediate mine area.
Here is a photo of the Cranberry Mine operation in about 1920:
http://www.mindspring.com/~cfordart/cranberrymine.jpg
And a photo of the Cranberry Furnace in Johnson City where the ore was taken by the narrow-gauge ET&WNC railroad:
http://www.mindspring.com/~cfordart/furnace.jpg
And here are some links to a few of the photos I've shot over the years, not nearly as well done or extensive as the photos you guys have taken, but it's what I have:
http://www.mindspring.com/~cfordart/etw ... 0/904.html
http://www.mindspring.com/~cfordart/etw ... /9015.html
http://www.mindspring.com/~cfordart/etw ... 0/901.html
http://www.mindspring.com/~cfordart/etw ... 0/902.html
http://www.mindspring.com/~cfordart/etw ... 5/054.html
http://www.mindspring.com/~cfordart/etw ... 3/938.html
http://www.mindspring.com/~cfordart/etw ... /9517.html
I ran across your site while searching for info on the mining processes and was very impressed with the depth of your research and photo taking. Thought maybe you could point me in the right direction to get more information on the processes going on in the mine buildings. I'm especially interested in any books or websites showing drawings and explanations of the machinery used. Don't know if that is an area of any of you guy's expertise, but I hope you can, and thanks in advance for any help, it's very much appreciated.
I can supply or point you to some more info about the Cranberry Mine if anyone is interested. I know it's way outside your area, but your interest in iron mines seems to be all-encompassing.
This link will take you to my main photo album pages with photos from past years of the ET&WNC area for anyone interested:
http://www.mindspring.com/~cfordart/etwnc/home2.html
Thanks again,
Chris
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Chris Ford
928 Landing Oaks Drive
Collierville, TN 38017
901-854-1755
cfordart@mindspring.com
http://www.mindspring.com/~cfordart/etwnc