The following notes have appeared elsewhere on the interweb, but I thought I would update it and include in my blog here.

My 16T minerals serve a dual purpose; being put to work on both Foundry Lane and New Haden. I've built a few to date; but have plans to do many more and (after a bit of messing about with other bits) have settled the following as the basic spec for my EM gauge fleet:

Body

For standard dia 1/108 I tend to use Parkside bodies (same again for dia 1/109 too) but for rebodies I have used the Bachmann "no top flaps" body, with a false floor to hide the the doors in the floor. Specifically for New Haden are a couple of SNCF and slope sided examples - again from Parkside kits.

Underframe

Either Parkside 9' unfitted or Red Panda clasp brake fitted underframe (suitably shortened to a 9' wheel base). Door stops are from steel staples bent to shape then inserted into a hole on the solebars.

Brakes

Most are unfitted so it's ABS 2 shoe Morton brakes (F.U04) - I did try drilling out the brake lever loop but broke too many drill bits or drilled the end of my finger too many times. For clasp brake fitted (only done one of these so far and that's a riveted body) I'll probably stick to the Red Panda parts, for four shoe fitted I've used ABS parts again but can't remember the part number.

Buffers

Most have ABS 4 rib unfitted (F.U03) or whatever other type is appropriate to the prototype. The use of metal buffers, brakes and door stops helps prevent damage when the wagons are being handled (on New Haden the coal load needs to be tipped out in the fiddle yard).

Couplings

Standard spec for my Foundry Lane stock is Smiths three link or instanter; however the wagons I use on Stafford Railway Circle's New Haden run in fixed sets of three with AJ couplings on the outer ends and three links in the middle. The middle wagon, having three links at each end, suits either layout (which was fine until both layouts appeared at the same show earlier this year!

A few examples:

and finally this is an old Airfix with improved door hinges, as described in Pennine's "Mineral Prospecting" article in November 2001 BRM, MJT w-irons and the wrong axle boxes :oops: ....