Chris Walas.... The new Mine Engine.....

Seems everything is a flutter in Rogue County these days, what with all the new track working and such.  Even got a new mine moved in. Some feller from back east come out and bought up land near the head of Big Lizard Canyon. Ain't nothin' up there worth anything, so says most folks hereabout, so it was a topic of conversation when a new mine loco showed up in town;
This engine is a coal burner, as most of these were. The coal is in a small coal bunker on the fireman side of the cab. As these locos had limited runs to do, it wasn't a problem having a small fuel supply on board. There was very often a coal bin at the minehead for refueling.


Well, sure enough, new track was laid from Rogue way up to near the ridge. Strange, real strange.  Nobody seems to know what Eldritch is, probably the name of the fella what owns the mine.
The font I used is called, "Morpheus" and of course, the decals are by Stan Cedarleaf. I had originally wanted the name Eldritch Mineral and Excavation, but in my hurried, unthinking mind I gave Stan the wrong dimensions so I had to shorten the name to make room for the frippery. Doh!


I'm told it's been heard that he said the name "Miskatonic" comes from some river back east where he used to mine. Never heard of it myself.
The mine cars are the much loved Hartland line gondolas with the top board cut down.


The feller what drives it don't talk much when he's in town. We asked what they was hoping to dig out o' that old hill and alls he said was, "ain't diggin' out, diggin' to..."   Didn't make no sense. Curious fella.
As far as what's really happening up there in the Eldritch mine.... only time will tell!