Welcome to Bigfoot Mines - Thunder Ridge Shaft, a fully operational 1/20th scale model diorama of a typical Gold Mine of 1918. The headframe/incline is similar to the Empire Mine in Grass Valley, California.

Construction began in 1975, with the donation of the Jensen Engine and Tools, and remains a work in progress. 

All equipment is powered by a Steam Engine through a system of belts. All buildings and equipment are chronologically correct, all things would ave existed in 1918. All things are kept as close to proper scale as possible, and are built the way they would have been at that time. 

Many of the machine tools and equipment were built from scratch, the engine and other machine tools were heavily detailed from the original Jensen Live Steam Engine and machine tools. 

JENSEN LIVE STEAM ENGINE AND MACHINE TOOLS

Water was boiled by sterno or canned heat under the boiler. These little engines were often sold to power erector sets. 

Modified Steam Engine

The engine is now powered by compressed air. A Fly Ball Governor was added, also Grease Cups, Oil Cups, Head Bolts, Steam Gauge, a Whistle, and 500+ Miniature bricks under the boiler with fake fire underneath. 

MACHINE SHOP - ENGINE - HOIST

MAIN COLLAR

Additional Scratch Built Equipment include a Twin Drum Hoist, with an animated hoisting engineer. Also look for a band saw, lathe, generator, air compressor, and a grinding, sanding, buffing center. 

Parts from clocks, watches, video tape recorders, copier machines, bic lighters, radios, computers, band-aid boxes, dial telephone, and many other sources were used to make the equipment. 

    FOSSILS - ROCKS              OUTHOUSE

ABANDONED CRYSTAL CAVE