@pennsyfan- Bob thanks for your story about your G gauge set up. I thought that the "snow" looked too real to be cotton balls ! OBTW really neat layout now that we can see quite a bit of it. That background scenic on your rear wall is super!
Well I don't have any miners, BUT I have some giraffe cars (from pennsyfan!) . Here is the Lionel # 3376 classic from 1960-66 and a favorite Japanese tinplate of mine, also likely from the 1960's.
Best wishes
Don