When I was a kid I loved Stephen Biesty's incredible cross section books, and it's really cool to see something like this with moving parts (especially because still images usually don't tend to capture the essence of machinery). Honestly, I don't even think something like this needs extensive gameplay. Of course, if you did want to add gameplay, now you have a very smooth and beautiful level framework in which to do so. Could lend itself well to a mechanical puzzle point and click, or maybe a lemmings style game (maybe that was the idea with the stick guys walking in?)
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Thanks for your feedback, ideas and kind words! Will check out Stephen Biesty's books. Unbelievable, you did a very well guess with the lemmings style. That's what I had in mind indeed! The other option that's in my head (and maybe we are closer to Mr. Biesty's books, here?) is not a game but an eLearning diaorama. Interacting with different parts of the mine is bringing up detailed informations - and could connect to certain actions needed (like a section: Ground water was a constant trouble, paired with interactively operating the pump - or: Dangerous coal gasses, paired with installing a ventilation) - I would have loved to learn with a thing like this when I was a child, I am pretty sure.
Found an article & video about one of Biesty's books. His illustrations look incredible detailed - and all the information around them, strutured by several aspects. This is truely masterful and inspiring! https://www.rabbleboy.com/stephen-biestys-cross-sections-man-of-war-written-by-r...