introduction

[huski]

Hi, amazing pics to me unbelievable,there are no old open mines here, DER Dept of Environment Protection,keeps tabs on stripping of coal and water quality coming out of the mines,Its hard to get house coal ,because of this.
I promise to some how send you something mine related.
The farmer below us,told me about the tram,only saying the swinging action was dropping coal on his fields, I have now knowledge of its construction,There remains piers in the river,
do the cable supports for the Harewood tram exist....n

[GR74]

Oh, I'll bet you anything that there are open mines somewhere in Pittsburgh. You just have to know where to look and what to look for. An abandoned mine that has been sealed won't appear to be a mine at a first glance. Mines that have been sealed with dirt will manage to open themselves up again over a span of many years. If the workings collapse at the entrance, you will find an opening. Erosion will also do this. Over the years the soil will compact itself due to gravity and the rain and run-off will wash the debris back into the mine. There are usually quite a few that were not documented properly, meaning they are not on any maps!

My attached photo shows a mine that we discovered last year. The opening was only 2 feet high. I could feel cool air venting from the opening which meant there was fresh air blowing through the tunnel. Most people would never even consider that this was a mine.

As far as the aerial tramway is concerned - long gone. Several of us have gone out searching but have come up empty-handed. This is one reason we would love to see pictures. We have nothing to look at around here. Thanks again, friend. Keep in touch.

[GR74]

If only the Nanaimo coal miners could have contacted the Pennsylvania coal miners this easily 100 years ago....

[huski]

I will try to tell you exactly what you are telling me,first the erosion does seal the entrance,depending on the amount fill blocking,however,as i said earlier the coal runs with the contour of land,if there is 4' blocking,there is 4' of water behind,maybe miles
underground,the mine can go from one side of the hill to the other 2 or 3 miles to another
entrance. we mined the (stumps) after moving the water an d did find a cut machine.
I would not advise going to far from the entrance,the men that worked the mines did not carry any valuables.
we have about 4" of new snow,and about 12 deg F-10C wind is blowing .keeping warm...n

[GR74]

Our mines in Nanaimo have flooded and filled with water. We can't seem to go in further than 50-400 feet before reaching the water table. If they were dry, we would be able to go down further. It doesn't look like the miners left much underground when they abandoned the workings, so there's not much to see anymore.

It looks like we have about 12-15 cm of new snow on the ground this morning. The snow plows haven't plowed our road yet. Looks like I'm staying home today! The temperature isn't as cold here. We are expecting rain sometime over the next couple of days.

[huski]

We got about the same amount of snow over night,but cold minus 10C-12F,
not much you can do in this weather,over 400 school closed today,kids get a snow day,but make it up later.
If you would like any special task for me,just ask,i will try, you have a friend in Pennsylvania.

[GR74]

Thank-you very much, huski.

I am hoping one day when the weather warms up and the snow melts that you will show all of us some photos of your mining sites and anything you find from the mining-era that is still laying around the bush - old concrete foundations, rusty objects, etc. Until then, keep warm!

[huski]

Hi D;

The tram at Hartwood mine is very much the same. Here the mine back "portal" is intact,the opening was bricked, a plaque was removed overhead.. read. "Howard Gas Coal Co". The piers remain in the river,the tram foundation are scattered,wood truces were used on the steep slope.
Metal detecting will show bolts.
More snow,have to plow the drive-way ,clear the walk..
Thanks and good luck...n

[huski]

Thank-you very much, huski.

I am hoping one day when the weather warms up and the snow melts that you will show all of us some photos of your mining sites and anything you find from the mining-era that is still laying around the bush - old concrete foundations, rusty objects, etc. Until then, keep warm!

GR74::I do have a picture of the our tram mine portal(openings) the picture is not good and clear,if you can someway explain how to send it,I will wait till the sun shines on the
openings( this is a double whammy two portals.We have taken it with a Verizon wireless
downloaded it to my email,,the rest you must explain...n

[GR74]

OK huski, I received your photo. Can I post it?