I stopped at an interesting place. (pics)
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Ky
Man this reminds me of my surveying days. Back in the mid to late 80's. The survey company I worked for landed a huge state contract to do complete surveys and run topographical maps on some abandon coal mines in eastern Ky. They were all down around Pike, Hazard, and Harlan counties.
Every one of them had underground fires burning in them with huge splits in the ground everywhere like you have in the pics. I remember we used to stick our machetes down in the cracks and leave them for a couple minutes and take them out and spit on or pour some water on them and watch it sizzle.
Had alot of good times down there, but the work was killer. I was a rodman at that time. In topo mapping, we set up a base line about half way up the mountain side that ran up to 500' long across the side of the mountain and every 50' on that line we took shots up to top and down to bottom every 50' or any sudden change in elevations (drop offs etc.) Essentially you come up with a grid on the whole side of the hill. We guess who was the one running up and down from top to bottom every 50' (my calf muscles never looked so good, lol).
We were down there too when the big forest fires broke out during that time. They evacuated our hotel. Got some cool pics.
Anyway thanks for the pics, brought back some good memories. Now Iam going to have to dig my pics out.
Another funny thing about that whole experience was that when in town all the locals would ask us what we were doing (cause we stuck out). When we told them, often the reply was "Thars lotsa rattle snakes up thar, be sure ta catch em, tha chirch it town will buy'em from ya" uuhhh....no thanks!!
Every one of them had underground fires burning in them with huge splits in the ground everywhere like you have in the pics. I remember we used to stick our machetes down in the cracks and leave them for a couple minutes and take them out and spit on or pour some water on them and watch it sizzle.
Had alot of good times down there, but the work was killer. I was a rodman at that time. In topo mapping, we set up a base line about half way up the mountain side that ran up to 500' long across the side of the mountain and every 50' on that line we took shots up to top and down to bottom every 50' or any sudden change in elevations (drop offs etc.) Essentially you come up with a grid on the whole side of the hill. We guess who was the one running up and down from top to bottom every 50' (my calf muscles never looked so good, lol).
We were down there too when the big forest fires broke out during that time. They evacuated our hotel. Got some cool pics.
Anyway thanks for the pics, brought back some good memories. Now Iam going to have to dig my pics out.
Another funny thing about that whole experience was that when in town all the locals would ask us what we were doing (cause we stuck out). When we told them, often the reply was "Thars lotsa rattle snakes up thar, be sure ta catch em, tha chirch it town will buy'em from ya" uuhhh....no thanks!!
Last edited by saleen97; May 30, 2005 at 10:48 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,138
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From: Ky/Va Mountains
Ahhh mining in eastern ky.
A place called "hellier" aka "hell" had some mine fires that had been burning since the 50s, but they are all out now I think.
Here is a pic of an abandoned mine in knott co. ky from a ride I was on last year. I also have several from harlan co. ky of a little mining town from back in the day. They left all the old buildings behind and going into the town is like going back to 1940. They have the portals to the mine gated off with the history of the mines on a concrete slab out front.
My dad was a foreman for bethlehem steel mining for 20 years. Back in the early 80s he would let me go down in the mines with them and get in the haul trucks and drive them.
That would never happen now with the regulations they go by.
A place called "hellier" aka "hell" had some mine fires that had been burning since the 50s, but they are all out now I think.
Here is a pic of an abandoned mine in knott co. ky from a ride I was on last year. I also have several from harlan co. ky of a little mining town from back in the day. They left all the old buildings behind and going into the town is like going back to 1940. They have the portals to the mine gated off with the history of the mines on a concrete slab out front.
My dad was a foreman for bethlehem steel mining for 20 years. Back in the early 80s he would let me go down in the mines with them and get in the haul trucks and drive them.
That would never happen now with the regulations they go by.
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From: Susquehanna Valley, pa.
RockPick,
I just put the pics in my gallery, check them out and keep them if you like.
I didn't take many because i did not have a lot of time and i didn't really go to far from the roads. I plan on going back and hiking around and will take more pics then. The whole area is "coal country" with trails all over the place. There is a pioneer mine tour in the next town, it is a original train that take you down the mine. there are open mines all over the area.
Byrnesville, the next town over was also abandoned.
http://hometown.aol.com/mpreil/index.html
I just put the pics in my gallery, check them out and keep them if you like.
I didn't take many because i did not have a lot of time and i didn't really go to far from the roads. I plan on going back and hiking around and will take more pics then. The whole area is "coal country" with trails all over the place. There is a pioneer mine tour in the next town, it is a original train that take you down the mine. there are open mines all over the area.
Byrnesville, the next town over was also abandoned.
http://hometown.aol.com/mpreil/index.html
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Lost some where in the middle of the Ozark Mountains!
Originally Posted by RockPick
......Actually, a week from tomorrow, I'm going to be going into a lead mine in Missouri on a tour. It's still active and I CANNOT WAIT. I've been in several underground coal mines and in even more surface coal mines. I've been into an underground and abandoned underground phosphate mine (on work none the less -- that one was hairy) and now a lead mine. There's no better place to be than in a tunnel 4000' below the surface.
If you have any other pictures, PLEASE email them to me... I simply love this stuff! (email in sig)
Thanks for sharing this with us man!!!
RP
If you have any other pictures, PLEASE email them to me... I simply love this stuff! (email in sig)
Thanks for sharing this with us man!!!
RP
There is a town about 35 minutes away from me called Lead Mine and it is still active. Mostly Amish area, good produce and goods.
It would be an interesting place to visit. Thanks for sharing!!
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From: The Bluegrass State
Originally Posted by PSS-Mag
That's funny,
There is a town about 35 minutes away from me called Lead Mine and it is still active. Mostly Amish area, good produce and goods.
There is a town about 35 minutes away from me called Lead Mine and it is still active. Mostly Amish area, good produce and goods.
The "Lead Belt" is still alive and active... they're not all shut down. A bunch of them are though...
Thanks lees!
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Originally Posted by RockPick
Very cool! This stuff amazes me!
Coal mining is near and dear to my heart as my grandfather was 'up the pecking order' with a very large company back in my home town. My father is still involved with it and is currently over maintenance for a large surface mine back home...
Further, I've been doing environmental work on oodles of mines across the nation while working for one of our clients. I've been through SEVERAL of these mini-ghost towns that were there and strived on the mining industry. When it folded, the town did as well with the exception of a few die-hards. Phosphate, Montana is a PRIME example of this... Eureka, Nevada is another... Bixby, Missouri is another...
Go sit down at the local bar in a town of less than 200 folks and you'll learn more about the history of the place than any historian or book could ever dream of telling you. Eureka, Nevada was incredible... I learned more about the gold industry from an old timer sitting at the world famous 'Owl Club' than I had ever dreamed I'd know. There's really NOTHING like sitting down and working on a bottle of Maker's with a guy that can tell stories that make you want to hear more...
The mining industry is still alive and well in many parts of the nation. Coal, gold, phosphate, silver, lead, and all kinds of items are still coming out of the ground at a steady pace. The history behind this type of place astounds me to the point that I'm fascinated by it...
Actually, a week from tomorrow, I'm going to be going into a lead mine in Missouri on a tour. It's still active and I CANNOT WAIT. I've been in several underground coal mines and in even more surface coal mines. I've been into an underground and abandoned underground phosphate mine (on work none the less -- that one was hairy) and now a lead mine. There's no better place to be than in a tunnel 4000' below the surface.
If you have any other pictures, PLEASE email them to me... I simply love this stuff! (email in sig)
Thanks for sharing this with us man!!!
RP
Coal mining is near and dear to my heart as my grandfather was 'up the pecking order' with a very large company back in my home town. My father is still involved with it and is currently over maintenance for a large surface mine back home...
Further, I've been doing environmental work on oodles of mines across the nation while working for one of our clients. I've been through SEVERAL of these mini-ghost towns that were there and strived on the mining industry. When it folded, the town did as well with the exception of a few die-hards. Phosphate, Montana is a PRIME example of this... Eureka, Nevada is another... Bixby, Missouri is another...
Go sit down at the local bar in a town of less than 200 folks and you'll learn more about the history of the place than any historian or book could ever dream of telling you. Eureka, Nevada was incredible... I learned more about the gold industry from an old timer sitting at the world famous 'Owl Club' than I had ever dreamed I'd know. There's really NOTHING like sitting down and working on a bottle of Maker's with a guy that can tell stories that make you want to hear more...
The mining industry is still alive and well in many parts of the nation. Coal, gold, phosphate, silver, lead, and all kinds of items are still coming out of the ground at a steady pace. The history behind this type of place astounds me to the point that I'm fascinated by it...
Actually, a week from tomorrow, I'm going to be going into a lead mine in Missouri on a tour. It's still active and I CANNOT WAIT. I've been in several underground coal mines and in even more surface coal mines. I've been into an underground and abandoned underground phosphate mine (on work none the less -- that one was hairy) and now a lead mine. There's no better place to be than in a tunnel 4000' below the surface.
If you have any other pictures, PLEASE email them to me... I simply love this stuff! (email in sig)
Thanks for sharing this with us man!!!
RP
Btw, my Dad works for Apollo Fuels mining company. Have you ever heard of that place?
Last edited by Peacemaker; May 31, 2005 at 11:24 AM.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Starkville Mississippi
WOW!!!! Thats cool!! Is the church abandoned? Id be freaky neat to hike back to it if it was....creepy!
Rockpick...where in MO u'ze gonna be?
Got any more pics???? If you do...post 'em!!
Rockpick...where in MO u'ze gonna be?
Got any more pics???? If you do...post 'em!!
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 79
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From: Wyoming
If it can't be grown, you've got to mine it. I work at the largest coal mine in the U.S. we mined 85 million tons of coal last year. Gonna do more this year. We have trucks that haul 400 tons of coal, and 360 tons of dirt. The shovels are electric and can load the trucks in 3 passes. We also have draglines with 100 yd buckets. But let me tell you there are hundreds of rules and regulations that we must follow to prevent things like that from happening. Coal mining is one of the most regulated industries in the nation. The industry really is trying to improve thier image and show that with new technology and mining methods there is very little environmental impact.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Your moms house
Originally Posted by Ultra_Miner
If it can't be grown, you've got to mine it. I work at the largest coal mine in the U.S. we mined 85 million tons of coal last year. Gonna do more this year. We have trucks that haul 400 tons of coal, and 360 tons of dirt. The shovels are electric and can load the trucks in 3 passes. We also have draglines with 100 yd buckets. But let me tell you there are hundreds of rules and regulations that we must follow to prevent things like that from happening. Coal mining is one of the most regulated industries in the nation. The industry really is trying to improve thier image and show that with new technology and mining methods there is very little environmental impact.
Last edited by jamzwayne; May 31, 2005 at 12:34 PM.