Closing One of the Last Anthracite Coal Deep Mines

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  • Опубліковано 12 січ 2022
  • Closing of the Alfred Brown 7 Foot Slope, one of the last remaining underground anthracite coal mines in Pennsylvania.
    Underground Miners is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, dedicated to preserving Pennsylvania’s anthracite coal mining heritage through a historical online archive, equipment restoration, and educational public events.
    For more, find us here:
    Undergroundminers.com
    Facebook.com/undergroundminers
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 83

  • @jamielacourse7578
    @jamielacourse7578 9 годин тому

    This was magnitudes better than most mine channels.....thanks.

  • @Retired88M
    @Retired88M Місяць тому +1

    Thanks for explaining all this
    My dad was a certified miner before he bought his truck and started delivering to houses and businesses
    He had a nickname of SIX CAR EDDIE
    He only briefly told stories about mining and never got into details like you guys
    He did say that the South Wilkes Barre mine scared him and only once mined there
    Back when he was mining he was given a section to mine and no other miner worked it
    He said the purest coal came out of the Westmorland in West Wyoming

  • @MikeOrkid
    @MikeOrkid Рік тому +7

    It's incredible that this is under all of our homes and streets in the valley. I don't think most people grasp the size of how much was mined in wyo valley. Unbelievable work guys. Thanks for documenting and sharing. Especially the working clips.

  • @michaelwalsh98
    @michaelwalsh98 Місяць тому

    Very interesting,my Grandfather and my Father, were both Coal Miners from Centralia area, and worked the mines in the Ravens Run, Shanadoa are of Pa.

  • @woodlandsteve
    @woodlandsteve 2 роки тому +10

    That's a great tribute to your hard work guys, a sad day I can imagine.

  • @simpleserf
    @simpleserf Рік тому +3

    As someone who still heats with anthracite but is far from the mines (WNY), I appreciate seeing what you guys do.

  • @artrioangelus
    @artrioangelus 7 місяців тому +4

    "I won my fame and wide acclaim for Lackawanna's splendid name by keeping bright and snowy white upon the road of anthracite."

  • @user-xy1lp8jx2h
    @user-xy1lp8jx2h 7 місяців тому +1

    I really enjoyed your video of the coal mine.My family was from the Wilkes Barre, Scranton area of Pennsylvania.My grandfather and several of my uncles had worked in the mines.If I had been born back in those days I would have loved to work for one of the railroads that served the anthracite coal regions.

  • @577buttfan
    @577buttfan 2 роки тому +9

    Very cool you guys did this.First time I ever seen this slope!!Hope to see you guys do more to preserve the history!!

  • @sheep1745
    @sheep1745 2 роки тому +6

    That was awesome, Gentlemen! Not what I'm used to in the bituminous coal fields. Good luck on the next one!

    • @undergroundminers
      @undergroundminers  2 роки тому +1

      It’s amazing how different the two can be at times. Thanks for watching!

  • @virginiabenson8568
    @virginiabenson8568 2 роки тому +4

    Superb video . I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. Forwarding to my grandchildren now.

  • @ZekeTheElder
    @ZekeTheElder 2 роки тому +4

    Awesome trip - thank you

  • @harrytinker2328
    @harrytinker2328 2 роки тому +4

    Fascinating! Thanks for sharing your world with us.

  • @binsk9276
    @binsk9276 2 роки тому +8

    Thanks for capturing this! Keep making history. Looking forward to your next adventures.

  • @dpterrell17
    @dpterrell17 2 роки тому +8

    Well done production! As you said it is kind of bittersweet, having been a distane follower since 07 or 08, a lot of the milestones you discussed here and in the live discussion were topics on the forum. It was fun to be a small part. Good Luck on the next venture, I can make a SWAG.

  •  2 роки тому +6

    Saludos desde los mutualistas mineros de Asturias (Spain). Gran vídeo /Gran Trabajo. #CulturaMinera #MemoriaMinera

  • @Garwfechan-ry5lk
    @Garwfechan-ry5lk 7 місяців тому +1

    In South Wales we called this Pitch Vein Mining, this was common on the Southern area to the Outcrop of the Major Coalfield where some mines worked nearly Vertical Seams with Major Reverse thrust faults meaning that the Seams of the Coalfield would be repeated Twice in the Pit Shafts extremely Geologically Disturbed.

  • @jakewynn-publichistorian
    @jakewynn-publichistorian 2 роки тому +6

    Thank you so much for sharing this - fascinating stuff. Would love to hear more of your stories as well!

    • @undergroundminers
      @undergroundminers  2 роки тому +1

      Thank you for the support! Are you the historian that often posts on the southern coal field? Would love to get in touch if so.

  • @briantheminer
    @briantheminer 2 роки тому +6

    Greetings from the South Wales anthracite field here in the U.K., or what’s left of it.
    A great shame, but I hope your new mine pans out well 👍

  • @marykondrad3741
    @marykondrad3741 2 роки тому +4

    Great job on the video tour guys.

  • @TheNorthernTsar
    @TheNorthernTsar Місяць тому

    Thank you for the fascinating perspective!! I’m now a little more aware of deep anthracite coal mining!!

  • @airborne101pathfinder7
    @airborne101pathfinder7 Рік тому +1

    Great presentation! I'm from Wilkes-Barre and grew up playing around the Dorrance, Prospect,Harry E collieries and others as well.Lots of history.Thank you for the work that you do!

  • @martinhughes9769
    @martinhughes9769 2 роки тому +3

    Very interesting from a ex coal miner from South Wales GB

  • @PAYNEFPV
    @PAYNEFPV 2 роки тому +6

    Thanks for the amazing video and tour of the last time down there!

  • @PibrochPonder
    @PibrochPonder 2 роки тому +1

    Very interesting, thanks for taking the time to do this.

  • @tomedmonds5824
    @tomedmonds5824 2 роки тому +3

    My 2 sons worked at nowicki mine they talked about brown's mine keep at it

  • @erin19030
    @erin19030 9 місяців тому +1

    Many of you might not know, but those timbers wont hold back the mountain. However the cracking and snapping sounds echo thru the mine and a warning is given. One can see the upper timbers stressed to a bow. While walking thru a tunnel one if ones echo dies out it mean the roof is faulty. Get out!

  • @Garwfechan-ry5lk
    @Garwfechan-ry5lk 7 місяців тому +1

    The Deepest Anthracite mined in South Wales was at a Depth from the Surface of 4600 feet. the actual deepest part of the Anthracite Coal seams was a Further nearly 6000 feet below again, too difficult to mine at that depth as it was at 4600 for any length of time. The Mines at Cynheidre Abernant were particularly deep but even them very modern mines were Difficult to mine because of depth and severe Geological problems also Gas was a major problem. with Major roof squeeze and floor heave.

  • @JerehmiaBoaz
    @JerehmiaBoaz 2 роки тому +5

    I was born in a traditional coal mining area in West Europe where most anthracite mines closed 50 years ago, but back then those mines looked a century ahead of time compared to this one right now. Granted it was all deep mining here (the deepest shaft was 3200 foot) which requires stronger supporting infrastructure, but the small drifts (main drifts had 2 or even 3 parallel railway lines here, carts were pulled by compressed air locomotives) combined with the lack of concrete and steel and the abundant use of timber is quite shocking to me (also, the main transportation of coal from the front to the carts wasn't done by chutes but by shaker conveyors).

    • @bobjohnston8316
      @bobjohnston8316 6 місяців тому +2

      Your description would accurately fit the large bituminous coal mines in Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia and other states. Deep mining of anthracite coal in Pennsylvania is almost extinct. In another video they mention that there are only four mines still working, and all are very small scale operations like this one. Essentially they are mining small pockets of coal left behind by long closed major mining operations. The larger deep mines began closing in the 1930’s and by 1960 the process was essentially complete. There is still strip mining on a larger scale, mostly for export. Domestic use of anthracite coal for heating or steam generation has dwindled down to almost nothing.

  • @Yhf6649
    @Yhf6649 Рік тому +1

    Glade you guys did the video. Its apart of history.👍

  • @billbest9483
    @billbest9483 2 роки тому

    Great 👍 work, men! Thanks for staying over!

  • @coalregionrider6525
    @coalregionrider6525 2 роки тому +2

    Awesome video. Thank you for sharing.

  • @bgilbert5643
    @bgilbert5643 2 роки тому

    Great video! I went to school with john(alfred) and was a good guy way back then. Good luck with the new mine. Somebody has to keep it going.

  • @TheSilmarillian
    @TheSilmarillian 10 місяців тому

    Hello from Australia opal miner here and I can easily see the amount of work you put into that mine it is slightly sad 2 close a mine and move on have done the same myself.

  • @cariboumech
    @cariboumech 2 роки тому +2

    Hey Banks you da man, great video hard workin men

  • @pookeyhutchison7838
    @pookeyhutchison7838 2 роки тому +2

    Glad I work in a longwall mine.

  • @donnasilver940
    @donnasilver940 10 місяців тому

    Thank u .U guys have a hard job.

  • @jornalistadiegosouza
    @jornalistadiegosouza 2 роки тому +3

    Olá sensacional seu trabalho parabéns um grande abraço do barba de ouro pedras preciosas aqui do brasil

  • @135SoHc
    @135SoHc 2 роки тому +3

    I found your site years ago and followed it along. Good to see things are still going and getting a refresh.
    Curiosity asking, this being a very small mine with only a couple people working it. How many tons/day under typical operation were they extracting ? And could you maybe make a video with a diagram explanation of a slope mine ? I understand the basic idea of a slope mine, vertical shaft is pitched to follow the angle of the coal seam and having the main gallery way at the bottom. After that it gets disorienting with all the branch off shafts going every direction.

  • @MarkRBlackwell
    @MarkRBlackwell 2 роки тому

    Very sad seeing you guys close up shop on this one, but sending best wishes for your new endeavor. If ya's could use an extra hand some weekends I have always wanted to learn more about mining. Full time railroader, the history goes hand in hand.

  • @minns5515
    @minns5515 2 роки тому +3

    much respect to you'll no way I'm going down there stay safe

  • @americafirst7676
    @americafirst7676 Рік тому

    Great video from a guy who’s whole family back in the day worked in coal mines my family came from Ukraine 4 generations ago and worked the glen burn mine and others to include there own boot leg mine . I still have picks and old hand drills my family used generations ago but I wish you would do a video exactly how mines start off how there blasted in theory and how tunnels connect and the logic how it all works . I no every mine is totally different but if y’all would do a illustration how they interlink and how y’all crib and shoot the mines to work . Love your vids my grandfather uncles tried to explain but I was very young so always interested me what they had to deal with . Thank y’all excellent video

  • @bobruder6392
    @bobruder6392 2 роки тому +4

    I'm so glad I stumbled on to your site. Your production is fascinating. Growing up in Scranton the mines were all around its but other than Brooks Mine at Nay Aug Park and the coal mine tour, this is my first time in a mine. How did you learn the mechanics of mining and the terminology? Thank you.

  • @zerofox7347
    @zerofox7347 2 роки тому

    Thats really cool guys thanks for the video. Will you make one of your new place please 🙏 it’s hard to find stuff on coal mines, There’s loads of hard rock but not much quality content about coal. Cheers guys.

  • @mg-id1rq
    @mg-id1rq 8 місяців тому

    very cool

  • @GWARDYAGWAPITOvlog5045
    @GWARDYAGWAPITOvlog5045 2 роки тому +1

    Full support to you sir
    NEW friend

  • @blakek14
    @blakek14 Рік тому

    Great video!!! Gives me an idea of the terms my pap uses when explaining the mines! Thank you

  • @dexdavd
    @dexdavd 2 роки тому +2

    with this great work n u people r notcyet SUBSCRIBED, come on guys, lets support whoever is behind this gd work

  • @edbernitsky1128
    @edbernitsky1128 2 роки тому +3

    Nice work fellas. Glad this was documented. Can you send me a copy of this please? I dont think i can download it from youtube.

    • @cessna54tango
      @cessna54tango 2 роки тому +1

      Hi Ed, you bet! We will get it made for you!

  • @RussellNelson
    @RussellNelson 2 роки тому

    30:17 I'm watching it!

  • @cullenosbourn3304
    @cullenosbourn3304 Рік тому

    I’d sure like to know more about your operations and are y’all just confined to Pennsylvania ? Actually I saw one of your videos where you turned one mine into a museum , couldn’t you do the same with this mine ?

  • @norandois
    @norandois Рік тому

    It’s that soo sad but at least you have time to say goodbye to this workplace before get flooded. With good people.
    I never have time to go back down and do my last shift, the company i worked just shut without warning and we all received the layoff 😢 machine everything left down the mine

  • @zanelile8192
    @zanelile8192 6 місяців тому

    How far from the entrance and how deep / far from the surface are you men going?

  • @Joe-xh7pw
    @Joe-xh7pw Рік тому

    Hey how much did you make pr Year at that job?

  • @robertdohler270
    @robertdohler270 24 дні тому

    Do they leave all the equipment down there or is it salvaged to be sold?

  • @andrewdonohue1853
    @andrewdonohue1853 8 місяців тому

    is anthracite still plentiful or are the reserves being used up?

  • @wildman318
    @wildman318 10 місяців тому

    Why is there water on the ground???

  • @KieraCameron514
    @KieraCameron514 Рік тому

    Don't Skidmore and Mammoth run under a rather infamous ghost town in Pennsylvania?

  • @cullenosbourn3304
    @cullenosbourn3304 Рік тому +1

    Why are you closing a mine when there’s still coal in it ?

  • @anthonycook5238
    @anthonycook5238 7 місяців тому

    Just curious is this the same place that the documentary “ hard coal “ last of the bootleg miners was filmed ?😊

  • @johnkoziol6073
    @johnkoziol6073 6 місяців тому

    Why so much water?

  • @wildman318
    @wildman318 10 місяців тому

    Why are you closing the mine ?

  • @Musicaprima75
    @Musicaprima75 2 роки тому

    😢😢😢

  • @Krzemieniewski1
    @Krzemieniewski1 2 роки тому

    What is yellowish residue all over the place? Can you tell what kind of wood is that?

    • @cessna54tango
      @cessna54tango 2 роки тому +4

      The orange mud is from sulfur. The mine floods up to that orange line when the pumps are turned off every night. The timber and plank are all oak.

    • @Krzemieniewski1
      @Krzemieniewski1 2 роки тому

      @@cessna54tango Thank you Sir. I was betting on oak. Sulfur is also logical after all, coal is often contaminated with it, ergo they occur together.

    • @louisgreene3406
      @louisgreene3406 8 місяців тому

      That's sulfur

  • @leeturner1838
    @leeturner1838 2 роки тому +1

    why they close this mine?

    • @cessna54tango
      @cessna54tango 2 роки тому +2

      Got all the coal we could. With all the water coming in from old workings and the surface, it wasn’t profitable to sink the slope to a deeper level. Although there is still Mineable coal down there.

    • @leeturner1838
      @leeturner1838 2 роки тому +2

      @@cessna54tango ok! thanks. i worked soft coal center and clearfield county

  • @graemecouch5010
    @graemecouch5010 2 роки тому

    Still Plenty of coal left why close mine !

  • @veinzmarz406
    @veinzmarz406 2 роки тому +1

    Stop this rat holes mine it's not served for human