What bituminous mines still use rail hualage?

50tonloco · **Posted:** Tue Dec 08, 2009 7:50 pm

Do you know if any bituminous mines still use rail hualage?

Also from what I have seen it looks like most of them use those 20 ton cars do you know who makes, made them?

rail haulage miners · **Posted:** Tue Dec 08, 2009 8:07 pm

There is only one mine left running rail haulage in the country & that will son come to an end in approximatly 15 days or so. This is the only bituminous mine that hauls coal by rail out of the mine.

Shoemaker Mine

They operate 50 ton Jeffreys (2) per train (One lead unit & one trailing at the end of the train)

40 cars with 20 ton loads

Cars are either ACF American Car and Foundry or Irwin . Actually there is a mixture of a few different builders thinking about it now.

We have a ton of pictures at this mine. I can email you a few if you would like?

Link to just a few we have on the net.

http://www.pickandshovel.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=27
Are you looking for something in particular ?

Pete, Ohio Vintage Coal Co.

50tonloco · **Posted:** Tue Dec 08, 2009 8:58 pm

what a shame

, considering how rare that is now, but I read online that this was going to happen. And about the pictures I would love to see them,

Also how did you get access to the site in the first place?

Are you going to attempt to preserve any equipment from there?

One more thing where is ohio vintage coal located, (presumbly in Ohio but I was wondering exactly what area of the state is it in) and are you open for tours?

rail haulage miners · **Posted:** Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:05 pm

We are appointment only.

Most of our group has been MSHA trained to be on the Shoemaker site.

We have (2) G.E. 37 ton mine locomotives coming from a mine just south of Shoemaker.

We are going to try to save one of the unique Jeffreys from Shoemaker. There are a few "High Pros" on site but not in service. The only ones that we know of in existence.

OVCC is open by appointment only. We are just outside of Columbus.

Pete, OVCC

minefan · **Posted:** Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:15 pm

I would love to see some photos of your 2 GE mine locomotives are they posted on the site somewhere?

rail haulage miners · **Posted:** Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:17 pm

No we don't have them posted on our site. I can email them to you.

Pete, OVCC

50tonloco · **Posted:** Wed Dec 09, 2009 9:40 am

Can you please email me the pictures of the shoemaker site.

And how do you get MSHA trained?

50tonloco · **Posted:** Wed Dec 09, 2009 9:43 am

How many trains are hualed out per of the mine per shift?

rail haulage miners · **Posted:** Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:11 am

We have seen them as often as 20 min apart or as slow as 2 trains per shift. Everything is pending on the production of the Longwall machine.

Before I get into the entire MSHA training. Do you have any experience underground or at industrial facilities. The reason why I am asking is that these are places of business & not open to the public. It is very very difficult to get MSHA trained and allowed on the property at any active mine. For this mine you can actually get fairly close since there is a public road around it.

Just in MSHA approved required gear (PPE) to use it costs well over $1000.00 to be able to go underground.

I have your email address. I am taking it off the publc post so if you notice it missing I took it off.

Pete, OVCC

50tonloco · **Posted:** Wed Dec 09, 2009 1:29 pm

No I do not I am a high school student, so therefore I have no experience in underground or industrial facilities so I guess the training is not an option

One more question, where was that mine where the video of that 1920's trolley locomotive was filmed (your future meseum?) or an active mine?

50tonloco · **Posted:** Wed Dec 09, 2009 1:43 pm

About underground experience I forgot I went caving twice with Boy Scouts, don't know if that counts thougth

Doug · **Posted:** Wed Dec 09, 2009 3:37 pm

Caving does not count.

I'm going to disagree with Pete a bit on the training. First off your age wil be a bit of a problem.

Training can be a half-hour to an hour site specific hazard training and there are exceptions for educational tours. But, someone at the mine has to WANT to give you a tour. Most will use the 40-hour training requirment as an excuse not to give a tour or just say MSHA Rules don't allow it.

There are PPE requirments, but again if the Mine WANTS to get you in. They will loan you what you need.

50tonloco · **Posted:** Wed Dec 09, 2009 3:44 pm

What is the minimum age 18 or 21?

Doug · **Posted:** Wed Dec 09, 2009 4:06 pm

I want to think 18 but that may be Indiana rules. I will have to check MSHA rules. But in some case the states have rules that exceed MSHA and the more strict of the two is what is in effect.

Chris · **Posted:** Wed Dec 09, 2009 4:07 pm

18. i cant speak for the bitty mines (dont worry, no big discussion is coming :lol:

) but like doug said all that is really needed is the site specific training for a "tour". thats here at our anthracite mines and we both follow the same msha laws. (unfortunately). the 40 hr requirement is for new hires to work underground. however i do agree with pete that many many operators will use this as an excuse to shew you away. most people dont know any better anyways, and as pete said these are places to get coal out of the ground, and lots of it! not tour mines, so mostly you either have to have an in at the coalhole to get a tour or be a real good talker (the one thing pete and i both have in common :wink:

) so to recap, msha site specific training is needed, you need to be 18, and someone at the mine has to want you there. not to discourage you but this is the facts, like we said these arent tour operations.

What bituminous mines still use rail hualage?

Who is online