not sure how many of you are aware of this but our friends over at Old Forge Coal Mine (www.oldforgecoalmine.com) have taken the initiative to open up the old clark slope in old forge for a park and educational center. well we have joined up with carl and his crew (who have been coming down and helping us with rail work at no.9) to display some of our equipment when its finished. we attempted to start a project in archbald years ago but local politics got in the way. hopefully carl has much success with the project at sparrowville in old forge. unfortunately the slope is collapsed a few hundred feet in so hopes for a mine tour are pretty far away, plus the mine pool will be right below that. however it is a pretty sweet looking mine opening and we will be taking a bunch of our rail down there to lay on the slope as well as a turnout. we have donated one of our mine cars that needed restoration to their organization and will put our equipment on loan to them for display when the project is complete. there really isnt a whole lot to do there besides clear trees and a few road beds so it appears it will go smoothly. carl informs me that the borough is all for it as well so thats good. they have fabricated a gate on the opening to keep the curious out. if plans go the way they are anticipated our rail should be going down this summer. heres a newspaper article from this past week........ its great that we can all work together for our anthracite preservation cause and we all wish carl the best of luck.......

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Come over to the Dark Side....... We have Cookies!

photo by mike piersa

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Come over to the Dark Side....... We have Cookies!

I know you were just posting that because you were in it.

Well, good job anyway.
Nice article.

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"Heyna!"

shana you know me too good.... just remember, those that think of themselves get ahead!

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Come over to the Dark Side....... We have Cookies!

I've been keeping in touch with Carl about this from time to time. Still mostly in the fundraising stage. He seems to have a good grasp on getting a grant writer and such. When you start laying track let me know, Ill be down.

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jdr

that is a cool opening !!

sorry john im done laying track on the surface. did my share at my dads just to pull it all back up again. im just giving it to carl and they are gonna do it. however im sure he would love the help!!

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Come over to the Dark Side....... We have Cookies!

I hope everything goes as anticipated -- it is a beautiful opening! It is a shame the project in Archbald didn't work out. I just hope that doesn't spell the fate of those structures. I'd love to help lay some rail this summer and looking forward to working again at #9. Last time I removed and then installed an entire two bolts into a rail joint!

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"If you thought old, abandoned mines were only in the west, then you haven't been to IronMiners.com!"

well mike thats cause its hard to do rail work with a starbucks in the other hand........ hehe. naw just kiddin' youre welcome whenever you can make it down. we'll work ya this year thats for sure!

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Come over to the Dark Side....... We have Cookies!

Hey at least I heard the mine locomotive has been running a lot smoother on the track since installed those new bolts in the main haulage way! Ok, I promise to bring a cup holder this time!

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"If you thought old, abandoned mines were only in the west, then you haven't been to IronMiners.com!"

yea real smooth...............

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Come over to the Dark Side....... We have Cookies!

HAHAHA I REMEMBER THAT LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY..... WE FOUND OUT THAT WE DO NEED A GUIDE RAIL TO GO THROUGH A SWITCH

Yeah it sure looks like it! Good job!

Miner Greg

Sorry but I don't do track work rated for 90 mph on a narrow gauge haulageway.

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"If you thought old, abandoned mines were only in the west, then you haven't been to IronMiners.com!"

Ya Chris. Can't blame you there. You put in tons of time on that track. I'd be done with trackwork for a while myself if I had to rip it all up. I write to Carl now and then, and I'm sure I'll see him down the 9. He knows I'm going to come down when he's ready.

Something about a structure and someone's mine motor being relocated there, that still in the works? He had the plans at the summer picnic and that looked cool. Love to see the headframe now that he cleared it out some.

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jdr