its too traumatizing to talk about the pie incident, it was a long time ago, i cant bring myself to mention it again.....

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heres 2 teaser shots for tomorrows website update:

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Are those doors in the second picture to keep gasses from seeping into other parts of the mine?

they are ventilation control doors. youre somewhat correct, in this installation they keep fresh air from being sucked in from the tunnel opening as it was not the primary airway. mine ventilation is somewhat confusing unless you study how the individual mine is layed out. they are all different. these were automatic doors, when the trip of cars came by the flanges of the wheels pressed down on plates and through rigging, opened the doors. you can still see this in the pic above if you know what to look for.

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Ok. so it is kind of like the train set crossing gates, where the weight of the locomotive and cars press down on a plate that uses a pair of levers to lower the gates when the train crosses it, and then when it is done, they open.

ok boys and girls, updated the site with the Coaldale No.8 mine. its basically across the street from the No.9 mine tour. we were hesitant to put it up for years because of its high profile being right next to the road and the recent active strip mining near it. well, now its gone forever. stripped right through. the photos on our site were taken by Myself, and Greg and Mike from this site.


http://undergroundminers.com/coaldalemine.html

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Nice job guys. As I looked at the pictures, I felt some remorse knowing that we have lost another great mine and a small part of our heritage is gone forever. I'm glad that there are guys like Chris, Greg, Mike and the rest of the UGM crew that has documented what many people will never see and what we will never see again in the anthracite fields of Northeastern Pennsylvania. I'm glad that I have been a part of that group.
Thanks

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Scott K
"Watch Your Top"

Looks a lot like No. 9.

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I don't have all the answers.
I don't even know all the questions!

Great update Chris! Going through the slide show, I forgot how awesome that mine was. I remember all of the artifacts in that mine.. The mine bells by the shaft, the old phone, lights, it was a very intact almost untouched mine. Although partially caved part way in, it also had the second entrance. They put a ton of money in that mine given all of the steel sets throughout the mine, the rail, switches, etc. It was a really well developed mine. I regret we never finished documenting that mine. Supposedly there was a mule way down to the next level.

Miner Greg

Yep, a neat old mine for sure. Well, it was anyways. Sable mentioned making it down the mule way, like the one in no.9. We never saw it.

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sad.

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Dunder Mifflin, the people persons paper people.

Added the Oakhill Tunnel to the website:

http://undergroundminers.com/oakhill.html

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Well done boys........

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Scott K
"Watch Your Top"

thanks scott, too bad you missed this one.

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Chris,

Very good update. I remember those photos from years back. I'm know you've taken more photos, but I still think many of these are among your top mine photos of all times! This was a very neat mine, very photogenic.

Miner Greg