BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

All:

As my great-uncles on my mother's side were all anthracite coal miners near Wilkes-Barre (1920s-1940s), I've long been greatly interested, indeed, quite fascinated, by the rich and intriguing history of coal mining in Eastern Pennsylvania.

Of course, the little railways that once shuttled coal-laden cars to and from the surface through the complex network of dimly-lit mine tunnels, have likewise, greatly intrigued me for many years.

Some were electric ("mules") and operated off of overhead wires (looking much like flatbed work motor streetcars!) while others operated by compressed air.

I've heard many interesting stories about my mother's family working in the mines, and, to say I am still quite impressed (and, also, in awe) of these oft-forgotten, long-toiling men is indeed an understatement

This page is indeed most fascinating (UNBELIEVABLE that mine "railways" actually date back many centuries!)

Much historical and technical info here, as well as a number of fascinating photos...........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mine_railway

["BLUE COAL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

More ANCIENT mine railway history (dating back to the 1500s!)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minecart

["DANGER! KEEP BACK!"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

EXCELLENT historical page (with several rare photos!) of the little trolley pole-equipped "mules" that once growled, sparked, and hummed through the depths of Eastern Pennsylvania's complex network of anthracite coal mines.

Storage battery locos are also represented here.....

https://undergroundminers.com/anthracite-mine-transportation-methods/

["GE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Though this page deals with historic mining locomotives from Kentucky, you will see several types that once could be found in the anthracite mines of Pennsylvania........

www.coaleducation.org/coalhistory/tech2/e40.htm

["CROWN MINE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

A RARE and PRICELESS survivor from a long-ago age..............

https://undergroundminers.com/4-ton-whitcomb-electric-storage-battery-locomotive/

["RICHMONDALE COAL CO."]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here is another interesting historical page; Plymouth is a town near where my mother was born in 1917.

She also had an aunt and uncle that resided there for many years.

On a sidenote, the streetcars of WILKES-BARRE Rys served Plymouth until 1950.

Not surprisingly, many of the miners who lived in this area rode the streetcars to and from their jobs, as did my great uncles.

My maternal great-grandfather, until his passing in 1934, was the superintedent of the massive Glen Alden Colliery..........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_mining_in_Plymouth,_Pennsylvania

["C"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also...........

WILKES-BARRE RAILWAYS was, not surprisingly, no stranger to having problems with sinkholes and cave-ins beneath their tracks on long stretches of private ROW over the decades, in areas where mine shafts and tunnels burrowed beneath the tracks.

Dump cars were used to fill in and re-enforce these areas so that streetcar service could safely resume..........

"NYO"

["HA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Further...............

In the mines, the locomotives used (whether electric or compressed air) were referred to as "lokies".

The original electric "lokies" had the trolley poles (and overhead wires) mounted directly over the center of the track (the same as in streetcar operations)

Later electric "lokies" had the trolley poles and wires offset, for the increased safety of the "motormen" operating them.

Interestingly, the elevators were referred to as "cages".

All mine tunnels had, at key locations, whitewashed structures that were used as foreman's offices (a telephone, electric lights, etc); also, there were similar structures that which fitted out as emergency hospitals, with all the medical equipment needed (often including an X-ray machine) to treat men who were injured on the job.

Also, in certain mines, a block signal system was used for the safe movement of trains within the tunnels themselves.

Indeed, it was a vast underground civilization, complex and far-reaching, all to itself..............

"NYO"

['BREAKER No. 5"]

"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also of related interested........

https://ageofsteamroundhouse.org/collections/compressed-air-0-4-0-no-1/

["PORTER"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Mine railway interlockings........

These could get quite complex, depending on what areas they were located in, especially where several tunnels branched off from the main track at a key location.

There were three-way switches, slip switches, and crossovers.

By approaching the switch(s) with either power on or power off (coasting) the "motorman" manning an electric "lokie" could operate the overhead switch, aligning it for the route he was to take, again, a scaled-down version of what was commonplace on streetcar and trolleybus systems.............

"NYO"

["DANGER-HIGH VOLTAGE!"]

[Cyberider]

NYO:

That compressed air locomotive is interesting. Another new one for me!

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

You would be surprised at how many never heard of such "lokies"; even the little electrics would seem a foreign concept to them!

Many years ago, my late uncle gave me an old, old book one Christmas, ""LIGHT LOCOMOTIVES" (1920), by the PORTER locomotive works.

This wonderful book is chock-pull of photos, speqs, the whole nine yards; indeed, a true treasure trove of info and illustrations!

Illustrated are two mining "lokies", Class "B" and Class "C".

The Class "B" is tiny 0-4-0, while the class "C" is an 0-6-0.

As these little engines were built to run in the tight confines of mine tunnels, they are almost flat in contours (it would seem having a SHORT engineer in the cab would just fit the bill!)

Over 20 different sizes of both types were available in 1920; also, they could be built for both wide and narrow gauge.

Hard-working little "lokies", for certain!

"NYO"

["30"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here is a rare photo of a battery-electric "lokie" hauling a trainload of miners, circa-1920s...........

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/463237511658530708/

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

in this photo, note (look closely) the highly-unusual overhead side current collector contacting the trolley wires to the right of the "lokie"............

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/13721973839990473/

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Mention MUST be made about the now long-abandoned, complex Chicago Tunnel Railway; a FASCINATING history, to be sure!

Note that the "lokies" were virtual clones of those used in many mining operations (a number of rare and interesting photos here!)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tunnel_Company