When coal was king

KevinhooaKevinhooa Registered Users Posts: 38 Big grins
edited October 5, 2010 in Journeys
Hello everyone, new member here, and I figured I'd share a trip I took back in the winter of 2010.

Back in the day when coal was the main means of home heating and steam engine fuel coal was mined out of the ground and then broken into pieces of different sizes for different uses. In the mountains of PA is a remnant of a bygone era known as the St. Nicholas Coal Breaker which was part of Reading Anthracite.


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Rotary Cross Bracing by Owls Flight Photography, on Flickr
Rotary coal dumper. Hopper cars were brought in, locked into this machine, and completely dumped upside down for the fastest means of unloading.


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The Sun Moves - So Do They by Owls Flight Photography, on Flickr
Part of the huge conveyor belt that led from the unloading area to the top of the sorting building.


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Miles Trodden and Parked by Owls Flight Photography, on Flickr
Boots from the workers - although lately people have been dropping off their own.


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Chewing Through Inactivity by Owls Flight Photography, on Flickr
An important part of working such a huge factory was the ability to be self sustaining as far as making parts and misc pieces of the equipment. This breaker had two shops, one for wood, and one for metal.

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Hanging On to Contrast by Owls Flight Photography, on Flickr
Part of a block and tackle for unloading equipment.

Enjoy. :slurp
Kevin H. (Owls Flight)

There seems to be less and less garden in this state.

Comments

  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited September 24, 2010
    Evocative images.
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,938 moderator
    edited September 27, 2010
    Thanks for sharing these!
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • KevinhooaKevinhooa Registered Users Posts: 38 Big grins
    edited September 27, 2010
    Thanks guys, glad you enjoyed them.
    Kevin H. (Owls Flight)

    There seems to be less and less garden in this state.
  • schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
    edited September 27, 2010
    Hey that place looks familiar! lol3.gif

    With a title like this of course I had to take a look. Nice work. Coal Country in PA is probably one of my favorite places in the Rust Belt, maybe the US.
  • KevinhooaKevinhooa Registered Users Posts: 38 Big grins
    edited September 28, 2010
    Thanks I'm glad you liked them. Yeah, you could spend a lot of time exploring North-East PA. I love it out there. The Huber is another good one. Some great history out there too.
    Kevin H. (Owls Flight)

    There seems to be less and less garden in this state.
  • jzieglerjziegler Registered Users Posts: 420 Major grins
    edited September 28, 2010
    Very nice. Looks like an interesting place to visit.
  • nw scoutnw scout Registered Users Posts: 256 Major grins
    edited September 28, 2010
    Love the final shot of the chain!!!
  • KevinhooaKevinhooa Registered Users Posts: 38 Big grins
    edited September 28, 2010
    Thanks! That chain one is one of my favorite too.
    Kevin H. (Owls Flight)

    There seems to be less and less garden in this state.
  • TenThirteenTenThirteen Registered Users Posts: 488 Major grins
    edited October 1, 2010
    Love them all! :-)
    Canon Fan
  • Roaddog 52Roaddog 52 Registered Users Posts: 309 Major grins
    edited October 1, 2010
    A nice set of Images. You can't go wrong with old steel and wood.
    "Then the coal company came with the world's largest shovel" and
    "Mr Peabody's coal train has hauled it away"


    John Prine
    I don't know where I'm goin, but I'm goin anyway.
  • WanderWander Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
    edited October 5, 2010
    It looks like you had pretty free access to get those shots. Was that by permission?

    The stark functionality of the equipment has a post modern sculpture quality to it now with some age.
    ~Matt
    __________________________________________
    Enjoy the journey, it's the best part.

    Nikon D70s
    Nikon F4s
    Pentax K1000
    Olympus OM-10
    Gitzo CF tripod/Arca Swiss ball head
    Not nearly enough lenses
  • KevinhooaKevinhooa Registered Users Posts: 38 Big grins
    edited October 5, 2010
    Thanks for all the comments.

    Wander, check out the Flickr set and I'll let you be the judge. This was shot in 5-15 F degree temps so the colors inside were amazing. It really added a cold lonely feel to the images I think.
    Kevin H. (Owls Flight)

    There seems to be less and less garden in this state.
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