What might be making you a tad apprehensive, but might not, as it's too soon to tell

orthodoc · 10-22-2013, 09:10 PM

Going on a coal-mine tour tomorrow. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, somewhat ironically - after all, the people who work the mines get plenty of opportunity. Outsiders don't, however. I believe this is a long-wall mine. The thought of hydraulic shocks moving along as the shearer cuts into the seam, and the area behind collapsing ... makes me apprehensive.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longwall_mining.

I will try to get some pics, although I suspect only pics on the surface will be allowed.

Griff · 10-23-2013, 05:42 AM

Next time I want to bitch about my job reflecting on coal-mining would put an end to that.

glatt · 10-23-2013, 08:16 AM

Let us know how it goes! My grandfather used to talk about the coal mines all the time, but refused to ever step foot into one. Even museum ones that were deemed perfectly safe for the public to visit. The stories he told were amazing. Some crazy stuff happened in PA mines in the last century.

Lamplighter · 10-23-2013, 09:04 AM

I had not heard the term "long wall" before.

I watched a few of the YouTube videos on long wall coal mining.
Some are nothing but commercials for the mining equipment (e.g. Caterpillar, etc.)

This one explains what it is using animations:

Despite the politics of coal (Koch Brothers, global warming, etc.),
I am still amazed at the engineering.

Thanks for the introduction, Ortho...

10-22-2013, 09:10 PM	#1
orthodoc Not Suspicious, Merely Canadian Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3,774	Going on a coal-mine tour tomorrow. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, somewhat ironically - after all, the people who work the mines get plenty of opportunity. Outsiders don't, however. I believe this is a long-wall mine. The thought of hydraulic shocks moving along as the shearer cuts into the seam, and the area behind collapsing ... makes me apprehensive. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longwall_mining. I will try to get some pics, although I suspect only pics on the surface will be allowed. __________________ The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. - Ghandi

10-23-2013, 05:42 AM	#2
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Next time I want to bitch about my job reflecting on coal-mining would put an end to that. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

10-23-2013, 08:16 AM	#3
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Let us know how it goes! My grandfather used to talk about the coal mines all the time, but refused to ever step foot into one. Even museum ones that were deemed perfectly safe for the public to visit. The stories he told were amazing. Some crazy stuff happened in PA mines in the last century.

10-23-2013, 09:04 AM	#4
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	I had not heard the term "long wall" before. I watched a few of the YouTube videos on long wall coal mining. Some are nothing but commercials for the mining equipment (e.g. Caterpillar, etc.) This one explains what it is using animations: Despite the politics of coal (Koch Brothers, global warming, etc.), I am still amazed at the engineering. Thanks for the introduction, Ortho...

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