Coal — Jeremy Blakeslee Photography

A word about abandoned mines!

Many of the environments presented on this website are perilous and were only accessed with a thorough understanding of the hazards present and the necessary precautions to mitigate them. This often involves engaging the expertise of professional miners or underground search and rescue teams who possess a comprehensive understanding of the abandoned workings, airflow patterns, and specific hazards inherent to a particular location. Never enter an abandoned mine without the appropriate training, people, equipment, and protocols in place.

It is important to note that mines were not constructed with longevity in mind and many that were built over a century ago now present a plethora of hazards such as unstable rock formations, deteriorated timber supports and ladders, unexpected drops, and the potential for sudden roof collapses. Additionally, the presence of invisible and flammable gasses or lack of oxygen, heighten the risk of injury or death. In coal mines, the presence of methane and black damp must be taken into careful consideration. Furthermore, barometric changes above ground can cause shifts in airflow underground which can trap individuals in areas with poor air quality, making escape impossible.

STAY OUT AND STAY ALIVE!

Steam Hoisting Engine and Ore Cart - Abandoned Coal Mine - Pennsylvania

Carbide lamp - Photographed from the collection of The Lackawanna Historical Society. These early miner’s lamps had an exposed flame which could ignite flammable gases that collected in mines, causing explosions.

Miners lamp - Photographed from the collection of The Lackawanna Historical Society

Permissible Safety Lamp - Permissible lamps were designed to operate in air that may contain coal dust or gases, both of which are potentially flammable or explosive. Open flame lamps could ignite flammable gases which collected in mines, causing explosions; safety lamps were developed to enclose the flame and prevent it from igniting the surrounding atmosphere.

A coal conveyer moves material from a mine to a processing facility - Pennsylvania

Rail cars and electrical wires in a gangway abandoned deep below Pennsylvania.

Drainage Adit - Centralia PA

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Ukrainian Catholic Church - Centralia PA
One of very few surving structures in the once thriving coal mining town that has suffered from an undground coal mine fire since since 1962 and continues to burn to this day.