Anthracite Mine, Alston, Cumbria - July 2009

This mine opened in 1936 and closed in 2000 (when it's been said the mine had a further 25-30 year more of life), worked the Little Limestone seam mainly putting out semi-Anthracite.

The mine originally used wooden tubs on a 1ft 8in gauge tramway until being replaced in 1977 by sixty steel tubs, which had to be re-gauged. The tubs were hauled by a double-drum main-and-tail electric engine, capable of moving eight 400kg tubs at 5mph. Tubs were then tipped into a large hopper and on into a lorry waiting below.

The site is currently mothballed, and seemingly used as a scrap yard. However bags of coal are lying at the base of the hopper so who knows what it's status is








Tipper and conveyor belt from tipper No. 2




Looking towards the drift












Tipper No. 2, operated by the running gear from a transit van












Thanks

Nice find and pics mothballed or not, looks like it'd take a few bob well to get it going again.

This looks like a nice little find

Could a member of admin change the title of this thread please to 'Anthracite Mine, Alston, Cumbria - July 2009'. With respect to the owner, I wouldn't want to be blamed for any pikeys theiving from the site.

Thanks

Thread title changed.

BigLoada and myself have visited this place - there was definately an odd feel about the area - as if we were being watched!

If you look closesly to here there are many old adits which are linked together in the search for coal. The lack of information about the site is another puzzling thing. Personally I think the mine still gets used now and then....

Nice little find! Looks well creepy and desolate!

Sausage said:

Thread title changed.

BigLoada and myself have visited this place - there was definately an odd feel about the area - as if we were being watched!

If you look closesly to here there are many old adits which are linked together in the search for coal. The lack of information about the site is another puzzling thing. Personally I think the mine still gets used now and then....

Click to expand...

I wouldn't be surprised at all, like I said there is bags of coal at the foot of the hopper.

Have you been to Ayle? Just across the valley. I was going to attempt that but it has a big green gate that looked hard to get around and I wasn't going to trapse throught a stream to get to it, lol.