The day of Ost colliery's shutdown !

Last day of coal production at Ost colliery, Sept. 30th in 2010 !

On September 30th in 2010 the last hard coal was produced at Ost colliery in the city of Hamm in Germany. On that day the coal mine's history of about 110 years ended, even though there are still deposits containing several million tons of high quality coking coal.

I have lots of wonderful memories of Ost colliery (the colliery's former name was Heinrich Robert), so that I really wanted to take part in the last works meeting. Important people like Bernd Toenjes, chairman of the board of directors of the RAG Deutsche Steinkohle, Juergen Schwarze, manager of Ost colliery, and Wolfgang Junge, the colliery's works council chairman, emphasized different aspects during their speeches: For example, they pointed out how important the colliery was for the economy in the region and what efforts all miners made when producing the hard coal in a depth of more than 1.500 metres. All of them also said thank you to the miners for the impressive motivation they had until to the last day of Ost colliery's coal production.

As I mentioned before, I had a close relation to Ost colliery and I was always welcomed here with open arms. Additionally lots of supporters of Pro-Bergbau could be found at this coal mine and I really want to say thank you to all of them.

Under numerous photos of this gallery you can find quite personal annotations from me reflecting the thoughts I have when looking at the pictures. I took the photos of the remnants at the hooks in the colliery's dressing rooms, because somehow every item represents a miner, who has hung his clothes etc. at his hooks every day for years and who took all of his equipment with him after his last shift - except of these special things that I have found.

Despite to the photos' sad background I wish you much fun while watching them.

If you discover yourself in one of the pictures and if you do not want the photo to be published here, please send me an e-mail.

Please click on the photos' small versions in order to enlarge them and to get the corresponding background information. ATTENTION: The pictures' explanations can now be found UNDER the large versions.


Ost colliery on September 30th in 2010.	Sta. Barbara on the colliery's area.	The sun shines through a gate in a wall.	A beautiful administrative building.


A view up the administrative building.	The winding tower of Heinrich shaft.	The winding ropes.	The former corridor for the miners.


A miner carrying his equipment to the gate.	The banner in the atrium.	The miners' symbol in the atrium.	Lots of rows of chairs were prepared.


The podium for the speakers.	The chairs seen from above.	The chairs and the podium.	Here I am remin-ded of my first underground tour.


Lots of representatives of the press.	Ralf Sollmann interviewed by the ZDF.	Wolfgang Junge gives an interview, as well.	The team of the ZDF at work.


Hamm's mayor gets interviewed.	There are still some clothes in the showers.	The clothes of the colliery's last miners.	Remnants: A single padlock.


Remnants: Safety goggles.	Remnants: A bottle and a miner's shirt.	Remnants: A belt and a pair of gloves.	Remnants: A helmet covered with coal dust.


Remnants: Kneepads.	Remnants: I do not know what it is :-(.	Remnants: Some boxes with snuff and a knife.	Remnants: A long line of locks.


Stairs in the colliery's dressing rooms.	Wolfgang Junge during his speech.	Lots of miners came to the atrium.	The atrium with the podium on the left.


Ost colliery's last works meeting.	The end of 109 years of mining history.	Juergen Schwarze, Ost colliery's manager.	Mr. Toenjes and Mr. Hunsteger-Petermann.


Juergen Eikhoff, member of RAG's board.	Different members of the board of directors.	Peter Schrimpf and Juergen Schwarze.	Bernd Toenjes, chairman of the RAG's board.


Some members of the mine rescuers' community.	Juergen Schwarze and Bernd Toenjes.	Some miners in their beautiful dresses.	Some miners after the works meeting.


This was shown during the entire press conference.	Wolfgang Junge.	The participants of the press conference.	Bernd Toenjes and Juergen Schwarze.

After 16 years: My last view back.