Photos of Ost colliery, Grimberg 2 shaft !

Ost colliery - Grimberg 2 shaft !

On October 15th in 2003 - a day with bright blue sky and a wonderful autumn sun - I went to Bergkamen (Germany) to the area of the Grimberg 2 shaft. It was very interesting to take these photos of the remarkable shaft tower and the area surrounding it.

The shaft is still in use. The miners leave the pit cages underground at the onset in a depth of -960 metres. After using the conveyors for their own transportation they use another shaft that does not reach the surface to get even deeper. The miners' working places are mostly in the Wilhelm seam that can be reached from Lerche shaft, as well. The longwall mining areas in this part of Wilhelm seam are in a depth between -1.400 and -1.500 metres under the surface.

I hope you will have a great pleasure watching these photos. On the first two pages there are colour photos and the third page contains some black and white ones.

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.


On the way to Grimberg shaft.	The double pit fan.	The exceptional tower at Grimberg 2.	The corridor leading to the shaft.


At Grimberg shaft's pit bank.	A board of switches.	Above the pit bank.	Where the pit cages are lead in.


A closer look at the board of switches.	A phone.	Rails leading to the gate of Grimberg shaft.	What else ? ;o)


The gate in a total view.	...and from one side.	The fire extinguisher is ready.	A mirror.


Ooops....	Wheels for the ropes.	Three ropes in the shaft.	Several bells in the operator's place.


Once again the three ropes.	Wires.	A funny signal.	The rails' end in front of the shaft.


Switches.	The upper end of a pit cage.	Where the pit cage is fixed at the rope.	Miners at the beginning of their shift.


Waiting for the pit cage.	The pit cage has arrived.	Then the miners enter it.	The impressioning shaft tower.