An underground tour to the mining area Wilhelm 753 !

Underground tour to the longwall mining area Wilhelm 753 !

On June 21st in 2007 I had the opportunity to visit the longwall mining area 753 in the Wilhelm seam of Ost colliery in the city of Hamm in Germany. This longwall mining area is situated under the Western suburbs of Hamm in a depth of 1470 metres and the coal is extracted with a shearer. Some of the photos are quite dark but the camera that can be used underground unfortunately does not have a flash. 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.

My special thanks go to the employees of Ost colliery who made it possible for me to take these photos. The underground tour was really impressioning and I enjoy having made this experience !

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 early in the morning.	The other two participants of the tour.	Lerche shaft - here we will go underground.	The pit bank of Lerche shaft.


Now we arrived at Lerche shaft's onset.	Me at the onset.	A view into the roadway at the onset.	A roadway that leads to the onset.


A machine for transporting the coolant.	An underground bridge for the miners.	Under it safety shields are transported.	The large roadway for the transportation.


Also liquids can be transported here.	Concrete is pumped from here.	This machine avoids dust in the roadways.	A suspension railway.


Me in a roadway.	The exchange of information is important.	A roadway of Ost colliery.	The energy supply for the mining area.


The first view into the longwall mining area.	Miners in the longwall mining area.	A miner in a depth of about 1500 metres.	In the Wilhelm longwall mining area.


Now it is me in the longwall mining area.	A part of the shearer in the mining area.	One of the shearer's two large rolls.	The roll from much closer.


The chain protects the cables of the shearer.	A miner is working in the longwall mining area.	Another view into the longwall mining area.	This picture shows the seam's real size.


A crusher at the other end of the mining area.	A group of apprentices at work.	Here the miners can cross the conveyor.	A view into the large roadway.


In all roadways lamps are mounted for the safety.	A conveyor for the coal and the miners.	From here the transportation is controlled.	Our group underground at Lerche shaft.


This is me underground at Lerche shaft.	Once again a view into the really large roadway.	Other miners are waiting at the onset, as well.	The gate to Lerche shaft.