Prosper-Haniel in the snow !

Prosper-Haniel colliery covered with snow !

The January in 2009 was very cold in Germany, a lot of snow fell, and that did not only happen in the regions where snow can be seen quite frequently in winter, but also in regions where snow is very rare. One of these regions is the Ruhr area that is situated only between 30 and 60 metres above the sea level.

Oliver Thol has sent me these beautiful and rare photos showing Prosper-Haniel colliery in the city of Bottrop (Germany) on a cold winter morning with a lot of fog and snow. Additionally you can take part in a walk up the colliery's slagheap, from where you have a wonderful overview of the colliery, of the place where the church services e.g. on Corpus Christi take place, of the work of art on the slagheap's peak and of the amphitheatre close to the peak. Thank you very much to Oliver, who is working at Prosper-Haniel colliery as an electrician.

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.


Prosper-Haniel colliery from far away.	The winding tower of Prosper-Haniel colliery.	Trees with white frost in front of the tower.	A view from the footpath up the slagheap.


One floor of a pit cage on the slagheap.	The pit cage from the side.	This is the way to the slagheap's peak.	Metal pillars for the safety of the roadways.


Another way of building roadways.	In these mine cars the miners are driven.	In the background there is the cross, yet.	A part of a shearer.


The cross is hidden behind some trees.	Another impression from the slagheap.	The cross with the altar in the foreground.	The cross in front of the blue sky.


This is the entire cross on the slagheap.	A view down on the winding tower.	The entire colliery seen from above.	A work of art on the slagheap's peak.


The work of art is made of sleepers.	A part of the work of art on the slagheap.	The area for the church services with the cross.	This is a beautiful photo of the cross.


There is an amphitheatre on the slagheap, too.	A real safety shield from underground.	Even today wood is still used underground.	In the background there is the winding tower.


Prosper-Haniel colliery behind some trees.	A small version of a winding tower's wheel.	This is another kind of safety pillar.	A tub that is used for sinking shafts.

A mine car for the transportation of the coal.