Abandoned Bucyrus-Erie Earth Excavator

I noticed this Bucyrus-Erie Excavator sitting along the road one day while I was working. I don't know much about it except it's really big and really cool. I haven't been able to find out the model of this or if it was steam powered or what. Any insight would be appreciated.

Big engine.

 

Donnelly Coke Ovens

The Donnelly Coke Works opened in 1878 by the firm of Donnelly And Dillinger but was soon acquired by The McClure Coke Company. The H.C. Frick Coke Company took over the operation in 1895 and renamed it Alverton No. 1. In 1900 there were 252 ovens producing 75,000 tons of coke. By 1923 these ovens were abandoned.

Collapsing oven.

A bunch of hawks were circling me the entire time I was there.

 

Scalp Level Eureka No. 40 Mine

This is a huge mining complex but I got here a little too late. I think they tore most of the stuff out of here. There are some other web sites covering this mine and I was expecting to find a lot more than I did. It was interesting nonetheless. This mine was constructed in 1905 and from what I can find lasted until 1962 but may have been leased to other operators as late as the early 1980's. The mines power house still remains and is a huge building. I couldn't get inside but did see a decent amount of machinery still remaining through a crack in the chained up door. Part of the tipple still remains and there is a very nice look out point off the road leading into town.

What's left of the tipple.

Entrance to one of the old portals.

Rear view of the power house.

Side view of the power house.

Some old machinery laying outside of the power house.

View of the mining complex with the village of Scalp Level behind it.

The large slate dump.

Marietta Mine And Coke Works/Wilpen, PA

These ovens sit above an old Ligonier Valley Railroad line near Wilpen. They are in pretty deteriorated shape. This complex was constructed circa 1907. The ovens were abandoned in 1918 and nearly all the coal produced at the mine was shipped to outside markets. The mine itself was closed in  1924. The tipple once stood at the southern end of the row of ovens.

This oven is pretty flat.

I'm not sure what this is but I like it. Big wheeled wheelbarrow.

Fort Palmer Coke Works

There are about 150 ovens remaining of the Fort Palmer Mine and Coke Works. There once was a town here as well but only foundations remain. The ovens are great examples of the rectangular design of beehive ovens. This complex was developed circa 1907 and is thought to have closed in the 1930's. Nothing remains of the mine buildings other than foundations.

These ovens were a newer innovation of typical beehive ovens. They were called Belgian Ovens and were developed in Germany. They were mechanically drawn by pushing the finished coke from one end out the other.