Also looking forward to part 2.My father worked at the mine for 30 yrs. until closing. I used to walk to Harwick via the tracks from the dump behind Springdale.
At 19:00, that trestle was very similar to the one crossing Deer Creek Rd., and was VERY narrow. I drove coal truck in the 70's in that area, sharp curve, narrow underpass and steep grade, it was an ugly area!! Glad to see it go, from a driver standpoint!! The crossing over Tawney Run was also a headache, as the road contoured to the railbed, and would nearly flip your truck over if you attempted to cross it at excess speed.
Hey Bob...this photo was taken on Gulf Lab Road near the cemetery. Funny you should mention Tawney Run and the trestle that was there. I did a whole video of that section of the coal mine railroad. Have been trying to find into concerning that trestle over Tawney. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NzhfDNsOwFA.html
It should be noted that "phase 2" of the c&h was still intact and in use till around 2015. Once in a blue moon the BLE would move a high/wide to or from Curtis wright. Also prior to this dirty dirt was shipped it by rail in containers. Great info and photos in "PA shortlines vol 1" and " ghost rails vol XIV"
I lived on the hill above the Harwick to Cheswick line in the Fifties and used to jump those coal trains. They all went out on the coal trestle to the Colfax power station. A steeple cab diesel pulled the train.
I believe the vertical tank in question @ 21:47 is a water tower for the mine tipple. I have a still photo of it somewhere when it was horizontal, before being put into service. I can't learn enough about this forgotten mine and it's servicing short line RR. Used to ride dirt bikes from Cheswick to the mine in the mid 70's - early 80's.
