These are some pics my Dad took at his workplace last week in KY. He just took a new mining boss job out in Wyoming because the pay beats what he's making around here, and they pay for his gas, personal truck maintenance, flights, and lodging. Plus, he said that dozer is killing his back with the constant beating and banging on rocks. He'll be working 20 days on, and 10 days off paid in salary with paid vacations. It's a big step up for him. I'd appreciate it if you "believers" out there would say a little prayer for his safety and well being. I worry about him sometimes. Thanks.

 

Where in KY did he work?

 

Somewhere up around Harlan I think. I'm not sure of the name of the outfit, but I'll ask him next time I see him.

 

What are the dangers of working in these mines?

 

Consider it done Peace I'd also like to wish Poppa Peace the best of luck with his new job.

 

Well, it's not like a deep mine where you go 4 miles underground. In highwall mining, they use what's called a highwall miner to cut out horizontal seams that about 4 feet high and 8 feet wide. They can cut back into the highwall as much as 100 feet (don't quote me, but I think it's 100 ft.) at a time. This is called surface mining.

Mostly he has to watch out for loose rock on highwalls. Sometimes rocks as big as cars just fall out of nowhere due to dampness, and the vibration of the highwall miners (very large piece of equipment btw) digging out coal seams horizontally from the highwalls. The 3rd pic down is what a highwall looks like. My Dad had to dig a friend of his out from under rock rubble that fell on him while he was operating a drill underneath a highwall. It killed the poor guy instantly. And there's gas lines with thousands of pounds of pressure on them. If you run a big dozer over one of those and you hear a big wooshing sound, you'd better start praying that the glowing red turbo on that big deisel doesn't catch wind of that gas. There's just to many things to list that could go wrong, but I try not to think about it.

 

Thanks Rosie girl. That means alot. And thanks for the best wishes.

 

hope the best for him my family is in that businnes in eastern ky so i know what you mean

 

Dang it!!!


I seen "strip" in the title, and seen IMG tags when I hoovered, I thought this thread was tottally something else, I couldn't click fast enough.



Well while Im here, good luck to your dad with his new position.

 

x2 WMR.

 

Lol @ PSS.

Thanks for the prayers and best wishes y'all.

 

Thanks 99blk150. I hope the best for your family too.

 

Nice pics Peace.

You must be familiar with Alcoa. In Rockdale, TX?


The dragline they have is amazing.

 

Thanks jamz. I've heard my Dad mention Alcoa. Never seen their drag lines though. I'll ask him to send me some pics of the "larger" mining equipment out in Wyoming and post em' up.

 

Hey Peace, sounds as if your dad got a great opportunity, hope it works out well. Are you familiar with Chris Knight and his music? He is from Kentucky, and used to be a govt inspector of those mines. I really like his music.
http://www.chrisknight.net/