Franklin Colliery Mine Car

Restoration Project

The mine car was originally built for the Franklin Colliery in Wilkes Barre around 1940. It may have been constructed by the Berwick Car Works. The colliery site was last owned by the Jeddo Coal Co of Pagnotti Enterprises. This car was one of several brought up to the 190 Slope Coal Mine at McDade Park, Scranton when Lackawanna County stated reconstructing the 190 Slope in 1968. The car had to be modified for use in the mine with the mechanical loader used by Pagnotti Enterprises. Its height was reduced by 12 inches and a door was constructed on one end.

The original car was solid as the entire car would be turned over the empty the load. At the 190 project the loaded car would be hoisted to the surface and let down a side track to a section of track built to pivot upward when the car hit the end stops on the track. This action would cause the car to upend and empty its load.

The car was originally donated to the Underground Miners UGM for a restoration project, but the project never got stated. It was donated to the Old Forge Coal Mine by UGM in December 2009. The photo on the left was taken at the 190 Slope where the car was pushed off into the woods.

The plan is to totally rebuild the car, replacing all the wood, bent and broken draw rods, construct a new door, and replace the top wood on the side rails. This turned out to be quite a job as all work was done outside along my house.

The entire box has to be cut free and jacked up to allow removal of the undercarriage. The beams of the carriage were rotted or missing. The draw rods were bent and had to be cut up. All the carriage bolts were torched off leaving the axils, wheels and inside metal draw frame. All the cross rods had to be torched off as they were too bent and rusted to reuse.

Next we started searching for replacement metal parts and contacted a sawmill to cut the wood beams for the carriage. The draw bar rods were donated from the Penn Argil Quarry, but they were too bent allow the end threads to be cut on a lath. At the quarry, larger bolts and metal plates were also acquired. We were able to search the old Franklin Colliery site and found one remaining mine car. Unfortunately it was crushed under large 42" concrete pipes. It wasn't till spring that Jeddo's site contractor to begin cleaning up the area and was eager to help us, they lifted the pipes and dragged the car out, where we could torch off the pieces we needed. That amounted to a 1400 lb load on my little single axial trailer.

After several days with a sledge hammer and torch we were able to straighten out the parts we needed, and now also have enough for a future project of a small flat work car. One of the large thick inside metal draw frames were too bent for us to straighten. A trip to the Steamtown Superintendent's office was disappointing. Orders from Washington, no help for volunteer groups as it takes work away from the paid shops, insurance, liabilities, bla, bla, bla. After our request to

Steamtown was turned down, I asked the workers at the D L & W locomotive shop in South Scranton for help. They replied "no problem, pick it up tomorrow" Our thanks to the guys on work crew.

The wood beams were brought down from Lake Carey Lumber and we began cutting them to size. The journals were placed on the axils and the wood beams placed in position on the journals to mark and drill the main bolt holes.

Next we positioned the metal draw bar frames and bolted them to the side beams. The side braces were installed and center support beams bolted in place between the main beams forming the carriage. Wood beams were added outside the draw bar frames and bolted in place. The 4 metal bumpers were bolted to these beams. Holes were drilled through the end and support beams for the draw rods and they were set in place with the help of a sledge hammer. The side connection rods, main draw rods nuts, springs, spacers, chain link assemblies and the remainder of the bolts were installed and all were tightened down.

The completed wood carriage got a coat of blacktop sealer. The carriage was rolled back under the box and lowered on to the carriage with 2" X 4" spacers. A little force with a long bar and sledge hammer got everything into position. When the box is finished the spacers will be removed and the box will be bolted and welded to the carriage.

Work is now being done on the box. A new door was constructed from metal parts salvaged at the Franklin Colliery. The main door hinge rod was cut from the Penn Argil Quarry building rafter rods. Most of the box bolts and nuts were donated by the Huber Breaker Preservation Society. Some had to be purchased. All together 264 bolts, nuts and about 150 washers were used. Wood planks for the box front, top sides and door were cut at Lake Carey Sawmill and installed.

The box is now bolted and welded in place. Some of the rusted metal sides of the box have been cut out and replaced. A coat of paint was applied to preserve it. 4X4 's were laid to move the car from the back yard to out front for display on the corner of my lot. The project was finished in October.

On November 19 Billy at Old Forge Truck and Auto donated his roll-back to move the car to its display location in front of the ticket office at the Lackawanna County Mine Tour in McDade Park Scranton.

Mine Foreman Ton Supey and his crew constructed a section of track and brought up some culm to cover the cross ties for a good effect. They mounted the car on the rails with a backhoe. It makes a great photo spot in front of the building.

Our Thanks Bill at Old Forge Truck and Auto, Huber Breaker Preservation Society, and to Penn Security Bank, Old Forge who donated $100 to the project. To date the total cost is at around $380. Donations are still being accepted to defray the cost of the project, and checks can be made out to "Old Forge Coal Mine" mail to, 1214 Lori Lane, Old Forge Pa. 18518.

By, Carl Orechovsky, Old Forge Coal Mine, Old Forge, Pa.