zinc trains

[samfp1943]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nanaimo73

Sam-
Mark Hemphill told me in January 2004 that over 100 hours had been spent on an all-time Kansas map-of-the-month. I'd love to see it, but two years later I wonder if they gave up.

1897 Kansas map-
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/map_item.pl?data=/home/www/data/gmd/gmd420/g4201/g4201p/rr002230.sid&style=rrmap&itemLink=D?gmd:6:./temp/~ammem_qgVf::&title=Galbraith's%20railway%20mail%20service%20maps,%20Kansas.

Dale:
This would be something a lot of folks around here would probably love to see. It would be nice if we could get Mark Hemphill to respond, but it is night now in Baghdad.. His responnse would be enlightening.
Thanks,
Sam

[samfp1943]

QUOTE: Originally posted by farmer03

I wouldn't have thought there would be much in the way of coal in that area. Guess I was wrong!

Is any still mined in the area or are the mines all extinct?

Farmer 03:
I know of only one active coal mine left in the Weir-Pittsburg Coal Seam. The seam underlays Crawford and Cherokee Counties in Southeast Kansas, laying in a roughly SouthSouthwest to Northeasterly direction roughly in a large kidney shaped pattern, with Pittsburg near the Middle top east area, and Columbus, just south of the lower lobe.
The seam is from somewhere around 30 feet deep to two hundred feet deep. It was primarily a seam that was shaft mined as the coal is interlaid with seams of clay. The coal seam rangers from 2-3 feet thick to 6-10 feet thick. Thre were some strip mines, but the technology of strip mine shovels left a lot to be desired and the biggest shovel ever used around here is now on display near the towen of West Mineral, Ks.
www.bigbrutus.org
THe second largest electric shovel in the US is now preserved and open for inspection. See the above web address for details.
Sam

[nanaimo73]

Sam-
Mark Hemphill told me in January 2004 that over 100 hours had been spent on an all-time Kansas map-of-the-month. I'd love to see it, but two years later I wonder if they gave up.

1897 Kansas map-
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/map_item.pl?data=/home/www/data/gmd/gmd420/g4201/g4201p/rr002230.sid&style=rrmap&itemLink=D?gmd:6:./temp/~ammem_qgVf::&title=Galbraith's%20railway%20mail%20service%20maps,%20Kansas.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't have thought there would be much in the way of coal in that area. Guess I was wrong!

Is any still mined in the area or are the mines all extinct?

[samfp1943]

This are was pretty railroad intensive during the late 1800, early 1900's. Pittsburg was founded in 1876 as a coaling stop on the Joplin to Girard RR. The founding fathers paid the J&G $27,500. 00 to put the railroad through Pittsburg. At one time The Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf (known locally as the P&G) ran north and south, the MoPac ran from the Southwest to the Northeast towards Liberal, Mo. The SLSF came out of Joplin and out of NE Oklahoma and ran west towards Parsons, and on towards Cherryvale. THe Santa Fe ran from Chanute east to Pittsburg and then turned north towards KC . The MKT ran inot the south end of the coal field to pick up its locomotive coal from mines around Weir City. Not to mention there was approx 110 mile of Interurban lines servicing about 225 coal mines and coal camps in the SEK area.
Sam

[nanaimo73]

And even the ATSF went there as well. They had a line through Chanute and Pittsburgh down to Joplin. I've often wondered why they would build to Joplin.

[samfp1943]

Dale:
As a matter of fact, in 1880 the Joplin(Mo.) & Girard(Ks.) was purchased by SLSF. Pittsburg, Ks( founded 1876) was a coaling station on it. Later part of it's ROW was used as an Interurban connecting Pittsburg to Joplin, and it had a branch that ran west towards Galina, Ks and into Oklahoma, I think to Pitcher,( but not certain as to that.)
At one time Pittsburg was the main shop location for the Kansas City, Pittsburg & Gulf
( known locally as the P&G). Which morphed into the KC, Fort Scott and Memphis, and finally into the Kansas City Southern. THe MKT had company coal mines on the south end of the coal field, and its mains shops were at Parsons,Ks.
Sam

Sam

[nanaimo73]

Hey Sam,
That looks like an interesting place to study.
The Northeast Oklahoma Railroad was purchased by the St. Louis San Francisco during 1964 and merged during 1967.
http://ok.water.usgs.gov/tarcreek/
http://www.tarcreek.com/photos/

[samfp1943]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mikewsims

i am trying to find pitures or info on any trains that were worked in the mines in and around picher oklahoma,,passenger or ore haulers THANKS[8D]

Mike; Recently completed a paper in an Urban Geography Class on Pittsburg, Ks and part of that study included the smelting of zinc at Pittsburg,[ the reasons were that coal was abundant in SE Kansas, and it took 3 tons of coal to smelt 1 ton of zinc]. Easiser[economically] to move the zinc to the coal.
Economically, the areas of SW Missouri, NE Oklahoma and SE Kansas were tied together by interurban lines and the SLSF Rwy as well as the MKT, and the KCS in the late 1800's, early 1900's. Pitcher and Commerce and Miami were tied in by the Frisco primarily.
a good book that will give you some insight is Rails, Rivalry and Romance
copyright 1982 by The Preservation Association of Bourbon County by Sekan Prntg of Fort Scott,Ks.
As you can imagine it is centered mainly in Bourbon County Ks, but includes many period railroad pictures taken in the area and surrounds.
If I can be of any more help: [e-mail]
Sam

[Anonymous]

i am trying to find pitures or info on any trains that were worked in the mines in and around picher oklahoma,,passenger or ore haulers THANKS[8D]