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Recently member "wmcwings" asked about my avatar and i explained it's a pic of me in a Limestone mine near Rosendale, NY. Don't get me started on the history of an area because once I become interested, I will do research and learn all I can on the area then go on for hours about it. So when I'm not working on tools, playing with RC's or trains I explore abandoned mines and help preserve our local history. *** DISCLAIMER*** I do not recommend anyone going into mines of any kind!! They are very dangerous and you can die from a rockfall, Blackdamp (carbon dioxide), methane gas (BOOM). I have safety equipment and training plus 20+ years of experience.

***Avatar*** I find all the different ideas of what members thought my avatar so funny that I'm going to post them here.
Twisted turnbuckle
Burnt up wire
Big foot walking
Tattoo


Here are some pic taken by my friend Mike P. two weeks ago in a slope (anthracite coal mine) near Scranton, PA that closed around 1966. There were four mine cars, now there are three.











Some other booty (tools used for laying track: spike pullers, gauge bars, track bender)

Cool! I used to be a mine engineer in PA a while back and been underground in limestone mines... it was cool. I also found myself in upstate NY doing pre-blasting surveys creeping through peoples houses with a video camera. Looks like you found some pretty cool old tools and equipment.

esaresky75 wrote:Recently member "wmcwings" asked about my avatar and i explained it's a pic of me in a Limestone mine near Rosendale, NY.

I've been wondering what your av was too. Now that I know what it is, I can just make you out. It's always looked like a twisted turn buckle or some other RC carnage to me.

it always looked to me like a burnt up wire, melted and crisped up, just a really close up shot.

Ha-ha, RC carnage. That wasn't the first Limestone mine but it was the coolest I ever explored. That wooden thing was the trackage that went from the level above me, past the level I was in and down to the level below me that was flooded. Quite scary looking into a couple of vent holes that were three-foot in diameter filled with water but 30 feet deep. It would be like breaking through a frozen lake and not able to find the hole you fell in. There was also a basic track turntable-like device, it didn't spin but they could switch cars.





The last two pics were taken by Jeremy, I can't take credit as my pictures in the dark suck (keep in mind there is very little light). These last two are 2" negatives with like a 2 minute exposure.

It looks like it could be a cool place to hold a RC crawling competition. That is if the competition area was safe and clearly marked where we were allowed to be.

That's a very cool and weird pic. A bit dis-orienting. I like it.

jwscab wrote:it always looked to me like a burnt up wire, melted and crisped up, just a really close up shot.

I thought it was a picture of bigfoot walking to the left thru a forest with the camera held at a 45 degree angle

Some cool pix. Always been something I wanted to do as in spelunking or exploring but don't live near anything interesting like that.

Todd

Very cool pictures. The one with the track is great. Just waiting for Dr. Jones and his sidekick (can't remember his name) to come rolling through!
Edit: Short Round. Thank goodness for IMDB-it would have driven me nuts trying to remember!

Thank god - It was driving me nuts for months, trying to work out what your Avatar was!!

Man - such a eerie, yet wonderful picture.

Thanks for sharing with us!

Cheers

Darryn

klavy69 wrote:

jwscab wrote:it always looked to me like a burnt up wire, melted and crisped up, just a really close up shot.

I thought it was a picture of bigfoot walking to the left thru a forest with the camera held at a 45 degree angle

Some cool pix. Always been something I wanted to do as in spelunking or exploring but don't live near anything interesting like that.

Todd

I disagree, click the link. Lots of mines existed at one time, there's always some still around. If you do want to go, I will ask on the UGM forums for someone in your area to show you around.
http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/maps-data-pub/coal-maps/mines-series/mines-directories/pdf-files/mines-directory-fulton.pdf

you have a listing for more my area in whiteside county?

very cool stuff. takes some guts to have a hobby like that.

by the way, i always thought your avatar was a close up of tattoo.

klavy69 wrote:you have a listing for more my area in whiteside county?

None in Whiteside but check the list for other locations near you. I will post on the UGM site for someone near you.
http://dnr.state.il.us/aml/amlsearch.asp

Cool photos, thanks for sharing