2.2.10. Coal Mines in the Aachen Region (Aachener Kohlerevier)
Names like 'Gouley', 'Anna', 'Adolf', 'Carl Alexander', 'Emil Mayrisch',
'Carolus Magnus' and 'Sophia Jacoba' once were synonyms for coal mining
in the area North of Aachen. 'Sophia Jacoba' in Hückelhoven closed in 1997
as the last surviving pit of the area.
Coal Mine 'Grube Anna' (Alsdorf)
In 1863 the EBV (Eschweiler Bergwerks Verein) bought the coal mine 'Grube Anna',
which turned out to be one of the most productive mines in the Aachen area.
The mine closed in 1983 when mine 'Emil Mayrisch' in Siersdorf started to
work the coal field of Anna via underground roadway.
When the coke plant, once the largest one in Europe, stopped production in 1992,
the operation of steam locomotives at Alsdorf also came to it's bitter end.
In spite of the large historical value
of the plant, almost all of the buildings were demolished in the following
years, just leaving a few unrelated fragments (Mainly two engine houses, the
headgear of the 'Franzschacht' and a water tower).
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| Grube Anna |
|
| Germany |
| Alsdorf |
| 1991-05-25 |
|
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| Grube Anna, Franzschacht |
|
| Germany |
| Alsdorf |
| 1991-02-17 |
|
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| Anna 8 |
|
| Germany |
| Alsdorf |
| 1990-07-23 |
|
 |
| Eduardschacht |
|
| Germany |
| Alsdorf |
| 1991-03-03 |
|
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| Eduardschacht |
|
| Germany |
| Alsdorf |
| 1991-05-25 |
|
 |
| Schacht Gemeinschaft |
|
| Germany |
| Alsdorf Duffesheide |
| 1991-03-02 |
|
Coal Mine 'Grube Emil Mayrisch' (Siersdorf)
This was a 'modern' mine, which started operation in 1952
and closed down in December 1992.
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| Grube Emil Mayrisch |
|
| Germany |
| Siersdorf |
| 1992-12-18 |
|
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| Grube Emil Mayrisch |
|
| Germany |
| Siersdorf |
| 1992-12-18 |
|
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| Grube Emil Mayrisch |
|
| Germany |
| Siersdorf |
| 1992-12-18 |
|
Coal Mine 'Grube Adolf' (Merkstein)
Production stopped at mine 'Adolf' in 1972.
The area was subsequently used to store coal produced at
'Anna'. With a little luck, you could watch steam locomotives
haul coal trains on the link between both mines.
After closure of 'Anna' and 'Emil Mayrisch' the shafts
became useless and were filled and all buildings, except
the engine house of the air shaft, demolished.
(The colourful web site of Herzogenrath praising the
conversion of the former mine area into a green recreation
area reads like sheer mockery.)
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| Grube Adolf |
|
| Germany |
| Herzogenrath Merkstein |
| 1990-09-11 |
|
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| Grube Adolf |
|
| Germany |
| Herzogenrath Merkstein |
| 1991-07-10 |
|
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| Grube Adolf |
|
| Germany |
| Herzogenrath Merkstein |
| 1991-07-10 |
|
 |
| Grube Adolf |
|
| Germany |
| Herzogenrath Merkstein |
| 1991-07-10 |
|
 |
| Grube Adolf |
|
| Germany |
| Herzogenrath Merkstein |
| 1991-07-10 |
|
Images of foolish destruction: the headgear of the air shaft
turned into a heap of scrap.
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| Grube Adolf |
|
| Germany |
| Herzogenrath Merkstein |
| 1991-07-10 |
|
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| Grube Adolf |
|
| Germany |
| Herzogenrath Merkstein |
| 1991-07-10 |
|
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| Grube Adolf |
|
| Germany |
| Herzogenrath Merkstein |
| 1991-07-10 |
|
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| Grube Adolf |
|
| Germany |
| Herzogenrath Merkstein |
| 1990-09-11 |
|
Almost one year later:
the remains of the steam engine of the main shaft buried under
the demolished engine house.
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| Grube Adolf |
|
| Germany |
| Herzogenrath Merkstein |
| 1991-06-22 |
|
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| Grube Adolf |
|
| Germany |
| Herzogenrath Merkstein |
| 1991-06-22 |
|
© Harald Finster, contact me