U.S. Bureau of Mines

This is something I'd like to learn about too, as my grandfather was an inspector for the Bureau of Mines.  I never knew they had a railroad car...

I have...er...a whole lot of material about this very subject. The Bureau actually had several ex-Pullman cars fitted out with exhibits. they made regular tours of the coalfields, starting with a visit to Pittsburgh's brand-new Forbes Field:

http://www.msha.gov/TRAINING/L...minerescue/page4.asp

(car is not visible in that picture, but is nearby.)

They carried everything from state of the art breathing apparatus to cages of canaries.

However, the cars weren't just rolling classrooms. They were loaded with the latest mine rescue gear, and not only as an exhibit. In case of disaster, they were dispatched with all the speed manageable by the railroad they happened to be on at the time. For instance, the Benwood Mine near here blew up just after starting time on an April morning. The mine rescue car was near Pittsburgh at the time. In spite of having to find motive power and get underway, the Holmes and its crew arrived at noon, and the helmet crew went into the mine on arrival. Time after time, you'll read the same thing--the mine's own rescuers dove into the mess, and someone on the surface was already calling for the car.  

If you can read e-books, PM me. I don't want to bury anybody else in detail

--Becky

Becky 

Thanks for the information and the offer. I will contact you off forum.

James

A friend got a U. S. Bureau of Mines office chair for $5 at an auction

You can also find a lot of history on these mine rescue cars at the Federal Mine Safety School, in Beckley, Wva. I used to go there every year for training, and they have a library full of old mine safety historical data, including info about these cars. The Holmes Safety Assn., also has published info in their quarterly Bulletin from time to time. They might be hard to find, unless you are a member of the assn.

Jeff

http://www.holmessafety.org/bulletin/

Also, this place has a whole lot of interesting (and free) safety training materials, not just for mining:

http://www.usmra.com/

There is a mine rescue car on display at the Steel Mill Museum in Pueblo, CO. It was retired around 1940 and was used as an office until it was given to the Museum. The car was in this area to support CF&I coal mines in southern Colorado, but I do not know who actually owned the car.  It has been several years since I have actually seen the car, but as I recall some of the mine safety equipment has been placed back in the car..

Where in Pueblo is the Steel Mill Museum?  A few years ago I visited a downtown museum, and when I then passed the mill on the Interstate, the place then

looked dead.  Not so just this past week when I drove by.  A lot of trucks and activity

on the property.

It is across the tracks from the steel mill.  I think on the west side.  The Museum is in what was the mill's hospital. Other buildings in the area must have also been mill office buildings.  The railroad car is around behind the museum, opposite the parking lot.  I was riding a bus with an organized tour, so I was not paying much attention to how we got there.

The mine safety railroad car is located at the Steelworks Museum of Industry, 215 Canal Street, Pueblo, CO, 719-564-9086.