Pennsylvania Mine Fire Dangers - Laurel Run, PA Mine Fire
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- A Situation Almost Turned Bad while exploring a Mine Fire!
I've returned to Laurel Run, Pennsylvania to continue documenting the underground mine fire , but this time I did some more research and brought some new equipment.
My goal for this return visit was to locate two new locations that I found on earlier maps and to see how dangerous the gases and steam are coming out of the fissures. Little did I know that while giving some safety advice, I made a wrong step and had a big scare of my own.
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#JPVideos
That was a close call! Thanks for coming along as we made some new discoveries and got some interesting readings.
If anyone is curious to see a little bit of what has vanished, do an image search on Google. I searched for "laurel run" in quotes, and added the words 'mine' and 'fire' after the quotes. You'll find a pretty interesting article from Business Insider that features comments from an old resident of the neighborhood, including cool old pics. Generally, the houses pictured appear to be a style that was commonly built in our area between the 1870s and the 1920s or so. The neighborhood had a look that will be very familiar to those of us who grew up in the area. I'm guessing that most were privately built, as they appear to be single family homes, but the first few on the left, in the second pic, kind of look identical...so maybe not. Good article for those interested in a bit more info though. Just figured I'd share.
Excellent video!! Also want to point out that there is a carbon dioxide danger as well. When I was at Centralia a couple of months I got readings as high as 2700 ppm of CO2 at the cemetery vent which could cause drowsiness if one has prolonged exposure to it. The Big Mine Run Rd vents had prolonged readings of 1000 ppm or more away from vents and the CO2 wafting through the forest. CO2 could collect in the depressions on a calm day. Would you be willing to do another video doing CO2 readings at Centralia and Laurel Run. It would be interesting to see other people doing CO2 readings at different times at both mine fires. Again keep up the good videos!!
I live in Lemont Furnace PA. We live near a mine fire that was burning for many years. I remember as a child in the 70's seeing it burn, it burned all the way into the early 2000's . They brought trucks in during the middle of the night and would pump the mine full of fly ash ( to put the fire out) which is a dangerous cancer causing chemical. It isn't bad enough that our air was already contaminated from the fire, but they made it worse. I can't begin to explain the HIGH rate of cancer and birth defects in this area... Very sad 😢 I live just 50 yards from a former coke oven patch with many coke ovens still standing. The entire area is still covered in coke ash. Many original company houses still stand and are being lived in today.
Sorry to hear about the contaminated air quality, but coke ovens are always fascinating!
Your videos are the best. Be careful. Remember that woman who fell into a sinkhole looking for her cat.
I mentioned that in my outro
@@JPVideos81I saw that after making my comment 😆.
@@JPVideos81 How thin that area must have been. It makes you wonder, since it was a parking lot, that it didn't happen sooner.
The old railroad was the just down hill from the start of the Giants Despair hillclimb years ago, the pits were at the store. I competed in it in the sixties, there were signs of the mine fire there then.
@@JPVideos81There was also a very deep mine subsidence behind an apartment building that was some utterly impossible depth the _first_ time it collapsed about forty years ago.
JP. those bring back memories way back in the 70's. When the us guys would gather together on the slate dumps, to play football where it was leveled out into a field. We walked through some of the steamers, to get there. When we got through playing and went home, our families knew where we had been, by the smell in our clothes lol. God Bless you and stay safe! (Glen). WV.
Thanks for the adventure and the information. Yes, I would enjoy seeing where that railroad trail went to.
From the Huber Breaker to Jim Thorpe. Yes, I mountain biked the whole thing.
Yes, come back in spring/summer and explore…and…..be careful! My husband calls close calls like that “speed bumps” reminding us to take it slower 😊
I would like to see you explore further on the e bike and thanks J ❤🎉
Great video! Be careful, we found a sinkhole in Westmoreland, it was DEEP. No fire, but it would not go well if someone fell into it...
Thank you for making this video. I'm glad you didn't get hurt out there.
Oh seeing this being uploaded made my day! Thanks jp!
when you kept walking around that I was saying what my grandad always said don't trust being around the mines they can change in a heartbeat. glad u didn't fall in . ❤❤ stay safe love ya
I agree JP, About the underground steam vents. The smell of mold, sulphur and low oxygen, that would smell awful. The smell of mold alone is very strong, choke you up..
I love the way that tunnel looks, the curbing of the bricks. Cool looking tunnel JP, Another Excellent Video JP 👍👍👍👍
I have lived in PA all my life and did not know there were other mine fires. Thanks for educating me. Love your videos.
A video on mines and railroads-it doesn't get any better than this. You found some interesting things. I would have gotten scared if my foot sank into the ground in that area as well. Yes, by all means, come back and follow the CNJ mainline. Go one way and end up in Scranton at the terminus or go the other way and end up in Jersey City. Keep up the great videos.
The ebike trip sounds cool.
🚵♂️
I find it amazing these fires burn underground for so many years! I always have my face in maps & always enjoy when you give the map views, thanks for that & all the adventures & the info.
Thank you for taking us along on your adventure. Stay safe out there Jay
22:54 140F is the highest temperature you can withstand. More than that and you have to withdraw. Approximately, of course.
That tunnel looks like a kiln of some sort.
Coke oven
Awesome adventure JP! Sure glad that ground didn't give away to a deep hole! Really cool finds there! It would be cool to return and explore the abandoned railroad, may be some good old culverts and things there! Thanks for bringing us along!👍
Could be some culverts, insulators or maybe even some spikes.
As someone else posted it was the backtrack from the laurel yard. It was abandoned around 1972 when CNJ basically pulled out of Pennsylvania ( I believe the LV continued to use CNJ trackage they had a joint agreement with). There was a head on collision on this trackage between a CNJ and LV train in 1965. When the cnj was taken over by contrail they removed the track.
That tunnel structure was likely a coke oven, I agree with others. It operates by burning coal under low oxygen conditions to produce coke that was used, among other places, on steel mills.
Old mines can collapse at any time. A section of route 80 east near Wharton collapsed ( not the actual highway, but the break down lane and about 20 feet further in on the ground ). The cause was an old iron mine shaft collapsing. Glad you are okay but it is a risk anywhere there are old shafts,I am sure the fire burning even more so.
Thank you for another great video, look forward to the next one.
Strange. I got the notification just now for this video, late but I got it, only to notice I'm not subscribed? But I got notified and not recommended. Just re-subscribed. Great video as always from an Australian fan. Thanks for sharing your beautiful part of the world.
Yes Jay a lot of memories, semi dangerous adventure great video thanks
Great finds! I'm glad it all worked out well. I would love to see you explore the rest of the railbed.
Awesome seeing someone explore my home of Pennsylvania!
Interesting info and great content as always! Great idea of an e-bike hike on that old RR line ...Will look forward to seeing that! And...ya just never know about sink holes. Guess that was a wake up call for you to be more aware. God Bless...Hi to Jill and Lili 🙏🙏
I have seen all your other videos of this place. I still love to see your explores. Always interesting.
The ruins and tunnel were great finds. I love how you do some research and return to places to find more fascinating things. I hope you do a video when you ride the old rail line. Might be a good idea to take a buddy and some rope when you explore these burning areas. I always feel bad for the people who have to move because of the fires. I know there are places in my county where people own the house but the coal company owns the land. They have to either abandon or move their house when the coal company wants the land back. If that was the case in that town, they probably didn't get enough for the house to buy a new one without extra debt. As always, the photo montage was awesome.
Western PA has a mine fire that just started a couple of weeks ago because someone was burning a tree stump! I think that it is near Fairchance, Fayette county. Also, ln my hometown of Grindstone, Pa, a friends parents home is collapsing into an old mine there!
Unfortunately that doesn't suprise me.
seeing what the old rail has to show would be a great adventure
Thank you for the information jp on all of the heat pockets, be careful out there..
Glad you did not go any where! Lookin at that smile and you being you it is nice that you did not go anywhere? Cause i love ya and respect you JP. Many more years to come I hope?Im sure that babydoll still there in the further back and on to the far left or walking west . Be safe and keep warm with this new Artic Blast Tuesday ? We could be at Winter snap with sleet, snow, rain, freezin rain Lord i hope not freezin rain. Yes Northwest Panhandle , Florida .Barbie&Sam
This was such an excellent adventure and more great history! The stone wall was a cool discovery, and the tunnel was an awesome bonus find, the construction of both of them is amazing. I think your ideas for what the tunnel was used for are right on, at first, I was thinking that maybe it was used for some kind of storage for whatever the building was. Really fascinating though! The vents are just incredible, it is still so hard to believe that it is actually on fire beneath the surface, and it was really interesting to see the levels from your gas detector. I agree, it is such a sad situation for those people that had to up and leave their homes, also it is so sad about the lady that lost her life falling in that sinkhole. Wow, that was a huge scare for sure and a big close call! Thank goodness that's all it was, a big scare and I am so glad you didn't get hurt! I would love to see you explore the old rail line on your e-bike, I can imagine there will be all kinds of neat discoveries along the way! What an amazing video JP, thank you! 💙
Despite the scare, it was an overall great time documenting such a fascinating area. It's definitely hard to believe a fire is actively burning and that a whole town was displaced. Once again, thanks for coming along 💙
You should ride your bike I like to see more and learn more about what you find ok and the history on it and lessons ok please and thank you ok
enjoyed the vid :) wow nature eh? she always wins...and please stay safe on your adventures....hope youre feeling better now after your recent illness..thanks again for the video, i always enjoy...love from NZ xx
Appreciate it! Thanks for watching!
Your adventures and finds seem to create more questions than answers, which we find so interesting. Great video Jay👍👍
That's a common theme in my videos
Love this comment 👍
@@JPVideos81 always Great 👍
I need to get back up here again. I'm all of 10 minutes from Laurel Run. I'd really enjoy exploring up here, and if you do another solo trip, keep my phone number handy as I am so close. Great video. Glad you're safe. Definitely like to see that video.
Wow . Fantastic Video JP Thank you for sharing.
That would be cool if you do the ebike down the other end of the rail line. That's crazy how long that fire has been burning. Love your variety of content.
I'm excited to explore that section of the rail line.
Thanks JP, I always hoped you would return to Laurel Run for another in-depth study of this area. Hi, from the Blue Mountains, Australia.
Thank you for all of the information JPVideos 👍
😊💙
Great video JP! I can't imagine what those families went thru having to leave their homes and start over...Very sad!!!
Thank you JP. A wonderful video and perhaps much more to discover in this area. Please take the best care of your lungs.
Awesome video JP! I can only imagine what those families had to go through evacuating their homes in order to avoid consuming these gases and trying to deal with these underground mine fires. Also, that was an amazing discovery you made as well which I believe was actually a kiln of some sort back in the day. Keep up the amazing work JP and I always look forward to more!
I think a video following the C&J railroad would be a wicked interesting explore! Great video JP! Keep up the great work!
That is definitely on my list now for this spring!
Can't wait to see it! Take care Jay!
This was an excellent video & memory jogger for me. My father grew up on Chestnut St. in the Georgetown area of Wilkes Barre, just below the old CNJ back track line. In the 60's & 70's I often went up to the line & as a railfan, watched trains & the mine fire. My Dad took a great old movie of a long CNJ train traversing around the smoldering pit below, just above Georegetown. I walked the remnants of the old line in 2004, right above the exit dug into it for I-81 & the Arena. Walked it all the way into Laurel Run, where the CNJ in its day joined the Lehigh Valley. Miss those days & that area. I took photos of old RR signal bases & ties marking where the line traversed... now its all dug up & mangled. There still is a stone-cut not far from E. Northampton St., where the CNJ went from 2 tracks to one to go around the mountain. The cut was the site of 2 derailments in the late 60s, which I was fortunate to photograph. Right after the cut is where my Dad taped that train heading around the fire.
That's really cool, thanks for sharing.
15:30 The old rail line going north continues to 7 Tubs as the D&L Trail. Well, above 7 tubs, anyway. It's a well-developed rail-trail at that point.
I would like to see a bike ride along the old railway. I like the discoveries found around abandoned rail
Outstanding video. Looking forward to the video from your e-bike this upcoming spring/summer.
Yes you need to go back I love this ❤❤
The rail line you found was called the "Back Track" Service on this line ended in early 1973 as the mine fire made the ground unstable.
Back in my intern days I was walking around a mine site with PADEP personnel investigating mine discharges and I sunk past the knee with one leg while crossing a small stream. I stepped on a little muddy spot with a tuft of grass growing from it thinking I might get a muddy foot but not a wet foot, boy was I wrong. I needed a helping hand to get out I was in that deep. Luckily my other foot was on solid ground. If I had been alone I probably would have had to crawl out getting completely wet. There are all types of dangers in mine country be careful out there.
Interesting!! the tunnel looks like the indide of a kiln.
Sad to here about towns javing to clse down
A toy covered in nature's carpet! I don't think you can get anymore abandoned than that without Christmas decorations. LOL. Glad you weren't hurt in that sink hole!!! 😬
😄
Fascinating for sure! Thank you!
Yep! You must go back!👍🏼
Another great video! You take care of yourself JP! I would be interested in seeing where that railway goes in the spring or summer.
I'm looking forward to checking it out
it may have been a blacksmith place from when horses were used for mining as the first part would have been like a stable were the horses would be held for shoes
Yes it was a CNJ line. It was the backtrack from the Ashley Yards. I remember waiting for the long train to pass at the crossing gate on E. Northampton probably early 70s. As i mentioned in yr previous video very thankful the fire never spread to Georgetown. Maybe someone from Georgetown knows much more thsn me and would comment. I lived in the Stanton Hill section of the Township very near the old Kmart now Aldis for close to 50 yrs. I appreciate the update and would like if you followed thd rail line on yr bike whenever possible. Keep up the good work
Happy new year jp
What a great video. Not only is the ground a hazard, but you should limit your exposure to the steam. It can be very corrosive and damaging to you lungs. I think a bike trip over that rail bed would be very interesting. Thanks, and continue to heal from your illness.
That building could be a part of the second Mountain Park, and amusement park back in the day. It was originally closer to the Tubs but was moved down that way…
Lehigh and Susquehanna (Lehigh Coal and Nav Co) owned the line, leased it to CNJ, CNJ and LVRR combined trackage in 1965 and picked the best routes between both roads (easiest grades) ... CNJ pulled out of PA totally in 1972, LVRR resumed the lease from L&S. L& S was first line built down thru the Lehigh Valley River gorge all the way to Allentown starting in 1840/50s when the canal thing started getting washed out by floods, they needed a better mode of transportation.
LVRR ran along side it next, and up into Hazelton area for coal etc ... great history in those lines ... read several books on it.
Challenge was from leaving the Lehigh River valley at White Haven and going over the Penobscot Mountain. L&S was first and had best gradients thru to Wilkes Barre. White Haven tunnel helped with that gradient. Not far from there, east of Mt Top.
Yes please explore the old rr grade. Those are my favorite.
The tunnel looks a lot like some kind of kiln hence the smoky walls and ceiling. There's a pipe sticking out from the hole that looks dug out. There's a red brick against it. Not only that, there's a bear paw print just to the right of the brick and above the pipe. There's another one to the right of that one. Look like old tracks. There's also a little critter's tracks. So glad you didn't get hurt when you sunk in the crevice. Scary for sure. Yes, do a bike explore. It's so interesting there.
The rail line starts at Ashley pass through Alan industries heads towards the 7 Tubs and connects to the main line that leads up to Mountain Top. Part of the rail line remove for the new exit on off 81 for the Arena, If notice the dip after the devils elbow going up the road is sunk into the mines the state did refill it once for the hill climb back in late 70's or early 80's
We lived in Laurel Run estates back in 82-85, the road was for the most part just wet at times in the winter
Yes absolutely, come back and check it out.
There was a mine fire in Pardeesville pa outside Hazleton pa up to late 60s when i was young.
Awesome video. We have those pipes in our sewer system and I often see steam in the winter. I’ve often wondered the temperature. I’d be interested in the e-bike video in the future.
That was a cool explore….Thank you. Also, you still know how to scare the bejeepers out of me!! 😂😂😂. 💖💙💖💙💖💙
😁
That is so amazing how that fires still going and they can't put it out
Those Jagger bush's are Multi Flora Rose and they are everywhere in the abandoned field's of Penna. A ebike ride would be interesting along that old rail line.
Great video !
Hey man great videos I started watching you a few years ago one of your knoebels
This railroad bed was operated by the Central New Jersey Railroad as the “backtrack” to the old Mountain Park.
The wall is part of one of the buildings from the old Red Ash Mine.
Watching ' Paul Whitewick ' now for yrs, that looks like a tunnel for a canal or rail line from back in the 1800's.
Looking on Google Earth 1992 sat view, that rail line runs between Firemens Park and Laruel Run Methodist church in a sweeping loop going north and back around south. Looks like more old line connection, barely seeable.
Your a quick one mate, great ideas go search for toxic gases when your lungs are tore up from illness. Next great idea walk on top of a mound of ash with burning underneath. Are you trying to leave earth? If you trying to make good tv try differently this is mad boring. Get out of those clouds dude your lungs are hurt
Here in Niagara Falls New York I just bought a new piece of equipment a couple months ago a geiger counter so when I e-bike ride down to Lewiston near where they did the Manhattan Project and they're going to move hundreds of tons of radioactive waste I can test
That will be interesting to see what readings you get.
Yes, come back in the spring with the e-bike for another - E-venture!
JP the remains you found looks old style coke ovens that were used back in the day. But like you said in the video no branch line.
On the section where you are using the 4 gas meter, O2 is being displaced, not consumed. You are also in open air so you likely wouldn’t get any alerts on the H2S or CO sensors. Down the hole you could get some readings. Like you said, you shouldn’t be getting anything on LEL there. If you get less than 19.5 O2, more than 10% LEL, 35 ppm of CO or 10 ppm of H2S, it’s time to leave.
Good info to keep in mind
Omigosh be careful dear! We can't lose you!😱
I had grandparents who lived on spruce st, just below the railroad tracks, just downhill of Laurel Run.
As kids we would walk up to look into the bore holes and see the glow way down. (note about the bore holes, I believe that the piles you have seen, where there is venting, are where bore holes were covered to keep people from falling in.) The area was then heavily strip mined and trenched to keep the fine local. I remember trains running on that track. It went from the Huber Breaker through Mountain Top (behind the fire hall) to Jim Thorpe and south. I don't know the exact date, but it was in the mid 70's it shut down. Around the same time as the breaker.
Biking, from Fairview fire hall to where you were is just about ten miles. (I think) You can hop the rail line where the Laurel Run Road bridge crosses the main line, then it should take about five miles. Going through the cut you will be under an overlook, I think, below mountain park. You will also see a trail to Seven Tubs in that area. Come out of the rock cut and on your left is what was Mountain Park.
BTW, have you ever walked the Ashley Planes?
Thanks for sharing that and yes, i have a video from when I visited the Ashley planes from several years ago.
@@JPVideos81 Thanks, I haven't seen that yet. I have another one for you. The Powder Hole. An old powder mill complex where there is a bridge over a creek with 30+ foot waterfall. People jump from it for fun, and there are some videos of that, but not much of the mill areas. There are historical photos online, and some of those buildings still can be seen.
Be careful and yes ride that rail trail
There was a saw mill with the town. That might be the ruins. Maybe the tunnel held machinery to run the saw?
Please be careful. Never trust the ground over an old mind.
And yes, please film for us when you ride the old rail line 👍
that tunnel has me wondering what it was and was used for,, yeah i thought you were going down into a sink hole,,, sure glad it wasn't all that deep ...take J be careful out there
That tunnel looks to be an aqua duct with the little opening being an overflow
At @18:11 certainly a bike explore the old railroad bed video.
It would be cool if you could find a mine portal. You could make a second channel just for finding Portals/mine exploring.
The tunnel looking things look like Colverts that go under road
The Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) line through Laurel Run, Pennsylvania, was a significant part of the railroad’s Pennsylvania Division. This division was established in the mid-19th century to transport anthracite coal from Pennsylvania’s coal fields to markets in New Jersey and beyond. Here’s a detailed history of the line:
Early Development (1840s-1860s)
• The CNJ, chartered in 1849, initially focused on connecting New Jersey cities with coal supplies.
• By the 1860s, the railroad extended its reach into northeastern Pennsylvania’s coal regions through the construction and acquisition of lines. This included the line through Laurel Run, which became a critical route for moving anthracite coal.
Expansion and Role in Coal Transport (1870s-1900s)
• The CNJ line through Laurel Run formed part of a larger network that linked coal mines in the Wyoming Valley (around Wilkes-Barre) to terminals in New Jersey.
• The line included steep grades and engineering marvels, such as tunnels and trestles, to navigate the mountainous terrain.
• Laurel Run was strategically located along this route, contributing to the booming anthracite coal industry, which was a major economic driver for the region.
Decline of Coal and Financial Struggles (1920s-1940s)
• The decline of the anthracite coal industry in the early 20th century reduced the line’s profitability.
• The CNJ faced increasing competition from other railroads and alternative fuels like oil and natural gas.
• Despite these challenges, the Laurel Run section continued operating, as coal remained an important energy source during the World Wars.
Bankruptcy and Transition (1950s-1972)
• The CNJ struggled financially for decades, declaring bankruptcy in the late 1930s and again in the 1960s.
• By the 1970s, the railroad decided to abandon its operations in Pennsylvania entirely, as it could no longer sustain the unprofitable routes.
• In 1972, the CNJ officially ceased operations in Pennsylvania, transferring some responsibilities to the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
Conrail Era and Abandonment (1976-1980s)
• After the formation of Conrail in 1976, many former CNJ lines, including the Laurel Run route, were reevaluated for profitability.
• The line through Laurel Run was deemed redundant due to declining freight traffic and alternative routes available in the area.
• By the early 1980s, the tracks were dismantled, and the line was officially abandoned.
Legacy
• Today, remnants of the CNJ line through Laurel Run, such as rail beds, bridges, and tunnels, can still be found. Some portions of the old right-of-way have been repurposed as trails or roads.
• The line is remembered as a vital part of the anthracite coal transportation network that contributed significantly to the industrial growth of northeastern Pennsylvania.
I remember when you cooked food using the heat from the smoke. It might have been in Centralia.
Hot dogs and beans at Centralia
JP, really enjoyed your video. Could you roast a marshmallow on there? Just wondering. I bet that does feel good on a very cold winters day. Thank you for taking me along with you!
It's a steam heat so it can heat items up or steam them.
That tunnel looks like an old bunker/cellar
Awesome Video Thanks for sharing this with us :D
Nice find.
Nature takes everything back on its own time.
Fascinating arch! I hope somebody knows what it is.
The tunnel kind of looks like a brick kiln or a coke oven.
The CNJ pulled out of Pennsylvania in 1972, so that line was probably last used at that time.
Good to know my guess on the time frame was within the ballpark.