From Rust To Restoration; How An Eastern Kentucky Coal Company Did The Impossible. (A Documentary)

A video that’s been 10 months in the making. A long and winding road in the restoration of one of the most prominent coal field sites in the nation. RailfanMicahTurner presents..
From Ruin To Restoration; Lynch 3! A Documentary.
In the aftermath of the 2019 Blackjewel Mining protests, the Cave Branch prep plant, washer, and loadout named Lynch 3 fell into ruin. For 4 and a half long years, weeds and trees sprouted and developed a once bustling holler into a wretched ghost town. That was until early 2022, when plans were made to redevelop the site and bring action back home. Join me, RMT, as I venture through a 10 month process of documenting each and every step in restoring the site to its former glory. I hope you enjoy!
A very special thank you to so many individuals who contributed to this project. It’s been quite the journey to get here, but it’s finally happened! I hope you guys enjoy this 40 minute special and all the work and effort that’s went into it. Forever thankful. God Bless.

[@GMEMD_SD40-2]

When I was here in both May and November of 2021, I was saddened by the decaying tracks of CSX/L&N. Though the Inmet mine was operational, the loads were all heading out by truck as there was insufficient tonnage to require a train from CSX. All of the prep plant was rusting away...what we have come to expect in Eastern Kentucky. And so, it is with great joy to see this video. So wonderful to see this former US Steel/Harlan-Cumberland property back in full operation. "Dig, baby, Dig!"

[@BlackMan614]

So this was a former US Steel mine - so this is met coal?

[@nathanbelcher7755]

Great job! Lynch 3 Rides Again!

[@kennethfuller8347]

Excellent documentary. Why you don't have a million subscribers is beyond me. Your drone footage is remarkable, and the history of the mine you presented was very good .. though I wish I knew why the mine was left in disrepair for so long. I recently found your channel and I'm impressed with your production qualities, and the info provided with each. The last one I watched was "Where The Coal Comes From". I've been a railfan since I was a child, but also a mining fan. From a new subscriber, thanks for the great content.

[@barrywilliams991]

Pro tip: leave text up long enough for it to be read.

[@supercuda1950]

Notonly is the video very professional but the resurgence of this mine affects many families and adds much to the American economy. Many politicians would like to see coal production go away (because they don't have their hand in the till, but even if we sell it to China (who is building more coal fired plants), that a plus for our enconomy. China will continue using coal (and polluting the air) so we might as wall profit from it. Great video and great story about the resurgence of this area.

[@user-ro1yc6cw4g]

My name is Josh we met while my wife and I was bear hunting. You and your dad talked with us. You done a wonderful job. I liked the hat man keep up the spirit God works in ways we may not see. Keep the faith my friend and may God Bless you.

[@railfanmicahturner]

Good to hear from you! And great meeting y’all! Glad you enjoyed and God Bless!

[@delboytrotter2042]

Just a tip to help people.. I'm glad to see this in here just I first watched on a roku. On the roku the comments and description are usually hidden behind a few extra steps to get to it. Just clicking down down down etc.. Not that it's hard just most don't usually go thru it so you'll know. The title doesn't explain where you're at here so just saying that for some viewers they have no idea about the story behind why it was in that shape. To get people behind it the name of the site should be somewhere other than having to dig or Google to find it. So they'll get on board with keeping these going etc. Just passing along an experience is say more have dealt with so maybe info can be placed better. Thx

[@charlierumsfeld6626]

Excellent

[@cathyoldham7596]

You did an amazing job in putting all of this together! It is a project that you should be very proud of!

[@centeroftheearthmining4095]

Great to see this plant up and running again!!!!!

[@lnrailroad3215]

Wonderful video Micah!!

[@HillsideHighlands]

Glad you put Elvis in there at the end! Good job

[@reginadeyoung8750]

Love this video. Reminds me of growing up

[@ronflanary732]

Outstanding!!

[@trainchaserelliot]

Wonderful!

[@markfowler2066]

Thank you for the hard work! This is really helpful for our research.

[@1traintracker]

Another excellent video! Great camera work and I appreciate the information in your graphics. Where are the trucks taking their loads?

[@railfanmicahturner]

Appreciate it! Those that leave from the Cave Branch plant truck the coal over to their Lone Mountain prep plant

[@SGTGhost]

i am the 100th person to like this video, i think this video is really cool and nicely edited

[@thebuzzsaw6489]

Wonderful! Great job. A few suggestions. 1) Maybe a map of where this is located. 2) Graphic text is too small to be read by those of us seniors with bad eyesight. 3) Leave graphic text displayed longer. 4) The thank you to the owner should be displayed at least 5 seconds. Again, great job and great story. Don't be shy, add a photo of yourself, cameras and drone towards the end.

[@ralphballtrip2214]

Where was the video taken? Whereabouts and thank you first time seeing that

[@railfanmicahturner]

Near Cumberand, Ky

[@daniellind7304]

man I know a Micah Turner... wonder ifn the same.....

[@CSXEK]

I hope this means that Irvine and Ravenna might see a train or 2

[@railfanmicahturner]

Sadly, the trackage between Ravenna and Chavies is officially abandoned and is very unlikely to see service anytime soon

[@CSXEK]

@@railfanmicahturner but from Ravenna to Winchester is active

[@Eastkentuckysirensandtrains]

⁠@@railfanmicahturneronly one track on chavies is active I think

[@jimlangley840]

If YT won't give you longer to caption,:then, narrate....

[@charlesmullins3238]

Boy if you were around in the 80s when I grew up here…trucks and trains everywhere…get caught by 1 3miles down rd hualin from Beverly Ann tipple which has been closed and reopened 3 times in my 43yrs and I got to steam clean the whole plant from top to bottom on 1 reopening….7 floors..I live under an old surface mine that they tried deep mining almost within rock throwin distance from my porch just up on the hill…dad always said couldn’t be done cause of bad top and he was right…lotta overburden to be stripped so the deeper stuffs still there…I could write a novel on this stuff and few more subjects us round here grow up learning livin a hard life compared to what most would …it’s all I know and I’ll keep on keepin on….🫡🇺🇸coal keeps lights on..💡