Rehabilitating a Coal Mine - Brooks Mine Update Part 1 (8/2022)

Ever wonder what it would take to rehabilitate an old forgotten coal mine??? In this video we'll answer that question as we get a unique look at that process. With an invite from my friend Chris of the UGM ‪@undergroundminers‬ I'm able to show you the current ongoing process of a rather unique mine. The Brooks Mine located in Nay Aug park in Scranton Pennsylvania is something that many people know about, but most have rarely been inside of it. This mine was never commercially operated and although large deposits of coal are on the inside, it was created as a model to show the underground working conditions. Brooks has a long history dating back to the early 1900's, but it closed for good in 1975, but in 2023 that is about to change. We'll get an inside look at the progress that has been made, future plans and more including a glimpse at some of the work that takes place on scheduled work days.
►2023 update: • Rehabilitating a COAL ...
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#JPVideos #UGM #BrooksMine

[@JPVideos81]

I've walked past this mine dozens of times ever since I was a little kid. It was a surreal experience to actually walk inside. The finished result will be something that will definitely draw locals to it. Check out their NEW website: undergroundminers.com/

[@bethcorey6022]

JP have you ever been to INDEAN CAVERNS near Belefonte,PA , another great place to see

[@dottiemccoy3123]

This was verry interesting video. My grandfather was a coal miner in PA. Thank you for sharing.

[@undergroundminers]

It was great having you! Excellent video as well. We do have a couple videos of the work on our channel if anyone is interested. Very excited for this to reopen again for the public ⛏🪨

[@mountainpines8417]

Thanks to you guys for sharing as I am enjoying this very much. I kinda wish I was helping along with you guys. I was a Surface Miner at Bernice Stone and Coal in Bernice,Pa Sullivan County. As a kid in the 80s I knew about this as my Parents and I used to go to Nay Augs Park all the time. Anyway, Nice to see in process of opening up. I'm enjoying.

[@JPVideos81]

I definitely recommend subscribing to their channel for updates on this and other projects.

[@coreybabcock2023]

@@JPVideos81 I definitely subbed to them

[@hunnybunnysheavymetalmusic6542]

Certainly makes sense to preserve history, show people the roots of their nation and their community, perhaps even encourage more young people to want to actually get involved with mining.

[@danmathers141]

Love the tour. Please come back here so we can check progress.

[@evarodriguezalequin5705]

Interesting. I remember when I was younger and living in NYC, in school we had trips to the crystal caves in PA too. Which you don't hear about it anymore. And the Poconos. So sad how all these great things has disappeared. Enjoy when it open.

[@Connorb717]

On my bucket list for sure!!

[@randomkozy5605]

This is really cool. Thanks for taking us along for the tour. I see a lot of coal in the mine. I wonder why no one wants to actually mine it.

[@catherineengle4196]

How cool was that. Just straight up awesome. ✌

[@michaelmyers3892]

I lived in a tiny Alabama mountain town and a lot of men that were retired there were the old school Birmingham steel mill workers which is still Mill still is open and a lot of them were retired coal miners and it was so interesting to see the different types of coal that are out there and Cole does have a unique smell and they were telling me that the old days some of them actually had to work on their knees until further on when things got better where modern equipment took over I have nothing but respect for minors that's a hard laborious job

[@mimig5357]

What an interesting project! It's awesome that they're getting that mine open where people can go in and see! A wonderful piece of History!! Thank you for taking me along! Enjoying all your videos!!!

[@scottcochran384]

as a former pa Coal miner myself i'm glad to see people given the chance to experiance the inside of a mine for themselves.. was Amazed once from a N.Y. city person when he saw a Large lump of coal in my truck.. some people don't realize it's Natural form before it's ground to kennel or Nugget coal they buy in bags at some store. .. this should be a good educational experience for those folks. sell lumps of coal to tourists to remember their visit and to help fund the project.

[@mgratk]

Wow! So cool. I remember as a kid frequently standing at the entrance trying to get a good look inside. Of course back then Nay Aug also had a great little amusement park and a zoo. Great work those guys are doing! I always wanted to see what was inside and now I know! No doubt this will be very popular. So many of us wondered about it as kids. Now we can show out kids and grandkids. If you miners see this, THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[@Autobodyscotty]

I would love to pay to come and see that place and do a Paranormal Investigation. So COOL !.

[@JPVideos81]

This would be an uneventful location as it was never commercially worked and no lives were lost inside.

[@Autobodyscotty]

@@JPVideos81 Ghost like dark places and like to travel.

[@garymessina1609]

Fantastic thanks JP

[@JPVideos81]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching

[@wheresthebeefwherestheprob9951]

Omg!!! This is wonderful! I can't wait to get up there and see this old mine! This will also be wonderful for young kids tht really don't know wht it was and in some still functional mines like to get this coal out to the public.

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Well done . Great work . I am a Tourguide underground in the Rammelsbergmine in Germany . You did a great job . I wish you as much Power and donatations to finish your important coalmine Projekt. In Germany the miner said Glück Auf to wish you luck and to get out Well and alive to the sunlight. So Glück Auf Take care Yours Frank Galetzka

[@ppivovarni]

This is a great thing you are doing for the people of the Scranton area. Not many people remember how hard our ancestors worked to survive. You said the veins come to the surface nearby. Please expose those so they will be visible to tour attendees. Also I think a map showing all the veins below would be very informative to show how extensive the mining work was and where the miners spent their workdays. Great job and a big thank you!

[@ducaticanine]

absolutely love this guy giving us a tour. he’s clearly extremely knowledgeable and fun to listen to. thx for the great video

[@SueGirling68]

Hi Jay, I think it's fantastic what they are doing there at this drift coal mine. I wish the guys there all the luck in the world and thank them for what they are trying to achieve. Thank you for sharing, much love. xx ❤

[@gaylebrodt676]

That was very interesting! What a wonderful historical addition to the park for everyone to enjoy! Some very dedicated and talented people working on it, and it's going to be so amazing when it's complete! Looking forward to seeing it when it's done. Awesome photos and video JP! Thank you!

[@toniwilson6210]

Is it safe?

[@jenniferbutcher8393]

This is so exciting! You can feel the joy from those miners as they speak and work on this legendary place. My son hand forges draw knives- fun to see the guys using them to hand shape the timbers, just like the original way. Keep us informed! What a treasure of a place!

[@MikeOrkid]

I've been up twice since they started the restoration. I can't wait for it to open. Hopefully it allows some more people to see how important our valley was in history with supplying coal all over the country and fueling the industrial revolution.

[@gigicostlow4414]

That is so awesome! Thanks to the UGM guys for their hard work and time to rehab and reopen this mine. Thanks JP for taking us on this interesting tour.

[@JPVideos81]

It was a very fun experience to walk inside here for my first time, especially after always seeing this since I was a little kid.

[@barbara-pigeonbray4579]

That was an interesting tour ..Thank you for sharing this noteworthy project . They have a lot of work ahead of them but seem to love the challenge . Looking forward to seeing the results.

[@JPVideos81]

They are the right people for the job and I'm excited to see it when it's finished.

[@russelltrupia4479]

What a awesome job these guys are doing. Thanks for making this video Jay👍👍

[@mountainpines8417]

Thanks! JP and you guys of Under Ground Mining for sharing. I'm enjoying this very much. Awesome!

[@bethcorey6022]

It’s cool that they are shaving the Timbers as they would have way back when it opened

[@ashtontoler2124]

If you don't the timbers rot a lot faster.

[@christophero1969]

Love the restoration, keep it up.

[@JPVideos81]

Thanks so much!

[@mikespikedog5293]

I actually took a tour of an active Greene County Longwall mine while work was in progress some 15 years ago. It was very interesting to see the process. But you had to have a close friend or family member who was an employee to go in. Tours were given on Saturday.

[@JPVideos81]

It's a unique environment

[@frankforrest1597]

This is so great. It amazes me that all the funding is by donations. Shows that people are really interested in the local history of mining coal. Thank you Jay for great presentation of the activities of the reopening. 👍

[@JPVideos81]

You said it. It's a win win for everyone.

[@XenobiaWinterWolfMoon]

This is gonna be great.

[@heididorr2684]

I hold a high regard for hard work, I've done this all my life deep respect

[@dr.leonardhofstadtersavage6413]

Great video JP, that's cool to see the transformation. Looks really nice, mine working is a hard job. But they will get that old mine looking great again 👍👍👍👍

[@mtgcardzandreview2756]

Really neat thanks for sharing the video.

[@wheresthebeefwherestheprob9951]

Thank you for posting this video! Seeing the actual hard manual labor/work tht's going into bringing the mine back alive and into safe touring conditions is inspiring!! What amazing men at UGM!

[@outandaboutsciencewithmr.g]

Awesome JP!! I am so excited for this!!! What a great addition to a great park!!! Glad to hear their website is back up!! Hands down a plethora of mining history for our area!!

[@JPVideos81]

Hands down the best group around when it comes to coal mining history in NEPA

[@coreybabcock2023]

How's it going Steve ? I had to start this KZbin channel my main one was cancelled cause I got hacked

[@celestriald8844]

I am SO excited that you were able to get a inside view of this mine! I've wondered what it looked like on the other side of those doors my entire life! My great grandfather was a coalminer and we still have his lunchbox he would take town into the mines with him! I am just so fascinated with coal mines! Thank you again for this awesome look behind the locked (now unlocked lol) doors of the Brooks mine!

[@JPVideos81]

I'm right there with you. I've been wanting to go inside since I was a little kid in the 80s.

[@teresahelms1709]

Very interesting 👌👍😊 great narrative on the history of the mine and how UGM is working to fix and strengthen it so that it is safe for the public 😀👍😄 Great explore and a definite learning experience 😀👍👌 Thanks so much for taking us all along with you guys 🥰❤❤ Really love all of the videos I've seen so far. Interesting, informative and educational; especially knowing the history of the places that y'all explore. It really adds a little something special to the explorations 🥰❤🥰😊😊 As always thanks for taking us all along with y'all!❤ Blessed be and stay safe ❤🙏

[@JPVideos81]

💙😊

[@digginz8603]

You guys are so freaking cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im about to buy my first coal stove. Firewood is obsolete, coal is the next big thing

[@Vegasparanormal]

That's so cool how they trim the tree

[@JPVideos81]

Fun to watch and a good workout

[@SR-zi6eo]

Loved the tour, JP; very interesting! Thank you so much for taking us; much appreciated…🌝

[@milesandhikes]

This was fascinating JP! I am not one to get into tight claustrophobic spaces, but I think I would definitely visit this mine.

[@JPVideos81]

I'm certain you would enjoy a tour through this mine. It's more open than you think and you'll be distracted with all the interesting things to see.

[@milesandhikes]

@@JPVideos81 i agree! Did not look claustrophobic at all in your video. Hopefully one day soon I’ll get to explore more of the East Coast

[@hardymichael533]

Great job on KZbin video amazing ✌️

[@cruikshank]

Thanks for producing this video and Big Thanks to Chris M and All of the UGM crew for taking on this project. I crossed paths with the UGM’s in the early 2000’s. They are Very Dedicated & Knowledgeable. They were born about 100 years late for their passion about Anthracite Coal Mining but born in the right time to Preserve & Educate today’s and future generations of the working conditions our Fathers, Grandfathers, Great Grandfathers and beyond did in building this country. I can’t wait to take my grandson to yet another coal mine tour. A heartfelt Thank You for All the Work You Do. Dave the Photographer in Reading PA.

[@cessna54tango]

Hi Dave!! would be great to catch up one of these days!!!!!!

[@577buttfan]

Looking forward to seeing it when its finished. Thanks for the video man.Maybe a haunted house in there would be sick!!

[@JPVideos81]

They have some awesome surprises planned

[@jeffreyplum5259]

My grandfather was a coal miner and eventually a coal mine owner. I knew about his mine as a kid, but never was allowed inside. His mine was in West Virginia. It was for soft coal, and had only one opening as far as I know.

[@jimbobo55]

Can't wait to visit!!

[@hunnybunnysheavymetalmusic6542]

Massive difference between you guys and ME is that I would be opening up a mine to be MINING it, not as a museum! And I would be employing 100% modern equipment and techniques, not trying to run it the way the original people did.

[@musclecarmitch908]

Awesome video JP! Beautiful entrance to that mine! Such a cool mine, really glad they are saving it for the public to enjoy! Thanks for bringing us along for the tour! Hope you still recognize me, I've changed part of my name and thumbnail picture , gone in a different direction with my old car hobby.

[@JPVideos81]

Many places like this never see the light of day again, but glad this one is being saved. Thanks for mentioning the name change as well.

[@jamesalinio5277]

Great video JP, I like that someone else is willing to go inside an under ground mine, but I don't know if I could do that, I feel I would be claustrophobic to such a small area

[@JPVideos81]

Once inside it's more spacious than you think. This one will be great for those who never stepped foot inside one.

[@allenpedrick6502]

Awesome work being done. Thanks for the video.

[@joangravel2436]

Awesome place thanks

[@amb6899]

Really enjoyed this video So interesting and informative,! Chris knows his stuff. Great presentation. Keep up the good work.

[@robertmanley7556]

Cool man !! I would for sure walk through it when its done !! Such a cool video glad they could get it opened again and show people the history of mining coal.....also there is a lot coal left in there wow !! Great video could you come back maybe when its opens and walk through it ? I would love to personally but I am like 1000 miles away !! Great video as always !!!👍👍

[@JPVideos81]

I'll be back for more updates and when it's open

[@danielgrewe1984]

Hello From Germany. Really nice calm Channel. Love it

[@sonplusone7059]

This was cool. I can’t wait till Spring to see it in person and maybe do a video on it. Thanks for the cool video.

[@ralphballtrip2214]

I wish you luck,

[@Vegasparanormal]

Great video jp❤❤

[@brendakrieger7000]

Very cool! I've never seen anything like this before!

[@rxc640]

I am so used to you talking in your videos. It was so unusual not to hear you for the most part.

[@JPVideos81]

Best to let the pros do the talking

[@703am]

really interesting, bet there is a ton of work getting that mine open again

[@adzadzy]

Very interesting, these guys seem nice people and good at what they do, will you go back again once work is done in the future? Take care jp

[@JPVideos81]

I will certainly be back for more updates.

[@rj78productions88]

Chris and the gang are doing a great job. It looks a good bit different from the video they posted on their channel of the first time entering it. Look forward to seeing it when it is open to the public.

[@JPVideos81]

This will be a big draw once it's finished, especially with the some of the surprises they have planned.

[@philliphall5198]

Would be nice if they were mining again 😊

[@jagarg6573]

Way to go guys

[@Vegasparanormal]

I love mining carts

[@Rieju-Sherco]

Coal is King!

[@gregdiamond6023]

I enjoyed this J. Both of my grandfathers worked the western PA mines. One got out and drove coal trucks. The other got black lung. How old is this mine? If you said and I missed it I apologize.

[@JPVideos81]

Opened 1902

[@gregdiamond6023]

@@JPVideos81 Thanks J. I’m glad some groups care about preservation of the old mines enough to restore these these mines for the public to enjoy and learn about them.

[@nomadsempirebuilder9461]

🥲 Awesome lol

[@mattd2080]

What is the purpose of shaving the bark off of the timbers? Wouldn't the bark offer some level of moisture protection if left on?

[@JPVideos81]

The bark actually traps moisture and would cause the timbers to rot. Nearly all coal mines remove the bark due to the damp environment underground. Out west in the dry hard rock mines, they typically leave the bark on.

[@DavidUstick]

Did I miss a part ? why take the bark off the wood ?

[@JPVideos81]

The bark traps moisture, so this prevents it from rotting.

[@janblake9468]

@@JPVideos81 Yes, old mines out west, esp in Nevada, left the bark on because the arid climate.

[@ralphballtrip2214]

Do you have roof bold installed? I’m from Harlan Kentucky a lot of coal mines down here

[@paulbriggs3072]

I think I prefer wood pellets. No underground mining, just fresh air, under the sun logging.

[@MrMoosekiller31]

having sat abandoned did ya run into any methane pockets I work in gold mines one of which is in red lake Ontario for goldcorp it has ton of methane compared to anywhere else ive been i run a diamond drill , there's no coal mines that I'm aware of up here in Northern Ontario I was just curious if methane is always present in a coal mine cause here some mines have none an others you hit methane often our drills have sniffers so when they detect methane the drill shuts down

[@bunkerhousing]

Greta approves this video!

[@scinceman96game]

What is the train car next to mine under roof? The info for the train car (date, make, and model).

[@JPVideos81]

It's for a narrow gauge railroad. There's a sign by it, but I dont know the info off hand.

[@cessna54tango]

Pennsylvania Coal Co. Gravity Railroad. Ran from Hawley to Pittston. Was built in the 1860s!

[@justinhobart8747]

👍😲👍

[@briantheminer]

Just an observation, not a negative comment, but the state inspector hasn’t insisted on wearing SCSRs?

[@cessna54tango]

In anthracite mines you are not required to wear those things, they just need to be in the gangway “within reach” however, we are not required to have them at all as this is not a coal producing mine.

[@briantheminer]

@@cessna54tango thank you Chris 👍

[@DeafDiver]

Felt sorry for tall people who try walk in

[@davidcassidy5868]

👍

[@Shield.148]

Can they mine some of the coal in order to sell it to raise money?

[@tse90723]

If there is so much visible coal still left why was the mine shut down?

[@cessna54tango]

It was never an operating mine, It was driven as an exhibition for the people of Scranton to see what underground mining was like at the turn of the century........

[@petegregory517]

Couldn't pay me to go in there.

[@HebrewHammerArmsCo]

Looks awesome.... America has so much to see its not funny...

[@lukea9873]

were you wearing self rescuers and have gas monitors on? also how was the ventilation, honstly fk going down there. U don't know what sorta gase could of built up over time

[@JPVideos81]

The miners have monitors and fresh air is pumped in anytime anyone is working inside.

[@patriot6350]

Is this the same one Scranton Joe woked in at 4 years old? 😂 👉🇺🇸👈

[@ralphballtrip2214]

Sorry, I didn’t proofread