The Pennsylvania Miners' Story (2002 TV Special)

Let's see how this goes as I can't find this anywhere in good quality. I did see someone else upload the original airing on ABC in 2002, but it was in poor quality. Here it is in full DVD quality. My mom had to pay for a sealed DVD off eBay just to watch this as it's not officially available for streaming for some reason. I decided to rip it though and here it is. There is a bit of a connection with this movie I have because I have family members who have been in the mines. I hadn't seen it until tonight, but I quite enjoyed it.
All Rights go to Buena Vista (Disney)
No Copyright Infringement Intended

[@janmock1596]

My grandpa was a miner in WV and western Pennsylvania from 1918 to 1979. He told me countless stories of cave ins and deaths from noxious gasses. He was a modern medical miracle with black lung, smoking a pipe until he died in 2002 at the age of 97. He was born in 1905 and started at the age of 14. I will never forget the stories of death.

[@lollipop6311]

Thank God he had such strong lungs

[@49LivingtheDream]

Fabulous history. He started mining 11 years after the worst mining disaster in U.S. history, the Monongah Mine explosion on December 6, 1907.

[@karolinaszczudlo9871]

Wow....thank You for sharing this History and personal story ❤ your Grandpa sounds like amazing Man indeed, God bless you and your family

[@chriswalshe499]

What a tough man. 60 years AND smoked a pipe!!!!! What a story!

[@shannongallagher2382]

My Papaw Was a coal minor in West Virginia as well my mamaw and papaw were originally from Inez Kentucky and then they moved to West Virginia where they had 15 children...my papaw died in 1979 he was born in 1889 but he died of black lung I don't think this world or this generation can understand just how hard coal mining it really is before they moved to West Virginia when they were still in Kentucky my mamaw used to babysit Miss Loretta Lynn when she was a baby but mamaw passed away in 1997 at the age of 94 I sure miss her I never knew my papaw I was born in 79 he died when I was a baby. His name was Andrew Jackson Gallagher their life was much like the way Loretta Lynn lived I coal minors daughter before she was famous. I believe all the families live the same way up there in the hollars

[@danielfoster3642]

Wait, Disney produced this TV movie about the Quecreek Mine Rescue? Wowsers. With that said, however, I think for a TV movie, it's definitely one of the best. It tells the story of the Quecreek Mine miracle very well. Hard to believe it's been 20 years since the rescue occured. Thanks for sharing.

[@tennsmoothie]

I stayed up all night following the rescue efforts unfold, Drank Crown and Dew through the whole thing I was so nervous for these 9 miners. I will never forget the Pennsylvania Governor walking up to that podium they had set up and announced, "All Nine Alive".

[@rickyflair4516]

Lol

[@ryangeisel7960]

Quecreek Mine. Our local drilling company, Yost Drilling, did the lifesaving rescue.

[@boknows3841]

I think that you don't know what you are talking about because Falcon was there and if it wasn't for Star Iron none of them would have gotten out alive!

[@SHADOW1982]

I remember this happening it scared us when we would go underground after this happened, we talked about it between us miners for a while ,we always talked about what we would do if it ever happened to us !! Good times miss those days and them guys ,we had worked several mines out together and was more like family!!go on fishing trips together, picnic with all family members and go visit each other.. those was the days

[@ryanguccini8662]

We talked about it too. We were usually under 1500ft of cover or more so we knew there would be way to get to us w a drill from the surface. I always planned on throwing an O2 tank on my shoulder and going till it ran out.

[@claymack1109]

Alot of them didn't even go back because of this

[@annaowens7053]

My daddy and my grandaddy worked in a coal mine in Tenn. My grand dad died from a huge rock falling on him while in the mine died from his injuries. So my dad was 16yrs old started working in the mine to help support his mom snd siblings his mom was pregnant when she lost grand dad. Very hard and sad for my daddy and family. This story made me cry & was well done.I remember this happening so heart touching.loved they all were safe. God Blessed!

[@cristineconnell7803]

Lost my brother in a mine explosion! 💔 I pray for them all! All who di the tough & dangerous jobs!

[@nocxetsy3169]

Wow! And to beleive my dad was in this movie, (only as an extra) what a great movie.

[@bethmc95]

I remember this so well! I live about 70 miles from the site so it was all over the news. I woke up the Sunday morning after the rescue and the first thing I did was turn on the news and I was crying and so excited!

[@wagionskeet]

i remember watching this all unfold. i was 11 years old. Then i remember watching this movie on WTAE. I visited the actual site and the museum of the rescue last year

[@jonye7511]

Beautiful and heartwarming.

[@irenemarano8241]

Yes , especially since they didn't die.❤

[@Whats-It-To-Ya]

I grew up in a mining town in Schuylkill County called Coaldale. I heard more stories of miners dying from black lung than I care to remember. That mine is still in operation to this day all day and all night.

[@cristineconnell7803]

Lost my brother in a mine explosion! Someone stored the caps wrong!😢 The scene with the Dad with the yard of children really got me! My brother/or step technically, married a lady with 6 prior children. He quickly adopted them & became Daddy! They adored him as I did! I love my memories of when I was young & sitting on the foot of his bed anxiously waiting until he finished the newest Louis L'Amour books!😂😂 Dad always got first read! I was at the tail end of the line! Dad was a cattle rancher/teacher/and all around handy man for the area! If someone had an emergency, he was often quickly there to lend a hand! ❤ Before my brother was working in the mines, (gold) he was a tree topper! Neither job for the faint of heart! But loved watching them & helping on ground crew! ❤ 💪❤️ He was a great brother to me, & I adored him! Can't wait to see him again when I get home! ❤

[@kathykelley4896]

Awesome film about this horrible accident, I was crying happy tears at the end, so happy all 9 made it out.

[@49LivingtheDream]

Sadly, several years later, only one survived the Sago mine disaster. That was terrible.

[@kathykelley4896]

@@49LivingtheDream 😪😪

[@nickiewhoknow2011]

Thank you for sharing this. My kiddos are to young to know this story (took place a few minutes from my house). I really wanted to show them what our little town went through. Thank you very much for sharing! We will be watching it later today!

[@weatheronthe8s895]

You’re welcome!

[@EarthSurferUSA]

The little town probably would not have existed if not for that mining there. All towns/cities started from production, and it was production that got us out of poverty. What would we have gone through with out the production?

[@claymack1109]

I remember when this happened. I stayed up and watched the news until all nine got out

[@brianmgrim]

It’s amazing that anyone is ever willing to go underground. Even my caving days are through after viewing this production!

[@donnahuss1175]

Great show to know they all made it out

[@dracyoola]

I can't be the only one who cries like a hundred times when I watch this movie can I?

[@markgunther2502]

Yes

[@cristineconnell7803]

Would take a heart of stone not to be effected so❤

[@ryanguccini8662]

The only movie about coal mining that is actually pretty accurate on what it's like underground in s coal mine. Well made and pretty realistic.

[@boknows3841]

Falcon Drilling pulled a rig out of production in West Virginia, drove up the highway with a police escort,rigged up and drilled faster and further than anyone had done before. When the bit broke the call went out to Star Iron to make a tool to retrieve the broken bit down in the hole. The Air National Guard flew a big helicopter to the Punxsutawney airport and Star Iron was still welding the tool on the back of the truck while the truck was driving up Big Run Road to get airport. The tool was still too hot to touch when they unloaded it from the helicopter. Lots of heroes that never got the recognition that they deserved.

[@eginteractive]

As a Southwest PA native, I have to say the producers / director did a great job. The above-ground scenes were actually filmed in Somerset, it's interesting to see areas that I'm familiar with on film. I also love the attention to detail, such as the bags of chips / bread being from Giant Eagle (a major grocery store chain in PA and Ohio). Even the accents are on-par with the area.

[@robertpich2342]

History repeats itself first the Pennsylvania mine workers in 2002 then the Chilean mine workers in 2010. When we forget history we are doomed to repeat it

[@Braylon1818]

I remember watching this when I was like 5 and been hunting the movie to re watch it

[@johnuhtof8952]

Way better. Thank you. I have the book but ive been hunting for this film

[@weatheronthe8s895]

You're welcome.

[@marshaatkins3532]

What a heartfelt movie.

[@karenrichardson6767]

What a great video. thank you

[@crystalcole7337]

Loved this movie

[@teresamerklin4614]

What a miraculous undertaking. ❤ All saved!

[@melindathomas21]

Thank you for sharing

[@hayleywright2966]

I hope those brave men and their families got the appropriate support after

[@donnahuss1175]

Those men were real heros

[@Kaylin09]

I'm from SW Pennsylvania. A friend of mine is in the film.

[@Eastky23wildlife]

Ole boss man came back for moe.

[@user-lu2cf2hd6n]

Those 9 men are one strong family

[@ErA-el1je]

Thx for sharing. Is there a doc on what happened in West Virginia with Patrisha Bigg? I saw Moving Mountains but cannot find a doc on it Thx

[@SugarSugarCreek]

How on earth do these men and families ever recover from such an ordeal?

[@melindathomas21]

Amen,, heartbreaking 💔

[@bobbob4223]

Amazing movie God bless all coal miners

[@gracehulings3270]

confussed I'm from northwestern PA not far from Sykesville.. they are using Sykesville V. fire dept. as a gathering point for the families and friends... but you all are talking about somewhere down by Pittsburgh pa ... so where did this take place .. can remember something about it ...

[@ritaturner9906]

Seems like back then even a good job like mining, could get you a house & nice truck. Today, you need to make $100,000-$200,000 to have that comfortably. Although mining seems to be in small towns with cheaper cost of living.

[@yootoobnoob1]

Great upload! Thanks!

[@weatheronthe8s895]

You're welcome!

[@clintjohnson4947]

The hardest job in the world

[@bargeld09]

Hey I see what looks like Giant Eagle Bread on the Table! 😆

[@gracem5316]

Its strange that this movie is about miners because all they do in the beginning of this film is lay pipe like a plumber in a flood.

[@patriciaoconnell488]

What was the cause of the flood of water?

[@nininininininini7511]

i thought that guy at the start was big lenny

[@LucasExterkotter26]

I need subtitle in portuguese, please this is the film my life

[@weatheronthe8s895]

I wish I could help you, but I unfortunately don't know Portuguese.

[@kidcheater5786]

1:01:34 I work with the bus driver down at the convention center in Pittsburgh.

[@brutuscarpathia9638]

Guess they tried to make them sound like us wv coal miners Hell they did a horrible job at that too lol

[@luxie2155]

Why the southern accents? This happened in Pennsylvania.

[@weatheronthe8s895]

Good question. This could've happened in WV and I wouldn't be able to tell a difference if they used the same actors. I never questioned it because I live in WV, so I don't know what exactly miners in PA are like where this happened.

[@luxie2155]

@@weatheronthe8s895 this was a big deal in the summer of 2002. It was at the quecreek mine in somerset. I had looked it up. They used their exact names. I'm from philly. And while we kinda have our own accent..nobody speaks like that who are from here. It was so closely based on a true story...the southern speech was weird.

[@weatheronthe8s895]

@@luxie2155 yeah. I know it's based on a true story. A pretty interesting one definitely.

[@nickiewhoknow2011]

That’s a really great question. I live near the mine and we don’t have that accent here. ☺️ maybe they thought it would “add” to the depiction? I’m no director but if I claim it to be a “true story” I’d try to stick to that claim as best I could.

[@googleyeyes5122]

Not all of them have southern accents. Maybe these people were actually southeners who moved to Pennsylvania to mine. Might as well ask why Randy's got a farmer's tan. I never knew a miner to have a tan.

[@TheWanderingFinnegan]

Well ... I gave it 15 minutes and got bored. Some movies are just too long. They could cut out the "busy work", make a shorter and better movie.