Bergwerk West Friedrich-Heinrich, Germany

Zeche M / Zeche Heinz is the above-ground coal processing complex of an abandoned coal mine in Germany.

Visited December 2014   Kamp-Lintfort, Germany Closed

History of the abandoned Bergwerk West Coal Mine, Germany

Bergwerk West Friedrich-Heinrichis a huge abandoned coal mine in Germany. The underground pits extend great distances, and above ground the industrial site for processing the hard coal is certainly large-scale. The site has developed over the years so the complex of buildings and machinery are a combination of modern technology alongside older techniques.

A huge 55 meter tall tower houses two electric motors and winding gear for hoisting the miners and equipment into and out of the mineshaft. Each has its own control room to add to the epic look!

There are several rooms for the baskets in which the miners stored their clothing and personal belongings while they were mining. Each basket can the drawn up to the ceiling, out of reach, and locked in place to ensure the security of the items they contain.

The coal processing plant is extensive and contains a network of conveyors for transporting the coal around the site. Some of the machines are clearly older than others and some appear to have been out of commission for a lot longer than the the site has been closed.