Caspian in Iron County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Narrow Gauge Underground Electric Train

This was used in the mines around 1920.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 5, 2022

1. Narrow Gauge Underground Electric Train Marker

(mounted on Car #2, the mucking machine)

Inscription.
Car #1: A 1920 electric locomotive with 4 motors and weighs 10 tons with a speed of 6.6 MPH. The wooden boom connected this car to the overhead power line for direct current. The driver stood on the rear of the car.

Car #2: Mucking machine with rocker shovel — a miner stood on the running board to operate this.

Car #3: Jumbo drilling car — used for drilling holes for dynamite.

Car #4: Pneumatic mucking machine — this scooped up the ore and dumped it in the car behind.

Car #5: Rocker arm ore car — this ore car was dumped by hand.

Car #6: Side dump ore car.

Car #7: Hand material car — this car was used to move lumber or lagging in the mine.

Car #8: Wooden ore car.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1920.

Location. 46° 4.058′ N, 88° 37.541′ W. Marker is in Caspian, Michigan, in Iron County. Marker can be reached from Brady Avenue, 0.2 miles north of Caspian Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Marker is mounted directly on the mucking machine, car #2 of the mining train exhibit located on the Iron County Historical Museum grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Brady Avenue, Caspian MI 49915, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Diamond Drill (a few steps from this marker); The Big Splash (a few steps from this marker); Powder House (a few steps from this marker); Snow Rollers 1900's (a few steps from this marker); Chicago & Northwestern Railway (within shouting distance of this marker); The Cooling Pond (within shouting distance of this marker); The Puotinen Barn (within shouting distance of this marker); The Beechwood Cabin (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Caspian.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Caspian Iron Mine Complex

Narrow Gauge Underground Electric Train Marker (<i>panel 2</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 5, 2022

2. Narrow Gauge Underground Electric Train Marker (panel 2)

(mounted on Car #4, the pneumatic mucking machine)

Electric Locomotive & Mucking Machine image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 5, 2022

3. Electric Locomotive & Mucking Machine

Jumbo Drilling Car & Pneumatic Mucking Machine image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 5, 2022

4. Jumbo Drilling Car & Pneumatic Mucking Machine

Rocker Arm, Side Dump, Hand Material, and Wooden Ore Cars image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 5, 2022

5. Rocker Arm, Side Dump, Hand Material, and Wooden Ore Cars

Credits. This page was last revised on January 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 5, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 77 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 5, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.