Lynch in Harlan County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Coal Tipple
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2017
1. Coal Tipple Marker
The original structure, which consisted of the concrete bin seen here and an additional 60 foot high steel super structure atop the concrete, was the largest coal tipple in the world when completed in 1930.
The upper steel structure was used to hand pick rock from the coal, to screen and size the product, and to house a huge dust-collection system.
The concrete structure was a bin holding 4000 tons of coal for loading into railroad cars on three tracks under the tipple. Because of frequent fires from spontaneous combustion in the bin, its use as a storage facility was discontinued in the 40's.
With the construction of a coal preparation plant in Corbin, all activity except loading was discontinued at this facility in 1955. Loading continued until 1991.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.
Location. 36° 57.948′ N, 82° 55.192′ W. Marker is in Lynch, Kentucky, in Harlan County. Marker is on West Main Street (Kentucky Route 160) west of Church Street, on the left when traveling west. Marker is located on the Portal 31 Exhibition Mine grounds, on the south side of Main Street, directly in front of the tall concrete silo. Touch for map.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. City Water Plant (here, next to this marker); Power House (within shouting distance of this marker); Winifrede Mine Conveyor (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); History of Lynch (about 400 feet away); No. 31 Mine Shop (about 400 feet away); Restaurant Building (about 500 feet away); Mine Ventilating Fan (about 500 feet away); Lamp House No. 2 (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lynch.
More about this marker. This is a large, painted metal, "billboard-style" marker.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Portal 31 Exhibition Mine, Lynch, Kentucky
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2017
2. Coal Tipple Marker (wide view; coal tipple silo located directly behind marker)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2017
3. Coal Tipple Photo Plaque (located on gate securing tipple site)
Southeast Community College Appalachian Archive
4. Coal Tipple photo, circa 1920
This coal tipple was the largest in the world when it was built. It was a model of efficiency that many mines copied. This photo shows the tipple with the power house smokestack in the background.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2017
5. 2300 Ton Tipple Coal Silo (located behind marker)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2017
6. Coal Tipple (surviving concrete substructure at right; metal superstructer is gone)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 392 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
