34th Annual National Pike Steam, Gas and Horse Show. Route 40, Brownsville, Pa

Junk.

Scrap.

Eyesores.

History.....

.....call them what you want but if you spend anytime at all in SWPa,  you'll undoubtedly see them.  Hiding under weeds near old industries, laying in the river, in fields just lingering as you drive down the highway.    A lot of times you'll see them there, then you'll notice them gone.... cut up for scrap, as this famous unit on Rt 51 was almost was.....

These are the machines that built and shaped this country.  Pushing dirt, digging coal, building buildings.   Most of these machines are long gone, lost to progress and bigger and better equipment, but there is a place where they still live.

Welcome to the 34th Annual National Pike Steam, Gas and Horse Show.

Just west of Brownsville, Pa, on historic route 40, you will find, twice yearly, the largest digging show in the United States, and quite possibly the world.

 Even though this has been going on 34 year, my first visit was only 3 years ago.  Frankly, I was amazed.  Take a look at the pictures.  What you see is what you get......the steam and diesel shovels load the dirt into ancient trucks, where they take it to dozers pushing it, and it all starts all over again.

 This place is huge.  I'd estimate the working display area at 20 acres.  I was amazed at how close you can get to the machinery here.  Scattered around the perimeter of the display grounds are all sorts of activities.  There is a working rock crusher for the kids to watch and even feed, old tractors, steam engines of every size doing all sorts of things.  They have flea markets, car shows, live music, vendors, great foods of all types.

One of our longtime friends is Pete, of the Ohio Vintage Coal Company.  He and his group invited us down a few days ago for a sneak peek at his groups display.  He took us up in the lift for a birds eye view of the place....

  His group has a working tipple and dump, the Vesta 4.

Here, Chip and Pete have conversation 60 feet in the air, talking about the show

Also, the OVCC have a working Lee Norse continuos miner, made right up the river in Charleroi, Pa.  This is said to be one of the only working models still around..check out the video to see it just tear up the place.....

Just push play......

 This show is an awesome way to connect with our past and talk to a lot of great people who worked these machines. Kids will absolutely love this show, as there are great hands on displays for them, and what kid (of any age), doesn't love giant construction toys? 
 The following pictures are from last years show, but every year, it is getting bigger and better, so stop on out.



You can find information and times of this years show here, at the National Pikes home page.
Also, check out the good people at Ohio Vintage Coal Company here, at their home page.

 

Allison Mine & Coke Works. Allison, PA, Fayette County.

The Allison #1 Mine & Coke Works began operation circa 1904. Built by the W.J. Rainey Coke Company, there were approximitely 400-500 coke ovens. The Allison #2 ovens were built circa 1905 by the same company and had at its maximum 150-200 operating coke ovens. At its peak the Allison Coke Works had about 550-700  rectangular coke ovens in production. In the mid-1950s the Allison Mine & Coke Works were operated by the Emerald Coal & Coke Company.

Older picture of the coke ovens

What's left of the various mine buildings is spread out... The tipple and the decaying remains of two bulidings stand below Allison and are on Allison Custom Fab's property. The coke ovens are set between ACF and a water treatment plant, and the main mine buildings are across the road. The former company store is still currently used but the rest of the buildings are collapsing.

Much of the coke ovens have fallen into disrepair and seem to even been dozed in places. Along one side are stacks of mine cars. These mine cars are scattered across the entire area.

View of the tipple from the ovens

View of the tipple from the slate dump

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