781 Comments for Old Saint Nicholas Coal Breaker

I've really been enjoying your site since I found it the other week and figured I'd eventually come across something in my neck of the woods. I grew up in Shenandoah (right over the mountain from where this was located) and am still in the county. It was so neat to see what the inside of the breaker looked like since I saw the outside of it all the time from the road as a child when we would go to Mahanoy City to visit my grandmother. Thank you for documenting a little bit of the history of my area that is now unfortunately gone...I'm looking forward to seeing if there are any other local places on your site as I make my way through it!

Really late with this but it's a water or fluid valve, see the knob at the top and most likely not very big just a brilliantly taken photo skewing the perspective. Maybe not much larger than the valves in the lower left area. Agreed though that the yellow tape is odd in such a deteriorating environment.

This was probably a shop area or maybe a scrap pile when the plant closed. It all looks like very heavy stuff that one would not move unless you had to.

Dennis or Edward?

looks like a big sign, was hanging on the wall and they just didn't paint behind it.

Truly, like something out of a Stephen King Nightmare

This is really a picture of an old Bucyrus-Monighan walking dragline draw works. Possibly a model 9W

I just have to say that I have been following this website for quite sometime and feared that it was forgotten. I am more than EXCITED to see so many new photos! Keep up the good work! I love reading the history and seeing the beautiful decay of these buildings. :)

Looks like a brake. Electric motors will sometimes have a drum for braking on the tail shaft, while the other end is connected to a speed reducer. If the conveyor belt is on an incline, the brake will keep the belt from moving when stopped. To the left is a base with 4 holes. Most likely for a electrical coil that would operate the brake.

I'm surprised how much glass is still intact.

Saint Nick breaker is in the process of being dismantled.My grandfather worked Maple Hill coal mine for over 31 years which was the primary
source of coal for Saint Nick which was located right in back of the breaker were only one mine shaft still stands today.I just moved back to pa from NJ after 28 years and nothing has changed.My father was born in 1941 and tells me stories of it in its hey day.I am now 40 and remember it as a kid.I go back once a week to take pics as I live right outside of Sheppton.Here is location,it wont be around much longer 10-1-13. [Location removed due to site policy] Enjoy But RESPECT! Locals have hawk eyes with good reason.

Aswome Photos Mr. Motts. JackieB where ar u my Love. I miss u A lot.

Really nice series, I like the moodiness. Well captured.

This is awesome!!!

That's just so steampunk!