Electric mine larrys in PA

robertjohndavis · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:10 am **Posts:** 2499

I finally got around to posting pictures of the abandoned mine larries at the Oak Hill colliery site in PA. All pics at: http://www.robertjohndavis.com/blog

Metman499 · **Joined:** Mon May 09, 2005 8:16 pm **Posts:** 80

I was with Rob on this trip and the one question we both came up with is who made these? I know that I have never seen anything like it before. If anyone has any info or in service pictures and would like to share that would be very appreciated.
A little more info on them that we do know. They were simply driven off the end of the track to their final resting place. They were used to move material up a very steep grade. We do not know what happened to the fourth car that is in pictures. Permits to access Reading Anthracite land are available via their website.

Metman499 · **Joined:** Mon May 09, 2005 8:16 pm **Posts:** 80

Some more information just came in via email. The cars are equipped with dynamics and operated up a 10% grade. It was powered by an ignitron rectifier. This information comes from Coal Age, issue unknown. I was just provided a scan of only one page and am trying to get more info.

G. W. Laepple · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1182

I believe these cars were built by DIFCO, the old Differential Car Co. of Findlay, Ohio. I remember climbing around on these about 20 years ago, and they still had DIFCO builder's plates. They had unique trucks, the "DIFCO Axleless Truck," if I remember correctly.