Elm Pit #2: (Satellite, the west tipple, which was rail served; Satellite, east tipple)
Middlegrove: (Satellite)
More coal mines in the area
These notes were originally for the Midland Electric Coal's Middle Grove Mine. I have learned that the town is spelled Middlegrove. I have also learned that Midland had another mine west of Farmington named after Rapatee. Since they are so close together, they are covered by the same map so I document both of them here. Because of the ambiguity of some of the captions on the photos, I also include Midland's third Fulton County mine: Elm Pit #2.
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| Roger Kujawa posted REAL PHOTO Midland Electric Coal Steam Shovel, Farmington Illinois Vintage PC James Stine: Midland Electric Coal’s first 5561 and the second one built. Middlegrove Mine in what was called the Rapatee Pit. I noticed something else about this shot, it has the upgraded 40 yd. Dipper installed on it. |
These notes were originally for the Midland Electric Coal's Middle Grove Mine. I have learned that the town is spelled Middlegrove. I have also learned that Midland had another mine west of Farmington named after Rapatee. Since they are so close together, they are covered by the same map so I document both of them here. Because of the ambiguity of some of the captions on the photos, I also include Midland's third Fulton County mine: Elm Pit #2.
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| Fulton County Directory, Middle Grove, Index 621, 1933-68 |
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| Fulton County Directory, Elm Pit #2, Index 706, 1942-72 |
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| Fulton County Directory, Rapatee, Index 961, 1976-96 |
Middle Grove is the old mine and is predominantly north of IL-116. Rapatee is the newer mine and is south of IL-116.
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| Fulton County Map |
Elm Pit #2 needs its own map excerpt. Note that there are "706" tipples east and west of IL-97.
The railroad that goes by Rapatee, Middlegrove and Farmington was originally the Minneapolis & St. Louis (MSTL), which was bought by the C&NW. The C&NW abandoned the route west of Middlegrove. UP owns the segment between Middlegrove and Peoria, but the 2005 SPV Map marks it as out-of-service. The 2005 SPV Map also shows a MSTL branch going southwest form Middlegrove, through Fairview Mine and then south to Fairview where it joined the CB&Q. But this map shows the MSTL branch is west of IL-97.
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| Fulton County Map |
The railroad that goes by Rapatee, Middlegrove and Farmington was originally the Minneapolis & St. Louis (MSTL), which was bought by the C&NW. The C&NW abandoned the route west of Middlegrove. UP owns the segment between Middlegrove and Peoria, but the 2005 SPV Map marks it as out-of-service. The 2005 SPV Map also shows a MSTL branch going southwest form Middlegrove, through Fairview Mine and then south to Fairview where it joined the CB&Q. But this map shows the MSTL branch is west of IL-97.
This topo map agrees with the "green line." In this case, I think the topo map is correct and the SPV Map is wrong because I can find land scars for the topo map route but not for the SPV Map route. The CB&Q route west of Fairview and north of Ellisville is probably missing from the topo map because it was already abandoned. It is the "green line" that served the west tipple of Elm Pit #2.
The other reason I'm combining these three mines in one post is that I don't always know which photo goes with each mine. So these are ordered in the sequence I encountered them.
Justin Curless posted four photos with the comment: "Midland Electric Coal Company Middle Grove/Rapatee Mine Marion 5761 Stripping Shovel."
I used the "rrMisc" label because in 1928 the railroad was Minneapolis & St. Louis. I also labeled it rrCaNW because it was bought by Chicago & North Western. My 2005 SPV RR Atlas indicates that the segment between the tipple and Farmington was OOS (Out-Of-Service). A satellite image shows that it is now abandoned.
Scott Thompson posted four photos with the comment: "I took these as a kid in 1963 or so..working near Elmwood, IL. What can anyone tell me about this beauty?"
If I understand the comments correctly, the consensus was that this Marion 5761 was working at this mine. The photos were taken before Peabody Coal bought the mine and repainted the shovel.
Scott Thompson posted three photos with the comment: "A couple others at work in the same area, same time. I'd love to know anything about these beautiful old machines."
James Stine The dragline is a Marion 7200 with quite a story behind her. The shovel is a Marion 5560 that opened Middlegrove Mine in 1933 I think. Great photos!
Scott Thompson posted three photos with the comment: "I found 3 more pics of the Marion 5761. That's all I have. I'm happy to be able to give her a name after all these years! Thanks again every body! I'm sure it got scrapped out. what a waste!"
Austin Primus Unfortunately you're right about it being scrapped. The last surviving stripping shovel is Big Brutus in Kansas, but it's preserved. Your pics are great!
Marvin Henry My favorite shovel. Something about the top knot on the back. Ventilation ?
Some photos from a Fulton County Album that Eric Holtz shared.
Julie Dollar posted three photos with the comment: "Old pics from Middlegrove."
Brian Smith What Was The Rated Tonnage For Truck 41 ??
Dave Morse If my memory is correct, Dad said at one time that the 41 truck was a 50ton truck and the LW Haul trucks were 80 Tonners!!
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| 1963 Burlington Quadrangle @ 1:250,000 |
The other reason I'm combining these three mines in one post is that I don't always know which photo goes with each mine. So these are ordered in the sequence I encountered them.
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| Justin Curless posted Fulton County has enjoyed a rich Mining History of Mining Bituminous Coal. In the 1820s outcroppings of the Mineral were dicovered in Streams Cut through The Soil exposing Coal in there Banks. Slope Mines developed as settlers dug Deeper into the veins of Coal.By 1880, Deep or Shaft Mining was employed because it cover Several acers by sinking into a vein of Coal vertically and expand Horizontally. Mining was Primarily done underground until the 1920s when Strip Mining. Began on a large Scale.in 1928 there were 137 Coal Mines in the County and by 1965 Fulton was the leader of Coal production in Illinois. coal Mining provided Many Jobs and was widespread throughout Fulton County. The Last of the legacy of Many Coal Mines closed in 1997. The many Lakes and ponds visible to the travelers are the Legacy of this Surface Mining From the The Past. |
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| 1980s photo by Karl Bliss via hinton-gen Type 5761 Marion Shovel & ? 954-WX Bucyrus-Erie Bucket Wheel Excavator This machine was shipped from Marion, Ohio in December 1960 to Farmington, Illinois. The cost of the machine was $3,433,484.00. The machine operating weight including ballast was 6,562,000 pounds. The blueprints showed the machine had a total height of 158.5 feet. The boom length on this machine was 170 feet, also the bucket was listed at 65 cubic yards. According to the spec sheet the alternate current driving motors total horsepower was listed at 5000 horsepower. |
Justin Curless posted four photos with the comment: "Midland Electric Coal Company Middle Grove/Rapatee Mine Marion 5761 Stripping Shovel."
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| 1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP |
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| 1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP |
Scott Thompson posted four photos with the comment: "I took these as a kid in 1963 or so..working near Elmwood, IL. What can anyone tell me about this beauty?"
If I understand the comments correctly, the consensus was that this Marion 5761 was working at this mine. The photos were taken before Peabody Coal bought the mine and repainted the shovel.
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James Stine The dragline is a Marion 7200 with quite a story behind her. The shovel is a Marion 5560 that opened Middlegrove Mine in 1933 I think. Great photos!
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Scott Thompson posted three photos with the comment: "I found 3 more pics of the Marion 5761. That's all I have. I'm happy to be able to give her a name after all these years! Thanks again every body! I'm sure it got scrapped out. what a waste!"
Austin Primus Unfortunately you're right about it being scrapped. The last surviving stripping shovel is Big Brutus in Kansas, but it's preserved. Your pics are great!
Marvin Henry My favorite shovel. Something about the top knot on the back. Ventilation ?
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Some photos from a Fulton County Album that Eric Holtz shared.
These pictures were taken at several Fulton County coal mines in 1982-83.The original 110, Polaroid, and Kodak Instant prints have been restored using image manipulation software.
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| 1 Rapatee Mine–tipple–1/16/1983 Midland Coal Company (restored prints) This was originally a composite of two different prints, one from an Instamatic 110 camera, and one from a KODAMATIC Instant Camera. It was somewhat adventurous for a 13-year-old. — in Middlegrove, Illinois. |
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| 2 Rapatee Mine–tipple–1/16/1983 Midland Coal Company (original prints) This is my first attempt at 13 years of age to composite an Instamatic 110 print, and a KODAMATIC Instant Camera print. |
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| Rapatee Mine–tipple–1/16/1983 Midland Coal Company (restored print) |
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| 8 Elm Mine–shovel, wheel–1/16/1983 Midland Coal Company (restored print)Justin Curless Peabody Coal Company Elm Mine (Trivoli) |
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| 9 Elm Mine–shovel, wheel, me–1/16/1983 Midland Coal Company (restored print) |
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| 10 Elm Mine–me, shovel–1/16/1983 Midland Coal Company (restored print) |
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| 11 Elm Mine–dragline–1/16/1983 Midland Coal Company (restored print) |
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| 12 Elm Mine–machines–1/16/1983 Midland Coal Company (restored print) |
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| 13 Elm Mine–dragline–March, 1983 Midland Coal Company (restored print) |
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| 14 Elm Mine–haulage truck (1)–March, 1983 Midland Coal Company (restored print) |
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| 15 Elm Mine–haulage truck (2)–March, 1983 Midland Coal Company (restored print) |
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| Roger Kujawa posted IL Illinois Farmington Coal Mine Tipple West View Mining RPPC ca 1920s Postcard David Jordan  Looks too modern to be anything other than MECC's Rapatee Mine under construction in 1933. |
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| Nick Koba commented on Roger's post When it was finished Dennis DeBruler Nick Koba Jr. But Midland Electric owned Middle Grove, not Rapatee. Or is Midland also Midland Electric? |
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| Roger Kujawa posted IL Illinois Farmington Coal Mine 20 Yard Dipper Mining RPPC ca 1920s Postcard Nick Koba Jr. a Marion 5560 |
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| Nick Koba Jr. commented on Roger's post Full photo of the shovel above Midland Electric Coal Corporation. Jerry Louis Karr Nick Koba Jr. were the 5561s the first welded machines? Nick Koba Jr. Jerry Louis Karr that I don't know , from the photos I have the crawler fraimes are still riveted the booms & buckets are welded |
Julie Dollar posted three photos with the comment: "Old pics from Middlegrove."
Brian Smith What Was The Rated Tonnage For Truck 41 ??
Dave Morse If my memory is correct, Dad said at one time that the 41 truck was a 50ton truck and the LW Haul trucks were 80 Tonners!!
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| Bruce Weirauch posted [According to the third directory entry in these notes, this was in the Rapatee Mine, index 961. I searched the directory for a mine that existed after 1996, and I could not find any.] |
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| Roger Kujawa posted Roger Kujawa shared David Jordan: C&NW had access to this mine from the start in 1933. Two reasons for this arrangement are known: the mining company's concerns over M&StL's decade-old receivership and C&NW service to the coal's destination(s). Both may be true. Roger Kujawa shared |
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| Roger Kujawa posted 1962 Press Photo Coal cars loaded at Middle Grove, Illinois strip mine sit idle. https://www.ebay.com/.../1962-Press-Photo.../373687211378... Dave Crociani: What a great shot! That was M&StL, i.e. C&NW. I used to book trains there nearly every day, and call crews to work it. |
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| Rotated and Zoomed |
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| Roger Kujawa posted REAL PHOTO Midland Electric Coal Steam Shovel, Farmington Illinois Vintage PC Justin West: Was this between Trivoli and Farmington, right along IL-116? |
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| Dennis DeBruler commented on Justin's comment No. It was along IL-116 on the west side of Farmington. It was between Farmington and IL-97. In this map that I extracted in Aug 2019, the Middlegrove tipple was Index 621 north of IL-116 and Rapatee was Index 961 south of IL-116. (The black numbers near a "X"-like symbol mark the location of the tipple and the grey numbers in a polygon mark the extent of the mine.) |
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| Dennis DeBruler commented on Justin's comment Evidently Illinois state is still maintaining these maps for abandoned mines because now (Dec 2021), the crooked line between 621 and 961 has been removed. |
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| Evan Johnson posted |
Connor Taylor provided three photos on Evan's post
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| Evan Johnson posted 1989 The "SI" (officially the St. Louis Subdivision) The branch between Molitor Junction and Middle Grove was the Elm Subdivision. |
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| Roger Kujawa posted RPPC Midland Electric Coal Corp Farmington Illinois Fulton County IL Postcard seen on eBay |
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| Nicholas S Koba Jr. commented on Roger's post 1929 when Midland Electric Coal Corporation the first 2 machine a Marion 350 & 5480 shovels. |
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