Warrick C: Booneville, IN: 1975-1981 Wright Coal Mine and Marion 5561 and 5761 Shovels

(Satellite)

The 2005 SPV Map marks where the tipple used to be. The NS/Southern branch that it used still exists because that branch serves the Alcoa Warrick Operations. 

The mine that adjoins on the north side was the Victoria Coal Mine.

Museum Of The Coal Industry posted three photos with the comment:

AMAX Coal Company

Thunderbird Collieries

Wright Mine

Local Union 1015 UMWA

This mine was located south of Boonville, IN on Yankeetown Road. It featured two versions of Marion stripping shovels, a 5561 and a 5761SS (Super Stripper). The Super Stripper had a newer cable crowd system which allowed it to utilize a 70 yard bucket, whereas the older 5561 had a traditional rack and pinion crowd system.

The Wright mine started operations in 1950 and ran through 1984, producing between 1 and 2 million tons each year.

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Stine James posted
One of my favorite shovels, the Marion 5561. This Type was first built in 1940 and followed by 16 additional examples. This photo shows one of the last ones built used at Ayrshire Collieries' Wright Mine south of Boonville, Indiana with a 120 ft. boom and a 45 yd. dipper. Many 5561's were moved several times to serve at different mines during their career. Many existed 30-40 years before being scrapped.

We can still see the treeline of the NS/Southern spur that served the mine. And when you zoom out, the blobs of trees north, east and south of the tipple are what got stripped.

Satellite

In 1957, IN-61 used to run down what is today Yankeetown Road.

1957 Coal Directory, p52

1957 Coal Directory, p16

It appears that the barge loading facility down by Yankeetown that was the "shipping point" for this mine may still be active.

Satellite

Update: 

Map
AMAX, 1975-1981
Coal Seam/Member: Springfield Coal Mbr.

Map Clicked