Macoupin C: Virden, IL: Virden North & South, Royal and Crown #2 Coal Mines

Virden North: (Satellite) Closed 1960

Virden South: (Satellite), southwest quadrant of Holden and the tracks) Closed 1910

Royal: (Satellite, the wastewater pond is growing a good crop of algae) Closed 1924

Crown #2: (Satellite) Closed 2007

Jim Yasinski posted two photos with the comment: "North Mine Virden, Illinois      Both cards say North Mine Virden, Illinois, but they look quite different to me."

    1

2

Andy Zukowski commented on Jim's post
Postcard view of West Mine at Virden Illinois

Dennis DeBruler commented on Steven's comment
To summarize my notes. North operated between 1892-1960 with 10 different owners. Two companies called it the North Mine. This 1939 aerial photo is consistent with the second photo.
https://towns-and-nature.blogspot.com/2023/06/macoupin-c-virden-il-virden-north-south.html

Directory

In addition to mine 67, I included mines 185, 2934 and 933 because they are also of interest.

Map

Directory

Directory

Directory

The following allowed me to determine the satellite location of Virden North.

ISGS Virden North Topo

This map was used to locate the Royal and Virden South mines. When I noticed the BN spur going due east, I found the site for the Crown 2 Mine.

ISGS Virden South Topo

These topo maps show that CB&Q had a spur that went over to Virden and down to the Royal Mine. C&NW shared access to the Royal Mine. CB&Q also had a spur that went North to join a spur from C&NW that went east along the county line to a mine along the GM&O/C&A just south of Thayer.

1924 Waverly and 1923 Carlinville Quads @ 62,500

About the only thing left for the Royal Mine in 1939 was the tailings pile. But we can see buildings for the Virden North Mine.

1939 Aerial Photo via IHLAP

This is a closeup of the Virden North mine.

Digitally Zoomed