Working Down the Mines

[highwayhobo]

Great photos makes trucking look pretty comfy. We have mines here where the machines are driven by remote control

[gangesexcavating]

That was a really interesting slideshow, Great action shots of some very seldom seen specialized Cat equipment. Thanks for this

[rfhracing]

Great stuff... You mentioned you were at MIM in other comments.. Do you have any Pics from there?

[gm16v149]

@rfhracing I've got an album loaded with underground photos I took when I worked at MIM 1970-72. I might get around to uploading them one day.

[rfhracing]

@gm16v149 Would be interesting to see compared to how MIM is these days... Cheers

[cheeptorque]

very interesting.....some scarey pics in there ya mad bastard. specially stoppin to snap a shot of the lit fuses..lol

[mrWeagle]

Excellent, thanks.

[aussiebigbangers]

Nice work and i can appreciate the time you took to do that.

[emd645e3c]

Interesting set of photo's.  Thanks for sharing.

[gm16v149]

@emd645e3c The negatives are in a big pile somewhere but I thought the photos didn't come out too bad with a scanner.

[versatile1150]

Very nice Video, super channel

[gm16v149]

@versatile1150 Thanks

[CyberPassenger]

Cool, always fun to look at old pictures.

[gm16v149]

@CyberPassenger I might get around and put some more up.

[Jdigger4130]

Copy that, I will look at anything pics or vids! Keep em comin please

[VK6ZMS]

Nice pics.

My Dad worked underground at Windarra from 71 to 79 as Jumbo operator then as a Shift Boss.

[gm16v149]

@VK6ZMS I would have known him for sure.

[7784Patrick]

very very nice video about this hard job Chris

thanks for sharing

Pat

[gm16v149]

@7784Patrick It's a hard job alright, I couldn't do it now.

[Jdigger4130]

Great stuff 16V! I thought the V8 Cat in the Kenny as you Aussies say was neat but yer this stuff is tops! Thanks for taking the time to share this. I share the same interests as you and really appreciate seeing all types of trucks n equip from all over. Keep the rubber side down n GREAT MUSIC as well!!!!!

[gm16v149]

@Jdigger4130 I've got plenty of underground and also some open cut mining pics from the 1970s but I think people really like to see movies. Most of the mining vids I've seen on YT don't get many views so I guess there's more interest in trucks than mining.

[HillbillyonaYZ]

Started to work in the mines in '68 eh. Your holding up well for your age, would never guessed you to be 7-8 years older'n me. I was 11 in '68, which was a good thing considering the nasty little envelope you got in the mail when you turned 18 in the US in those days.

Great slideshow! Always look forward to your videos. Thanks a bunch, and keep 'em coming.

[gm16v149]

@HillbillyonaYZ We got those envelopes too but I missed out. I was partnered with a vet. at Mt Isa mines in 1970, generally when you fired a mining face you'd take turns to wire the detonators and press the button, he didn't want to do it because he was sick of explosions.

[alwaysoffroad]

Brilliant photos mate. I've only ever been under ground once and it was using old gear like that from the 70's and 80's and I have to take my hat off to you guys that lumped those airleg drills around. Me mate had an old WABCO bogger with a 6V71 in it and no mufflers so I know what the sound was like, but damn those photos of you make me feel like a spring chicken, seeing as I was only born in 1974...LOL! Keep the memories coming mate I like everyone loved it

[gm16v149]

@alwaysoffroad All those machines were near enough brand new when I was working at Windarra but it didn't take very long for them to age under those conditions. Those airlegs were bloody heavy, there's no way I could lug one around a steep stope nowadays.

[Rocketboy1950]

Nice memories from "The Good Olde Days" Chris.

[gm16v149]

@Rocketboy1950 True, Rod. We're only young once, just as well really.

[allistairc123]

awesome classic machine pics from my fave place on earth! keep em comin!

[gm16v149]

@allistairc123 I've got some underground pics from 1970 from Mt Isa Mines, biggest U/G mine in Australia. I might get around to putting them up.

[Hotrodx199]

Life must of been great in the 70s i wouldnt mind going back even the 90s

[gm16v149]

@Hotrodx199 All those loaders and trucks had straight pipes with no mufflers so you would have liked that lol...the noise of them underground was incredible..

[Hotrodx199]

@gm16v149 oh i bet, and yes that would be my dream.

[Jodadez]

1974 - youth was happy and did not know!

[gm16v149]

@Jodadez We earned plenty of money but didn't save much lol

[Jodadez]

@gm16v149 It's true! With the same ease, we earned the money, we did spending! But we were happy!

[rwb1955]

you looke da man back then i worked in a rock quarry for 6 months driving a euclid rock truck dont miss that shit at all so you must be about 56-58?

[gm16v149]

@rwb1955 Add on a coupla years...61, gotta get around with a walking frame no not really..

[rwb1955]

@gm16v149 haha sometimes i think it would help some but bustin rock was a hard life seems to me yo are 6 over me as im 56 but we have seen some rough stuff in our times

[Xx69roadrunnerxX]

Wow intense! Nice hair dude! haha

[gm16v149]

@Xx69roadrunnerxX Yeah, the '70s was the worst decade for hair!

[Xx69roadrunnerxX]

@Xx69roadrunnerxX Haha, no worries man. Ive had some crazy ass hair too!

[westsidemonster]

a lot of young fellas,I give miners all the respect in the world..a job I could never do..nice pics..

[gm16v149]

@westsidemonster Back then you would be lucky to see many people over 25 in the mines, now you're lucky to see anyone under 25...

[Ravmunken1997]

Cool video Buddy! lol @ your hair

[gm16v149]

@Ravmunken1997 Cool ain't it...everyone looked like that then !