Historic Coal Tipple (Nanaimo, British Columbia)

Canada / British Columbia / Ladysmith / Nanaimo, British Columbia
 place with historical importance, coal industry

The only remaining coal tipple on Vancouver Island, it was built in the early 1900s by the Pacific Coal Company, and was the first of its kind in the region and an important relic of the Island`s rich coal mining history.

The tipple is all that remains of the Morden Coal Mine, which once thrived here. The first sod was turned at this mine in 1912; in its first year of operation the mine produced 76,000 tonnes of coal.

The area around the coal tipple is fenced off for public safety.

According to an info sign at the site:
»Both the 9x16 ft mainshaft and the 9x12 ft airshaft were sunk to a depth of 600 feet where an 8 ft seam of coal was struck in 1913. Due to labour problems the shafts were not joined and used until the summer of 1914.

The mainshaft hoistroom housed 24x48 inch hoisting steam engines made by Leitchfield Engineering Co. The airshaft hoistroom had two 18x30 inch steam engines. Ventilation was provided by a 7 foot Sheldon double-entry fan driven by a 16x12 inch steam engine made by Vulcan Iron Works.

Looking east towards the concrete headframe, you can see the mainshaft hoisthouse,. The cement structure before you covers the air shaft and immediately west of that are the ruins of the airshaft hoisthouse. The airshaft had a wooden headframe and fan constructed over it and was equipped with a cage for handling men if required in an emergency.»
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   49°5'41"N   123°52'23"W
This article was last modified 11 years ago