Pioneer Tunnel gets $600k for mine reclamation project
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE - The entrance to the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine in Ashland in 2017.
ASHLAND – The Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine and Steam Train is receiving $605,849 in state funds to reclaim abandoned mine lands, state legislators announced Wednesday.
The grants were announced by Senator David Argall (R-29) and Rep. Tim Twardzik (R-123).
The funding will be used for a project to backfill approximately 10,000 feet of open mine pits along with several deep mine openings on Ashland Mountain.
The project will leave part of the Mammoth pit open at the end of the rail trail for educational purposes, including a fenced-in safety area for visitors to learn about mine reclamation.
“There’s no better place to learn more about the backbreaking and dangerous labor that our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents needed to perform in the mines to feed their families than Pioneer Tunnel,” said Argall. “I’m thankful they were awarded this highly competitive funding to make the surrounding area safer.”
“This funding underscores our commitment to revitalizing and safeguarding this historic site, contributing to the well-being of Schuylkill County residents and fostering sustainable tourism,” said Twardzik. “I am truly happy to see these resources allocated to such a meaningful project. If you haven’t visited the mine tour yet, I hope you will plan a trip. It is an amazing look at the work and sacrifices miners made to fuel the Industrial Revolution and war effort.”
“This grant will lead to increased safety at the mine by reinforcing the tunnel,” said Ed Wytovich, a member of the Board of Directors of the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine and Steam Train. “It will also be good for the environment by reforesting part of the mountain. Ultimately, it should end up favorably impacting everyone who visits the area, including local ATV riders.”
The Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine and Steam Train was originally a working mine, until it shut down operations in 1931. Thanks to dedicated community volunteers, it was restored and reopened in 1962 as a place where people could experience a real anthracite coal mine. The site offers tours of the mine, rides on one of the “lokies” that used to haul coal cars, and exhibits featuring coal mining artifacts.
The grant was awarded through the Abandoned Mine Lands and Acid Mine Drainage Grant Program, which aims to protect the health and safety of communities grappling with the impacts of abandoned coal mines.
Along with the Pioneer Tunnel grant, the state awarded $101.1 Million in grants statewide as part of the AML program. The Pioneer Tunnel grant was the only one awarded in Schuylkill County.
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