Special Visit To The Incredible 16 to 1 Mine: Part 4 - Tramming Into The 800 Level

In this video, we have driven down to the bottom of the canyon and are starting out at the lower workshop at the 800 level to continue exploring the 16 to 1 Mine and its gold-filled workings… I show you the lower workshop of the mine, we see a great map and then we load up and tram into the 800 level of the mine to the 49 Winze.

I have learned from the comments that other areas have different names for the “trammer.” So, for those of you that don’t know what a trammer is, it’s the electric locomotive (powered by batteries) that pulls or pushes the mine train.

Also, in case it wasn't clear at the 49 Winze, that ladder and those stairs we walked up to see the skip are the route that the hoist operator used to take each day to get up to the hoist. Of course, you saw that that route is now caved, but, as I noted in the video, we took an alternate route up to the hoist the next day. It is VERY impressive, as is the equipment around it. We'll talk more about how everything worked in the video where we get up there and you'll see the other side of that caved section.

Continuing the history of this mine that I started with the first video in this series…

“During 1918 the Tighter was sold to the Alleghany Mining Company, a company headed by Fred Searls Jr., for $300,000. According to one report, under Searls the mine produced $600,000 in four years. According to A.D. Foote, ‘When Fred Searls had charge of the Tightner, with A.F. Duggleby as superintendent, it produced a good profit, but nothing spectacular.’ During 1924 the Alleghany Mining Company sold its interest in the Tightner Mine to the Original Sixteen to One Mine Inc. and the operations were combined (In December 1941, Duggleby, an Australian, was general manager of the Benguet and Delatoe gold mines in the Philippines. He was imprisoned by the Japanese and was executed. His body was dumped into a common grave.).

During 1919 the Original Sixteen to One added to its holdings by acquiring the Twenty-One Mine through litigation.

The mine operated on a continuous basis with virtually the same management for many years. It was this continuity and good management, along with some luck in finding high-grade pockets, that was the key to success. The acquisition of the Tightner Mine also made for a much more efficient operation. The mine was the primary reason for the existence of the town of Alleghany. Almost every employable male worked in the mine. Even father and son teams were not uncommon on the same shift.

Many large pockets have been mined in the Sixteen to One Mine, however, the largest pocket was from a small zone below the 800-foot level between the Sixteen to One and the Tightner shafts and is credited with 83,200 ounces of gold. Of this total some 30,000 ounces was mined from a ‘pipe’ about 1.5 feet in diameter and 40 feet long. The remaining ounces came from a larger volume of still very rich vein.”

The above is taken from the excellent “Gold Mines of the Alleghany-Forest Mining District” by Raymond W. Wittkopp and Wayne C. Babros.

In the next video, we’ll be headed deep underground, including to a recently dewatered section of the mine… And there is some great stuff down there!

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Thanks for watching!

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Growing up in California’s “Gold Rush Country” made it easy to take all of the history around us for granted. However, abandoned mine sites have a lot working against them – nature, vandals, scrappers and various government agencies… The old prospectors and miners that used to roam our lonely mountains and toil away deep underground are disappearing quickly as well.

These losses finally caught our attention and we felt compelled to make an effort to document as many of the ghost towns and abandoned mines that we could before that colorful niche of our history is gone forever.

So, yes, in short, we are adit addicts… I hope you’ll join us on these adventures!

#ExploringAbandonedMines
#MineExploring
#AbandonedMines
#UndergroundMineExploring

[treadmarsh]

I'm not sure who to thank more. You or 16 to 1 for allowing you to show us an active mine and how it works. As said before, outstanding videos sir

[AbandonedandForgottenPlaces]

“Gly”: This sure was allot of fun to watch. I especially enjoyed seeing the mine map....one could spend days exploring all the nooks and crannies of that mine. Great job Justin! 👍

[SuperUsernamehere]

This guy loves his job, understandably so. Awesome tour. Thank you for the show! Not too many get to see this stuff. A lot of history there.

[Big_John_C]

This is a mine explorers equivalent to a kid going to disneyland.... you lucky dog!

[stevenhigby]

I cannot even say how cool your videos are no words other than the best.

[muleskinnermining]

TVR Exploring, you have me hanging onto the edge of my seat! You ended this video just as we were heading down the winze!
Man, you are GOOD!

[fnln]

I always have genuinely, deeply liked the Calico Mine ride at Knott's Berry Farm amusement park from childhood into being an adult; however, the 16 to 1 Mine is a genuine, exciting... potentially dangerous...real ride and journey deep underground.

Blessings and respect to the miners and staff of this mine with their long-term quest to find precious metals and minerals. It's one matter to explore a closed, adandoned and former mine, but to experience a currently working mine is, to me, truly amazing.

And thanks to TVR Exploring for taking us, to use an army term, 'ground pounders, ' along for the journey from the ground support to deep, well underground and showcase noteworthy, detailed experiences, stories and overall history. This multi-part mine series is absolutely the best showcase of a working mine! Again, thanks for the ride. Keith

[sctpc]

YouTube should have a special double LIKE for Superior productions. That train ride was Awesome. love the effort you guys have put into this.

[sharonlegnon]

What a ride!! That was better than a fun house ride!!

[austinjones]

Is anyone else completely tripping out on this series? Or am i the only one? lol i think this is literally nuts

[brickau]

These videos are saving History !! Thank You ! And Thank You Duane !

[razor]

TY for the series. I just found these. I worked here for a while. Riding the skip, drilling and blasting, chasing muck. Everyday life of a miner!!

[MinesoftheWest]

10:30 dude that is so friggin’ badass, I’m insanely jealous. Good stuff man!

[martintaylor]

Man you host is just so damn enthusiastic about that mine it’s contagious!!!!

[jtbrocks]

I don't know how I wound up here, but I'm glad I did! Duane is the best tour guide ever. Great series guys!

[chrisandersen]

After watching you walk so many rails, imagining active workings, to actually finally get to ride into a mine both active and with history must be amazing! ...and that map! All that work and trying to imagine the faces when they hit those rich pockets. Thank you Duane!

[UNFORGIVENFOREVER]

AS I SAID BEFORE, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, YOU ARE TOP NOTCH.

[krishaight]

This mine is awesome. I spend hours watching these videos. I use to explore old mines when I was younger. You never know what you will find in them. Lots of history.

[FullMetalNobody]

Oh man, My heart was pounding with a wide eyed stupid grin on my face when that trolley push in. Exciting ride.

[indycharlie]

Outstanding narration, explanations, by word and script on screen, the ride and camera word . Just OUTSTANDING !! You have outdone yourself . Can't wait for the next video :D !!