The coal-pit “Podmoskovnaya” is located in the Tula region and now it is the only coal-pit in the whole central region of Russia. The pit has always been considered to be a very promising undertaking, but lately they have been refusing to use coal for power generation in the central region. The degradation began in the 90s, but formerly only in the Tula region there worked more than 30 coal-pits and there were coal-pits in the Ryazan region, in the Tver region and in the Smolensk region.

The coal-pit construction began in 1967, it was supposed to be one of the largest pits of Podmoskovny coal-basin. In 1974 it was put into service.

Currently the enterprise has about 80 employees who work in four shifts. Coal mining is being produced in low volumes and in view of a current coal transfer price all that is absolutely unprofitable for the pit.

The main means of transportation in the pit – a construction railroad with the gauge width 900mm.

The pit refuse heap. Its height is about 50 meters and the highest top of the mast is about 120 meters.

The general view of the pit.

Coal-mining industry is within a hair of death here.

In theory there are projects aimed to develop this field but still no real actions are undertaken. Until the 90s more than 1800 employees were working in the pit.

The coal is mined at the depth 74 meters from the land surface. There are two bores going underground – the main one and the auxiliary one. The main bore serves for coal lifting and air injection. The auxiliary bore is for lifting of people and equipment. The pit has three wings: northern, southern and eastern. The southern is partially flooded and the eastern is gas-polluted. The total extent of the subways is about 26 km.

The classrooms of the pit.

The multiple conveyer system scheme.

The teaching model of the tunneling machine 4PP-2.

Overalls, a helmet, a lamp and a self-rescuer are required to descend into the mine.

The main clock.

Here we step into the cage to go underground.

“Acclimatization” in a special room underground.

Air gate in the northern direction.

No entry to the eastern wing as it is gas-polluted (on the left).

Ahead is the vault sagging resulting from groundwater stream. To prevent the fall, the gate vault has been strengthened by extra bearings.

A cart with a pumping unit.

A long face. The telephone on the left. The power train on the tracks, it feeds the mechanized complex.

The working itself.

Over the bearings.

The conveyor.

The conveyor drive.

The underground roundhouse. Electric locomotives are repaired right here, they are not lifted.

The works done in the pit are very impressive and it is sad to realize that soon all this will probably disappear. The pit has arrears of electricity and if it is shut off, in 6 hours there will happen its complete flooding. Theoretically it would be possible to restore the flooded pit but hardly anyone would be concerned. Though the coal supply is enough for some decades…