Paul Marvin
7 years ago
Hi Guys

Can anybody clear up my confusion, which Long Rake Mine is the one just down the road from Derbyshire Aggregates ( Youlgrave )as I know there are two or Three in the area, ( the one where they have put up the red signs ) ?
"I Dont Know Where I am Going, But When I Get There I will Know Where I am"
AR
  • AR
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
7 years ago
I can't remember offhand what the now-cleared site east of the point where the road to Youlgreave crosses Long Rake was called, but the existing site to the west is Long Rake Mine; I believe it took over the other mine. Going further west along Long Rake to where Derbyshire Aggregates have their depot is the site of Arbor Low Mine.
Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!
Praada
  • Praada
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
7 years ago
Do you mean Long rake spar mine? with the newly added signs warning not to enter? Last time i went in there it was very dusty with a slight chemical scent in the air! Believe that the aggregates company pour tailings and rubble in somewhere causing the whole old system to become very unhealthy to breathe... unless it's a Sunday :)

The other long rake is the one which had reports of carbon monoxide...
"I got enough batteries to live down here indefinitely!"
Paul Marvin
7 years ago
Thanks guys

Amongst other things one of the biggest smells in there is creosote on all of the timbers .
"I Dont Know Where I am Going, But When I Get There I will Know Where I am"
Praada
  • Praada
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
7 years ago
That's the name i was looking for, much worse when i last went down (6 months ago) Never did find that bottom level 😞
"I got enough batteries to live down here indefinitely!"
daveb
  • daveb
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
7 years ago
It is Long Rake Spar Mine, I have been down there a few times. Some quite large stopes for Derbyshire. The other Long Rake Mine is on Bradwell Moor. The processing plant pump tailings down and there is also a problem with carbon monoxide as explained to me by someone at DCRO. Shame about that. DaveB
Praada
  • Praada
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
7 years ago
Carbon monoxide is the bradwell moor long rake, no bad gases in long rake, took a 4gas down there at the beginning of spring 🙂
"I got enough batteries to live down here indefinitely!"
pwhole
  • pwhole
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
7 years ago
The Long Rake Spar mine engine shaft is used by the company to blow waste (mixed) stone dust from the washing-plant into the open stopes, and it will gradually, eventually fill up - where it's wet, it's turned into the most godawful clingy sludge. Obviously high-level dust-bombs could fall down at any time. Most of the timbers are creosoted down there and there are also regular smells of diesel and other nasty things in certain areas. As much of the stone processed is not limestone, there's a very good chance of inhaling silica particles too, I would have thought. I won't be going back.
Praada
  • Praada
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
7 years ago
Not for me to return either i had a chest infection for 3 weeks after the last dusty trip! The opening down the large slope was billowing out dust like fog!
"I got enough batteries to live down here indefinitely!"
daveb
  • daveb
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
7 years ago
Yes, pity about the fog of dust. Best time always was to go Sunday or maybe Christmas to New Year break. Of course we're not supposed to enter at all. Tell that to DCRO when we had to do a search there! We did have gas detectors though.
Paul Marvin
7 years ago
"Praada" wrote:

Not for me to return either i had a chest infection for 3 weeks after the last dusty trip! The opening down the large slope was billowing out dust like fog!



Why on earth did you carry on with conditions like that ?
"I Dont Know Where I am Going, But When I Get There I will Know Where I am"
Praada
  • Praada
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
7 years ago
We thought it was just fog and slight dust until we got across the rails and couldn't see 3 feet in front of us! That's where the journey got cut short and we returned to the surface no more than half an hour after entering... worst chest infection I've ever had was on antibiotics for 2 weeks before I felt 100%.
"I got enough batteries to live down here indefinitely!"
Edd
  • Edd
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
7 years ago
"Praada" wrote:

We thought it was just fog and slight dust until we got across the rails and couldn't see 3 feet in front of us! That's where the journey got cut short and we returned to the surface no more than half an hour after entering... worst chest infection I've ever had was on antibiotics for 2 weeks before I felt 100%.



Thing to bear in mind in there is that when your blindly wandering along in the dust cloud there are holes in the floor dropping 30ft to water. Often with no way out! Fantastic mine and still mean to get back and try and push the ladder way we found at the top of the labyrith at some point. NOT when they are working though :thumbdown: Also they often work nights as its cheaper electric to run the saws :thumbdown:
'I started reading it with full intention to read it all and then got bored and went and got beer instead!'
royfellows
7 years ago
Without coming across as a killjoy the above posts explain why the owners want people to stay out. I certainly do. Plenty of other mines to explore assuming one is in sufficient health to enjoy them.

Chest infection could be coincidental though, I was down with it for weeks early this year and haven't been near LR for years.
My avatar is a poor likeness.
Praada
  • Praada
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
7 years ago
"Edd" wrote:

"Praada" wrote:

We thought it was just fog and slight dust until we got across the rails and couldn't see 3 feet in front of us! That's where the journey got cut short and we returned to the surface no more than half an hour after entering... worst chest infection I've ever had was on antibiotics for 2 weeks before I felt 100%.



Thing to bear in mind in there is that when your blindly wandering along in the dust cloud there are holes in the floor dropping 30ft to water. Often with no way out! Fantastic mine and still mean to get back and try and push the ladder way we found at the top of the labyrith at some point. NOT when they are working though :thumbdown: Also they often work nights as its cheaper electric to run the saws :thumbdown:



Very unsafe the ladders on that emergency exit! I've done it but the rope to get to it has been taken now and the other rope which replaced the missing platform between ladders is less than safe... very loose ground as you near the top watch the heads of anyone below! In fact just give it a miss completely lol you won't miss it!

I agree Roy, I've had my fun and portion of this mine and I'm satisfied with my findings... onto the next one 🙂
"I got enough batteries to live down here indefinitely!"
Edd
  • Edd
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
7 years ago
"Praada" wrote:

"Edd" wrote:

"Praada" wrote:

We thought it was just fog and slight dust until we got across the rails and couldn't see 3 feet in front of us! That's where the journey got cut short and we returned to the surface no more than half an hour after entering... worst chest infection I've ever had was on antibiotics for 2 weeks before I felt 100%.



Thing to bear in mind in there is that when your blindly wandering along in the dust cloud there are holes in the floor dropping 30ft to water. Often with no way out! Fantastic mine and still mean to get back and try and push the ladder way we found at the top of the labyrith at some point. NOT when they are working though :thumbdown: Also they often work nights as its cheaper electric to run the saws :thumbdown:



Very unsafe the ladders on that emergency exit! I've done it but the rope to get to it has been taken now and the other rope which replaced the missing platform between ladders is less than safe... very loose ground as you near the top watch the heads of anyone below! In fact just give it a miss completely lol you won't miss it!

I agree Roy, I've had my fun and portion of this mine and I'm satisfied with my findings... onto the next one :)



Noooo not that one. This was right at the far end of the mine at the end of the big stope. It needed some bolting to get up to it but i never got back with a drill. 😞
'I started reading it with full intention to read it all and then got bored and went and got beer instead!'
Users browsing this topic

Disclaimer: Mine exploring can be quite dangerous, but then again it can be alright, it all depends on the weather. Please read the proper disclaimer.
© 2005 to 2023 AditNow.co.uk

Dedicated to the memory of Freda Lowe, who believed this was worth saving...