Canyon Blog spent the first half of August 2023 finalizing a plan three years in the making. Buried 2,000 feet deep within the Bay City Mine tunnel across from the Snowpine Lodge and 200 feet up a 1200 foot winze (non vertical mine shaft) lay an 1880 vintage wooden sided mine car left by the last miners to work that section of the mine.
This particular portion of the mine was last actively worked in 1908. The car itself, an extremely rare wooden sided ore and waste rock transport, has the ability to swivel and dump its load in any direction. Your correspondent long contemplated the car’s continued deterioration and eventual loss to history.
The problem: The car sat on a side tunnel 200 feet up a 60 degree winze and just off a collapsed timber shoring structure that precariously hung over the shaft. To retrieve it would require technical expertise and manpower to disassemble and package the parts for movement as well as placement of anchor and rope systems in order to safely lower the car to the Bay City Tunnel main level. From there it would be a simple matter of loading onto to the Bay’s rail tracks to the entrance. What could go wrong?
The solution: Enter the United States Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from San Diego. Between their willingness to assist Canyon Blog and his co conspirator, recently retired Snowbird Service Area 3 Water District manager Keith Hanson, the group managed to lower and recover the car, all without damaging history or killing themselves.
The car emerged into sunlight for the first time in 150 years on August 14th, 2023. After cleaning and reassembly, it made its way to the Peruvian Tunnel where it will remain on display for the public to enjoy.
So take the time to look when you next visit us in Little Cottonwood. If you do, you’ll notice the car nestled in among the other larger 1 ton mine cars on display. Of note is the repairs made by the miners using empty dynamite boxes on the sides and gate.
Till next time, this is Canyon Blog signing off, grateful to be intact and upright in the sunlight himself.