More Hoist Views
As we have seen time and time again, copper country engine houses and the foundations that remain share very similar. Looking at what remains at the No. 4 hoist today, we can clearly see evidence of the hoist engine that once sat on top of it. The “H” shape so familiar today serves a specific purpose. The space between the foundations forward mandibles would cradle the hoist drum itself, which was connected to the pistons through a crankshaft running along the top of those mandibles. Atop the rear mandibles were the piston casings in which steam created the reciprocating action that turned the crank and ran the hoist. Learn more by checking out “A Typical Mine Hoist” from our North Kearsarge exploration.
We first take a look along the northern face of the hoist foundation, looking along the forward mandible and out towards the rear mandible. View the Big Picture
Next we’ll take a look inside the hoist drum cavity, looking along the inside of the forward mandible. Here we can clearly make out where the crank once spun and where the hoist drum once was connected. View the Big Picture
Last we’ll look across the maw of those forward mandibles were we can check out even more evidence of the hoist engine that once sat here. View the Big Picture