Erie B&O in Silver Springs

mowingman wrote:Salt is also mined at several places in the U.S. and Canada. Massive caverns exist where mining has taken place. FYI, I have worked in every salt mine in the U.S, except for one. There will be large voids where salt has been solution mined, but the voids are full of water to help with long term stability. The mine at Himrod was a large underground mine with diesel machinery mining and hauling salt. The mine that caved in and flooded at Retsof was also a large underground mine of the same type. Caverns can be 30' -50' in height, depending on the salt layer thickness. Under the Gulf of Mexico, the caverns are 100' high. Probably more info than you ever wanted.[/quote]


On the contrary, quite interesting and not too far off topic since salt mines almost always are rail customers. I do realize you mean every modern-day salt mine in the US except one. It's interesting that just in western NY there were at least two other salt mines which were bought up and closed for competitive reasons, Livonia and Lehigh. There may be more.

About a year ago, a Cleveland OH TV station did a 5-part news series on the big mine near there which extends out under Lake Erie. It was a well-done effort and gave the average viewer a look at what it's like which most of us never see. It's on YouTube - here is a link to one of the 5 days, for those who are interested. You'll have to figure which order to watch the others.