Der Ruhrpott: steel, coal and industry. Thanks to its vast coal deposits, the Ruhr developed into one of Europe’s best-known industrial regions.
When imported coal from open-cast mines became cheaper, underground mines lost their competitive position. Mine closures profoundly changed the region.
These photographs show the room containing the twin-cylinder winding engine, the Schachtfördereinrichtung. The machine drove the lift in the mine shaft and ran on compressed air. An impressive piece of engineering, even when standing still.
The large cylinders, cable drum and remaining controls make the room’s purpose visible. A mine shaft involved more than going up and down. The installation had to move people and materials over a great distance in a controlled way. In the photographs, the relationship between the heavy machine and the building around it is especially interesting. The sunlight makes the shapes seem almost simpler than the engineering really was.
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