- [Narrator] At the Pete & Joe NO. 3 mine,
the Dale brothers need to rehab a portal
on the point of collapse.
John proposes a fresh start, keeping only what they need.
- I think that third post in there is our key post.
It’s taking the most weight from what’s coming off the hill.
And I was wondering if we didn’t brace it
from in here and hold it and we could remove
the other two sets and reorganize them.
- I guess what I think is that that’s pushing load
against this, against this, against that.
- [John] We might lose the whole thing?
- I don’t know, you just hate to mess with it.
- [Narrator] John’s idea wins out.
He’ll brace the set at the mouth of the portal,
then remove and replace the outer sets
with sturdy, new timber.
(hammer landing)
- Okay, let’s back out and call Marty.
(dramatic music)
- Let’s get this figured out here.
- We’re gonna take this clear back to that pole
and then re-lag it and everything.
- Yeah, we’ll go past the first post.
You’re gonna take this set out on both sides.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. - Let’s just try that first.
(dirt falling)
- [Narrator] Marty clears out the rubble beside the portal
and the lagging that used to act as a roof and walls
before time and gravity pulled them down.
Next, he’ll remove the outer set.
The wood is rotten and should come easily.
(dramatic music)
- So far, so good.
That looks like virgin topsoil in there.
Let’s hope it stays ’til we get that set in.
So far, so good.
We’ll see how though mountain holds.
- [John] It’s pretty straight, except for that one post.
- Yeah, yeah. - Yeah, this one here?
- Try pushing that post back a little.
- [Narrator] Now the job gets trickier.
The second set is at an angle that threatens to topple over.
Marty needs to pull it out.
But if it falls into the braced inner set in the process,
it could trigger a cave in.
- Oh, boy. - Timber!
- Our intent was to tear off the first one or two.
And those portal sets were in really poor shape.
The three exposed sets of timber finally just collapsed.
Guess that settles that.
- Isn’t that something?
- Yeah, but if it came out of there that easy,
(beep) you don’t wanna be working in there.
- That still is not long-term stable.
I think it’s a matter of hours, not days.
If it started to run, it’d go clear up to number five.
- [Narrator] With most of the old portal gone,
the weight of the mountain now rests on one timber set.
Time is of the essence to get the replacements in
and evenly distribute the load
to secure the opening of the mine for good.
- We don’t wanna lose that portal.
So we need to secure that with new portal sets.
- [Narrator] Their plan requires them to install
their first timber set flush against the old portal
and build out from there.
- So if we can sneak that big set in the back,
is that what you guys are thinking?
- One set right up against it.
Come out five, four, put another set right up against it
and lag it and top it, bury it.
And then we’re ready to go.
(dramatic music)