Dannemora mines
These mines in Central Sweden were re-opened in 2012 having closed in 1992 but operations only lasted until 2015 as the price of iron dropped below an economic level. Some of the underground railway rolling stock of 750mm gauge used before 1992 is displayed outside the company's former main office. The excavator was possibly powered by compressed air as some of the earlier 600mm gauge locos had also been; the later 750mm gauge locos were battery powered or diesel mechanical and included one Ruston Hornsby.
This mining complex had been in operation, on and off, since at least the early 16th Century and during the Eighteenth Century supplied much of Britain's iron imports, especially for steel making, the so called Oreground (Öregrund) Iron.
A further British connection was the use above ground of two standard gauge English Electric diesel electric shunters built in 1948 of the type that later became known as Class 08 in BR service.
Location: Dannemora mines
Original line: Dannemora Mineral AB
Photographer: Charlie Niven
Contact photographer: Charlie Niven
Date: 02/09/2019
Image number: 70243
