Zeche Gneisenau, Coal mine in Derne district, Dortmund, Germany.
Zeche Gneisenau is a former coal mine in Dortmund featuring two significant steel structures from the industrial era. The site displays an early steel headframe alongside a two-story tower built in 1933, which showcase the engineering methods used during active mining operations.
The mine was founded in 1873 and began operations in 1886, remaining active until 1985. It played a central role in the region's mining history and shaped Dortmund's industrial development for over a century.
The industrial facility appears in the 1981 German film 'Jede Menge Kohle', documenting the mining heritage of North Rhine-Westphalia region.
The site can be reached via the Gneisenau-Trasse, a former railway line now serving as a pedestrian and cycling path. Visitors can explore the grounds on foot and view the industrial structures from multiple angles.
The Tomson steel headframe on site is the oldest preserved steel extraction tower in the Ruhr region and was designed by Belgian engineer Eugen Tomson. This technical achievement from the early industrialization period represents a milestone in mining engineering development.
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