PanethosThe following list identifies the longest aerial tramways built for mines in the Western United States. These unique transportation systems were built and operated primarily from the last quarter to the 19th century up until World War II.
Miners on an aerial tramway near Gladstone, Colorado in 1906- Source: reddit.comSince many mines were located at much higher elevations that the mills, smelters, and shipping points, aerial tramways were a more cost effective alternative compared to extending railways further up into the mountains or using mule and burro teams to move the ore. Ranging anywhere from 400 feet long to an astonishing 16 miles, aerial tramways were handy for carrying raw ore the across vast stretches that included rugged terrain, steep slopes, snowy summits, deep gulches/canyons, and over roaring waters.
Mule train carrying wire rope up a mountain near Telluride, Colorado for an aerial tramway – Source: westernmininghistory.comSadly, as the minerals were depleted, the mines closed, or demand ceased, these amazing inventions were left to decay from the elements and time. Despite this, portions of some tramways still remain standing here and there, though none are now operational. Today, one can only imagine the sight and sound of such systems operating in the Old West. What an impressive and awesome experience that would have been. Peace!
Remains of tramway towers near St. Elmo, ColoradoNotes:
- Mine and tramway names changed over the years at many locations. Whenever possible, the most commonly used name is used.
- When lengths of tramways varied, the length shown is based on the quality of the data resource.
- When alignments are listed those are multiple tramways operating near one another a mine.
- Extensions of tramways are added on to the length unless the extension is given another name.
- Numbered tramways with a 1 are the original tramway at that location and subsequent numbers are its replacements.
- Dates of when the tramway opened/closed or removed are given when known.
_______
2. Saline Valley Mine Tramway (1913-1936): Death Valley, California = 71,280 feet (13.5 miles)
3. American Metal Mine Tramway (1927-?): Pecos, New Mexico = 63,360 feet (12 miles)
4. Afterthought Mine Tramway (1925-1927): Ingot, California = 44,880 feet (8.5 miles)
5. Rawley Mine Tramway (early 1923-1930): Shirley, Colorado = 38,280 feet (7.25 miles)
6. Cerro Gordo Mine Tramway (1908-1929): Cerro Gordo, California = 29,100 feet
7. Four Metals Mine (1909-1914): Keeler, California = 29,040 feet (5.5 miles)
8. Finch Quarry Tramway (1918-1923): Stevens County, Washington = 26,400 feet (5 miles)
9. Continental Mines Tramway (1907-?): Alta, Utah = 24,288 feet (4.6 miles)
10. Highland Boy Mine Tramway #2 (1910-?): Bingham Canyon, Utah = 20,975 feet
11. Blue Bell Mine Tramway (1905-1926): Mayer, Arizona = 17,424 feet (3.3 miles)
12. Balaklala Mine Tramway (?-1920): Coram, California = 16,500 feet
13. Eureka Mine Tramway (1918-1942): Eureka, Colorado = 16,000 feet
14-16. Blue Bell Mine Tramway (1905-1927): Mayer, Arizona; Mackay Mine Tramway (1918-?): Mackay, Idaho; and Utah Rock Quarry Tramway (1929-1947): Sunnyside, Utah = 15,840 feet (3 miles)
17. Sidney Mine Tramway (1928-?): Idaho = 15,650 feet
18. Mammoth-Collins Mine Tramway (1897-?): San Manuel, Arizona = 14,530 feet (2.75 miles)
19. Eureka Slate Mine Tramway: Slatington, California = 13,300 feet
20. Iron Mountain Mine Tramway (1922-1927): Matheson, California = 13,200 feet (2.5 miles)
21. Hilltop Mine Tramway (1897-1899): Leavik, Colorado = 13,000 feet
22. Highland Boy Mine Tramway #1 (1898-1910): Bingham Canyon, Utah = 12,700 feet
23. Gold Prince Mine Tramway (1906-1917): Animas Forks, Colorado = 12,514 feet (2.37 miles)
24. Homet Mine Tramway (1921-?): Matheson, California = 12,500 feet
25. Contention Mine Tramway: Silverton, Colorado = 12,144 feet (2.3 miles)
26. Nowell Mine Tramway: Juneau, Alaska = 11,600 feet
27. Telegraph Mine Tramway (1903-?): Bingham Canyon, Utah = 11,450 feet
28. Treasure Hill Mine Tramway: White Pine, Nevada (1871) = 11,000 feet
29-31. Copper King Mine Tramway (1891-1893): Clifton Arizona; Pine Creek Mine Tramway (1937-1970): Bishop, California; and Mammoth Mine Tramway (?-1920s): Kennett, California = 10,560 feet
32. Aspen Public Tramway: Aspen, Colorado (1889-?) = 10,500 feet
33. Silver Consolidated Mine Tramway (1916-1924): Park City, Utah = 10,200 feet
34. Shenandoah Dives (Mayflower) Tramway (1930-1953): Silverton, Colorado = 10,100 feet
35-37. Nellie Mine Tramway (1897-?): Telluride, Colorado; Limestone Quarry Tramway (1970-late 1970s): Morenci, Arizona; and Bat Cave Mine Tramway (1958-1959): Grand Canyon, Arizona = 10,000 feet
38. Black Jack Mine Tramway: Santa Catalina, California = 9,900 feet
39. Nephi Gypsum Mine Tramway (1920s): Nephi, Utah = 9,500 feet
40. Iowa-Tiger Mine Tramway Alignment C (1895-?): Silverton, Colorado = 9,400 feet
41. Gold Dust Mine Tramway to Fisher Creek (1919-?): Gardiner, Montana = 9,200 feet
42. Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mine Tramway Alignment A (1891-1902) : Wardner, Idaho = 9,000 feet
43. Granite Mine Tramway: Deer Lodge County, Montana = 8,900 feet
44. Silver Lake Mine Upper Terminal Tramway (1895-?): Silverton, Colorado = 8,640 feet
45. Sunnyside Mine Tramway (1897-?): Silverton, Colorado = 8,600 feet
46. Camp Bird Mine Tramway (1896-?): Ouray, Colorado = 8,550 feet
47. Buffalo Boy Mine Tramway (1930-?): Howardsville, Colorado = 8,500 feet
48. Amethyst Mine Tramway (1892-?): Creede, Colorado = 8,250 feet
49. Grand Central Mine Tramway (1907-?): Tintic, Utah = 7,920 feet
50. Aldridge Tramway (?-1910): Gardiner, Montana = 7,800 feet
51. Keeler-Holcomb Mine Tramway: Kelly Switch, New Mexico = 7,500 feet
52-53. Saddle Mountain Mine Tramway 2 (1916-1920s) Christmas, Arizona and Christmas Mine Tramway (1916-?): Gila County, Arizona = 7,300 feet
54-55. Silver King Mine Tramway (1901-?): Park City, Utah and Foster Mine Tramway (?-1910): Gardiner, Montana = 7,200 feet
56. Eureka Mine Tramway (1899-1918): Eureka, Colorado = 7,100 feet
57. UCC Mystery Hill Mine Tramway: Monte Cristo, Washington = 6,600 feet
58. Pendant Mine Tramway: Gladstone, Colorado = 6,562 feet
59. Silver Age Mine Tramway (1890-?): Idaho Springs, Colorado = 6,240 feet
60. Silver Lake Mill Tramway (1898-?): Silverton, Colorado = 6,200 feet
61-62. Iowa-Tiger Mine Tramway Alignment A (1900-?): Silverton, Colorado and North Star Mine Tramway (1931-?): Grass Valley, California = 6,000 feet
63. Mountain Ledge Mine Tramway: Sierra City, California = 5,800 feet
64. Gold King Mine Tramway (1897-1922?): Gladstone, Colorado = 5,600 feet
65-66. Last Chance Mine Tramway: Cornucopia, Oregon and Richmond Mine Tramway Extension (1953-late 1970s): Shasta County, California = 5,500 feet
67-68. Wild Flower Tramway (1917-?): Crown King, Arizona and Keane Wonder Mine Tramway (1907-1942): Death Valley, California = 5,280 feet+/-
69. Mary Murphy Mine Tramway (ca 1891-?): Romley, Colorado = 4,996 feet
70. Park-Utah Consolidated Mine (1926-?): Park City, Utah = 4,700 feet
71. Bingham-New Haven Mine Tramway (1905-1912): Bingham Canyon, Utah = 4,600 feet
72. American Nettie Mine Tramway (1901-?): Ouray, Colorado = 4,200 feet
73. Newton Mine Tramway (1905-1908): Gardiner, Montana = 4,100 feet
74. Old Jordan Mine Tramway: Bingham Canyon, Utah = 4,025 feet
75. Unity Mine Tramway: Silverton, Colorado = 4,000 feet
76. DeSoto Mine Tramway (1904-1930): Middleton, Arizona = 3,960 feet
77. Radcliffe Mine Tramway: Ballarat, California = 3,800 feet – added 9/12/24
78-79. Consolidated Mine Tramway: Summitville, Colorado and Renton Mine Tramway: Santa Catalina Island, California = 3,700 feet
80. Saddle Mountain Mine Tramway (1907-1916): Christmas, Arizona = 3,600 feet
81. Spring Canyon Mine Tramway (1913-1918): Helper, Utah = 3,200 feet
82. Smuggler-Union Mine Tramway Alignment A: Creede, Colorado = 3,150 feet
83-84. Spring Canyon Mine Tramway: Storrs Utah *May be the same as #75 and Mayflower-Iowa Tramway (1929-?): Silverton, Colorado = 3,000 feet
85-86. Sunnyside Load Tramway (1891-?): Animas Forks, Colorado and Compromise Mine Tramway (1889-?): Aspen, Colorado = 2,640 feet
87-88. Morning Star Mine Tramway (1871-?): Freiburg Mining District, Nevada and Consolidated Smelting Tramway: El Paso, Texas = 2,500 feet
89. Vallejo Mine Tramway (1872-1874): Alta City, Utah = 2,400 feet
90. Sunnyside Extension Mine Tramway (1891-?): Animas Forks, Colorado = 2,279 feet
91-92. Holy Moses Mine Tramway: Creede, Colorado and Big Giant Mine Tramway: Colorado = 2,000 feet
93. Black Diamond Mine Tramway: Ouray, Colorado = 1,900 feet
94-96. Orphan Mine Tramway (1956-early 1960s): Grand Canyon, Arizona; Amy Tunnel to Silver Lake Mill Tramway (1907-?): Silverton, Colorado; and Old Hundred Mine Tramway Alignment A: Howardsville, Colorado = 1,800 feet
97. Paris Mine Tramway: Buckskin/Alma, Colorado = 1,750 feet
98. U.S. Mining Galena Branch Tramway: Bingham Canyon, Utah = 1,700 feet
99. Old Hundred Mine Tramway Alignment C: Howardsville, Colorado = 1,610 feet
100. California Chrome Mine Tramway (1915-1919): Sacramento River Canyon California = 1,600 feet
101. Golden Reef Mine Tramway: Cave Creek, Arizona = 1,500 feet
102. Ross Mine Tramway: Silverton, Colorado = 1,400 feet
103. Wagon Wheel Gap Mine Tramway Alignment A (circa 1918-1940s): Creede, Colorado= 1,350 feet
104. Old Dominion Copper Mine Tramway: Globe, Arizona (1892) = 1,224 feet
105. Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mine Tramway Alignment B: Wardner, Idaho = 1,200 feet
106. Wagon Wheel Gap Mine Tramway Alignment B (1918-1940s): Creede, Colorado = 1,105 feet
107. Little Giant Mine Tramway (1873-?): Silverton, Colorado = 1,000 feet – first in the area
108. Bachelor-Commodore Mine Tramway (pre-1930-?): Creede, Colorado = 850 feet
109. Old Hundred Mine Tramway Alignment B: Howardsville, Colorado = 760 feet
110. Homestake Mine Tramway to Gold Dust: Gardiner, Montana = 700 feet
111. Silver Queen Tramway: Crown King, Arizona = 400 to 500 feet
112. Smuggler-Union Mine Alignment B: Creede, Colorado = 400 feet
Macay Mine Tramway Towers in Idaho – Source: flickr.comMore Information Needed:
- Chicago Mine Tramway, Utah
- Harley Mine Tramway: Kernville, California
- Standard Gold Mine Tramway: Bodie, California
- Blue Jacket Mine Tramway: Elko, Nevada
- Amson Mine Tramway (1883-?): Gladstone, Colorado
- Pay Rock Mine Tramway (1897-?): Silver Plume, Colorado
- Black Hawk Mine Tramway (1892-?): Rico, Colorado
- Suffolk Mine Tramway: Ophir, Colorado
- ? Mine Tramway (1891-?): San Bernardo, Colorado
- Portland Gypsum Mine Tramway (1913-1921): Mound House, Nevada
- Yellow Mountain Mine Tramway: Colorado
- Bull Hill Mine Tramway (1906-?):
- Aspen Mine Tramway (1887-?): Aspen, Colorado
- Hercules Mine Tramway: Burke, Idaho
- Baker Mine Tramway: Oregon
- Bald Mountain Mine Tramway: Lead, South Dakota
- Bingham Canyon Mine Tramway: Utah
- Grand View Mine Tramway: Colorado
- Columbia Mine Tramway: Colorado
- Liberal Bell Mine Tramway: Colorado
- Iowa-Tiger Mine Tramway Alignment B (1897-?): Silverton, Colorado
- Mogul Mine Tramway: Gladstone, Colorado
- Henrietta Mine Tramway: Gladstone, Colorado
- Green Mountain Mine Tramway: Howardsville, Colorado
- Kentucky Belle Mine Tramway: Creede, Colorado
- Yampa Mine Tramway (1907-1910): Bingham Canyon, Utah
- Midget and Moon Anchor Mine Tramway (1912-?): Cripple Creek, Colorado
- Basalt Rock Mine Tramway Alignment A (1925-?): Napa, California
- Basalt Rock Mine Tramway Alignment B (1925-?): Napa, California
- Virginia Chief Tramway (ca 1901): Cabezas, Arizona
- Texas Mine Tramway: Shasta County, California
- Iron Chest Mine Tramway: Romley, Colorado
- Charter Oak Mine Tramway: Elliston, Powell County, Montana
- North London Mine Tramway: Alma, Colorado – first tramway in Colorado
- Sunrise Peak Tramway (1907-1917): Colorado
SOURCES:
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#1 #2 #75 #AerialTramways #burros #geography #geology #history #landUse #mining #mountain #mules #ore #rail #shipping #tramways #transportation #travel #West
