Hello Andrew,
hello mining-historians,
Andrew Hurrell wrote:
> Blondins get their name from Charles Blondin, the French man who was first
> to cross Niagara Falls on a Tightrope. He did this in 1879.
>
thanks a million for your interesting and clear description.
>
> I always associate Blondins with the Welsh slate industry ...
>
Yes, I think, I have seen what you describe, in the slate museum
in Llanberis (close to the Snowdon railway station).
I think, Blondins are called 'Kabelkran' (cable-crane or cableway)
in German language. The remains of one of them can still be found
in a quarry in Sprimont (Belgium):
http://www.hfinster.de/StahlArt2/archive-QuarriesWallonie-carrieres-prealle-01.06.2002-BW-610-1-en.html
An other one might still be operable in Anthisnes
just about 10 km from Sprimont.
I don't have a good photograph online unfortunately, but you may try:
http://www.hfinster.de/tmp/carrieres-anthisnes-17.04.1999-BW-26-15.jpg
http://www.hfinster.de/tmp/carrieres-anthisnes-17.04.1999-BW-26-17.jpg
Greetings
Harald
--
Dr.-Ing. Harald Finster / Aachen Germany
http://www.finster-stahlart.de industrial history and architecture
http://www.astrid-aix.de gallery: watercolours and oil paintings
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