Discovering Coal Mine in Horgen

Coal mining in Switzerland? Visit Horgen’s mining museum and take a thrilling train ride into the old mining tunnels!

http://www.bergwerk-kaepfnach.ch/indexphp

 Wednesday, 29 May, 2013

Switzerland’s power requirements today are provided jointly by nuclear power and hydroelectricity. But up until 1949 the old coal mining tunnels under the Zimmerberg in Horgen on the Zurichsee were still producing coal. Never afraid of new experiences, the ZIWA Discovering Zürich and Switzerland group made an afternoon visit to the Horgen Mining Museum to find out about the history of coal mining in Switzerland, enjoy a promotional film made in 1943, and finally take a hair-raising train ride through some of the original mining tunnels. Hard hats were the order of the day in the dark spaces underneath the hillside of Horgen Käpfnach. We learnt that there are 80 km. of tunnels in the former mine, one of which has been secured for use as part of the living museum, which features many artefacts from bygone days.

How mining started

A 16^th century chronicle mentions the prospect of coal under the Swiss earth, and in the 17^th century, mining attempts began. But the quality of the coal was poor, comprising lignite, a brown coal with a sulphurous smell. English miners were invited to advise the Swiss on how to manage their developing mining industry, and they recommended secondary industries such as iron and glass works, but the idea never really caught on here. Later, however, when the Hergiswil glassworks was cutting down all the trees to feed their furnaces, the Horgen mine authorities thought again. Industrialist J.S. Claiss from Winterthur advised on blasting the tunnels, and safety rules for miners were established. Accidents at a depth of 65m. were not unusual though. The miners’ first task was to excavate the tunnels and secure them with wooden pit props.

Wartime necessity

Coal production between 1784 and 1850 was small, but with the development of the railway in 1850, and the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war in 1870 when borders were closed, Switzerland needed to become more self-sufficient. Hourly wages and clean coal bonuses for miners were established. Again during World War II, when the Swiss were afraid of being hit by German bombs, the need for local power sources was again a priority.  The Horgen mine was run by the Schokke family with a tough but benevolent hand. Electric drills, ventilation and underground railways made the mining process more efficient.  The film made in 1943 showed the conditions under which miners worked: they had eight- hour shifts six days a week, they worked in pairs, and 150-200 miners were employed at that time. Gunpowder was used to blast out the coal-bearing rocks, and the clean coal was carried out in trucks. No mine shafts were needed as the tunnels led directly into the hillside. However three fatal accidents were recorded at this time, and in 1947, the Horgen mine was closed.

Mining museum

In 1982, a Verein was set up in Käpfnach which led to the opening of a mining museum on the site. Our guide, Doris Scriven, told us many stories about the history of the mine, and we saw many artefacts such as miners’ carbide lamps and clothing and machinery from the old mine works. The highlight of the tour was an hour-long ride on a precarious train through the dark, low tunnels: hard hats were a must. We observed the drill holes where explosives were set, and there was even an art exhibition underground in one of Switzerland’s strangest galleries.

Thanks to Rowena Woollard who arranged the fascinating visit. Another Discovering first!

Julia Newton, 6 June 2013. Additional photos by Dawn Powling