SUPERIOR, WV

A coal mine and company town were opened a few miles from Welch by the Lake Superior Coal company many years ago. Cyprus-Amax (Cannelton Coal Co.) was the operator in later years. Horizon Resources operated the Superior Tipple until bankruptcy forced them to sell it to a local operator in 2004. Today most of the town is gone, but the coal preparation plant is still active.

A contemporary scene at Superior finds a church and a few coal camp houses remaining, and rail cars filled with coal loaded at the Superior preparation plant. (March 2004 photo)

The tipple at Superior is still the site of much activity. This steel tipple replaced the original one in 1947. Additions and upgrades were made in 1971. (November 2000 photo)

As this photograph illustrates, the Superior Tipple is one of the last ones that loads coal from the bottom of the structure, as opposed to the more modern detached loadout. The preparation plant is also one of the last ones using Deister Tables. (2004 photo)

By 2006 the prep plant had received new sheeting. (Dec. 2006 photo)

(Dec. 2006 photo)

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