Experiencing what it was like to dig for coal

As part of the Zug Holiday Pass scheme, some 20 local pupils were able to visit a former coal mine in Horgen, in the neighbouring canton of Zurich,

This Käpfnach mine, which is now a museum and run by volunteers, has been open to visitors since 1982. As guide Paul Gisler explained, tours are available for adults as well as children. In fact drinks parties can be arranged down there, too.

In addition to being able to see what miners had to experience on a daily basis, the pupils were also able to escape from the summer heat for a while, the temperature of the mine being just 13°C.

It was pointed out to the pupils that, as the seams of coal here were only 50 centimetres thick, mining them was not so lucrative, certainly not in comparison with German mines where the seams were as thick as two metres. Nevertheless, in times of emergency, it was always there to fall back on.

Gisler explained to the pupils how the coal was formed around 16 million years ago from old trees and plants subjected to great pressure. They were also shown a short black-and-white film about working conditions in the mines. “Miners did not live very long,” he told the youngsters, “but they were relatively well paid. Whoever worked there for a year was presented with a cap, which meant that, for the rest of his life, he could get a job down there if he wanted.  Whereas the younger ones worked in pairs at the coal front, the older ones were given work above ground.”

When the pupils were down there, in very cramped conditions, the electric lights were momentarily switched off to give them an indication of how it was for the miners, whose only source of light was from lit spills carried in their mouths.

As the pupils returned to the entrance of the mine on little waggons drawn by a locomotive, they were each given a piece of coal as a souvenir of what was no doubt a most unforgettable day for them.

Further details of visits can be found on www.bergwerk-kaepfnach.ch.