Ever wondered how a monument could embody a region’s soul? That is the Förderturm Sculpture in Dortmund. Today I will tell you its story.
The Förderturm Sculpture stands as a proud reminder of Dortmund’s coal mining history. For almost 100 years the Derner Zeche Gneisenau mined coal. The mine’s closure in 1985 marked the end of an era. At its peak around 1970, Gneisenau employed 6,000 people. It was one of the Ruhr area’s largest mines.
Gneisenau had four shafts, each with its own Förderturm. Two of these Fördertürme still stand. The smaller one is a Tomsen-Bock. It is named after Eugen Tomsen, Gneisenau’s director. This Tomsen-Bock is the last of its kind. Over 100 once operated in the Ruhr area. It is also one of the region’s oldest surviving structures. Around 1900, Gneisenau had three Tomsen-Böcke. The one you see here is from Schacht II.
The second Förderturm Sculpture is a Doppelstrebengerüst. Originally, it had a building beneath it. But this has since been torn down. This Förderturm was used for water management until 1999. Now, it is on Dortmund’s list of protected monuments.
The Förderturm Sculpture is a testament to the mine’s engineering. A Förderturm is a structure above a mine shaft. It holds the pulleys. These pulleys guide the ropes that lift materials. Unlike Fördertürme, Födertürme can be replaced after installation. Födertürme and Fördertürme are landmarks. They define the look of any mine.
Early mines used hand-operated windlasses. These were sheltered by windlass houses. As mines went deeper, more power was needed. Treadwheels and horse gins were used. These required redirecting the ropes. Georgius Agricola described these machines in detail. These early machines could not match modern mines.
The steam engine allowed deeper mining. Steam engines were placed next to the shaft. This was called a surface-mounted engine. Ropes had to run along the shaft’s axis. Pulleys redirected them. First, brick engine houses were built. They held both the engine and the landing platform. Wooden Fördertürme were also used. They shielded the wire ropes from the weather. But these designs could not keep up with steam engines.
Higher speeds required more height above the landing platform. The Förderturm Sculpture and its housing had to be taller. Higher forces increased stress on the structure. Towers with massive buttresses were built. Some had wooden or iron pulley frames inside. The frame supported forces from the engine and the weight of the cages. The first steel Förderturm was built in 1864 in Hainaut, France.
By the late 19th century, freestanding steel frames were common. Enclosed Malakow towers were used for ventilation shafts. This design sealed the shaft to prevent air short circuits. In the 20th century, Fördertürme defined the Ruhr area’s industrial landscape. Tomson-Böcke, Strebengerüste, and Doppelbockgerüste were common.
Today, the Förderturm Sculpture lets you appreciate the scale of this former industrial site. Take a walk around the grounds. You might even spot pigeons. They like to perch on top, a fitting sight. The Ruhr area once had many pigeon keepers. They sent their birds on journeys. This was their version of horse racing. Today, skateboarders practice tricks. Dog walkers stroll the paths.
The Förderturm Sculpture area has an oversized swing. It has a bench. The view is beautiful. You can even see the Lanstroper Ei in the distance. The Förderturm Sculpture is visible from afar. You might be surprised where you can spot it. As you leave, remember the miners. Remember their hard work. Remember the Förderturm Sculpture. It stands as a symbol. It represents Dortmund’s industrial past.