Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 9, SI-5280 Idrija
Ownership
Public
Owner
Municipality of Idrija, Mestni trg 1, SI-5280 Idrija
Local / Original ID Number
510:IDR;RS-31
Type of Object
Mine, Transport - other transport, Smelting
Description
Short description
The biaxial self-emptying wagon for ore transport is also known as a horse wagon. A large skip is mounted on the axles in the middle of the vehicle. The skip has a flap on the rear side. The wheels have flange grooves (diameter is 66.5 cm). The brakes on the wheels are wooden. In the middle of the wagon is a steel cast iron plate with the number 20 on it. The fully loaded wagon’s capacity is more than 2.5 tons.
Measures
Length 254 cm, width 117 cm, height 151 cm.
Materials
Wood, cast iron wheels.
Dating
Around 1850.
Author / Producer
Manufacturer information is not known.
Picture attachments
Original use
Before the implementation of electrical transportation (in the middle of the 19th century), the Idrija Mercury Mine built a railway for transporting fine ore from the sorting plant (Bašerija) to the smelting furnaces. The industrial track from Bašerija to the smelting plant was 1 m wide. Its width was recommended by the state. That way the loaded ore capacity was increased. Self-emptying wagons were initially pulled by horses, one by one. The last wagon in the composition had a brake and a seat for the worker, who stopped the composition. The hatch enabled the complete ore disposal. Each wagon had its own number and it was weighed upon its arrival to the smelting plant. The implementation of electrical transportation had improved the conditions. Several wagons, joined in a composition, were pulled by the electric locomotive. During that time, the described wagons were used mainly for transporting the ore to the Čermak-Špirek's reverberatory furnace.
Present use
The horse wagon is being preserved, secured and presented as an important monument of Idrija technical mining heritage with exceptional universal values. It is a part of the Idrija Municipal Museum collection “Mining machines and devices”. We were not able to find out whether the ore transportation wagons of such construction as those in Idrija were used anywhere else in the world. Since this is apparently a typical construction, designed in Idrija, these wagons are also globally unique.
During the restoration process in 2000, all parts of the chassis were disassembled. The surfaces were cleaned with the sandblasting process and painted with foundation and top paint. Therefore, no additional interventions are necessary. Security of the premises is ensured.
Present state
good
Necessary activities:
Regular seasonal maintenance.
DOCUMENTATION
Addresses / collections / links etc. where further in-depth information is accessible:
- Inventory Book of the Idrija Municipal Museum.
- Zelenc, Anton. In vendar se giblje: katalog rudniških strojev in naprav. Idrija, Idrija Municipal Museum, 2001.
- Zelenc, Anton. Restavrirani stroji in naprave Rudnika živega srebra Idrija. Ruda: revija Združenja za ohranjanje rudarske dediščine Slovenije, 1-2/2013, p. 16–20;
- Zelenc, Anton. Idrija Municipal Museum: restored mine machines and devices of the Idrija Mercury Mine. Patrimoine de l´industrie, 2004, p. 17–19.