When does the tour take place?

The tour takes place on November 1, 2026, from 12:00 to 17:00.

Where does the event take place?

The meeting point and venue is the Southern Machine House at Consol, located at Bismarck-, Klara-, and Consolstraße in 45889 Gelsenkirchen.

What is the admission cost?

Attendance at the event is free.

What can be seen during the tour?

A historical conveyor engine from 1963, which is set in motion by compressed air.

What are the technical specifications of the conveyor engine?

The machine weighs 285 tons, developed 4100 hp, and could lift payloads of up to 12 tons at about 65 kilometers per hour.

Who is hosting the event?

The legally responsible organizer is the Initiativkreis Bergwerk Consolidation e. V.

Mining Dino Gelsenkirchen Tour 2026

Name: Steam Engine in Operation - The Mining Dino Lives
Start: 2026-11-01T12:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-01T17:00:00+01:00
Location: Consol Südliches Maschinenhaus

The Mining Dino Lives: Experience Industrial Culture in Motion

On November 1, 2026, the Southern Machine House at Consol will open its doors for an impressive discovery experience of the Ruhr area's history. During the guided tour, visitors will witness a historical conveyor engine in motion and discover how technology, mining, and daily life underground were interconnected.

285 Tons of Engineering History to Marvel At

At the center of attention is one of the last great steam-powered conveyor engines of its kind. The machine, built in 1963, developed a power of 4100 hp with two massive cylinders and weighs 285 tons – approximately as much as 200 average-sized cars. Once, it lifted payloads of up to 12 tons at a speed of 18 meters per second, around 65 kilometers per hour.

Coal, Miners, and Material from the Depths

The conveyor engine was a central component of mining: it brought coal from the depths, safely transported miners underground and back, and conveyed machines, equipment, and waste rock. The tour conveys local history where it actually happened – in the historical machine house of the former Consolidation mine.

Compressed Air Sets the Mining Dinosaur in Motion

Today, the technical giant no longer operates with steam power. An electric motor also does not replace the original principle. Instead, compressed air is directed into the cylinders. It acts on the pistons and sets the machine in motion based on the earlier functional principle. This unique demonstration makes the cultural heritage of the mining industry directly tangible.

Consol as a Place of Structural Change

The Southern Machine House is located in the cultural area of Consol, where mining history, cultural heritage, recreational offerings, and new uses converge. The former mining site exemplifies the transformation in the Ruhr area: from industrial past emerged a multifaceted park and cultural landscape with art, music, theater, sports, and educational offerings.

Conclusion: Experience Ruhr Area History Up Close

The tour connects impressive machine power with well-founded knowledge about mining, technology, and the structural change of the region. Visitors experience a historical conveyor engine in motion and discover an authentic piece of Gelsenkirchen's industrial culture. Admission is free – a rewarding discovery experience for tech enthusiasts, families, and history buffs.

Anyone who wants to experience the local history of the Ruhr area up close should mark this date and visit the unique demonstration at Consol.