Simco-Peabody’s Overland Conveyor Solves Dilemma Caused by Increased Market Demand

An overland belt conveyor system installed at Simco-Peabody's mine near Coshocton, Ohio, is presently carrying coal three miles at an estimated cost of 4.499 per ton-mile. Installed by Link-Belt Co. in late 1961, this system transports coal from open pit and underground mining operations to the Conesville Power Plant. Simco-Peabody has mining operations over a considerable area just east of the Conesville Station. In 1960 the power plant completed plans to enlarge by adding a third boiler. As a result, Simco-Peabody was required to provide means to produce and handle more coal. The haulage equipment, which consisted of one 90-ton, five 60-ton and one 50-ton off- highway trucks, was too small to handle the increasing daily coal demands. Annual tonnage was approaching a million tons and in a few years would be well over that figure.