Minecarts

Minecarts are small rail-guided vehicles used to move ore, rock waste, equipment, and sometimes workers within mining operations and on mine-site rail networks. They run on tracks laid along tunnels, shafts, and surface facilities, and are typically loaded at ore dumps and discharged at hoists, processing plants, or stockpiles. In underground mines, many minecarts rely on gravity on inclined sections to move loads, while on level or gentle grades they may be hauled by hand or by powered locomotives.

Designs vary, but most minecarts are open-topped and constructed of steel or timber, mounted on wheelsets and coupled into long trains. Some are enclosed or partially enclosed for dust and spill control. Cars come in different sizes and load capacities, and modern systems often include braking and robust couplers to improve safety and interoperability with locomotives or automated equipment. In addition to ore and waste, carts may transport tools, explosives magazines, or personnel in jurisdictions where lifting devices and safety protocols permit.

Operation typically involves loading from ore passes, crushers, or dumps, transporting along narrow-gauge tracks, and unloading at a processing or storage point. Track maintenance, wheel and axle condition, and brake effectiveness are essential for safe operation. While many mines have shifted to conveyor belts and other continuous-material handling methods, minecarts remain in use where rail flexibility, rough tunnel geometry, or low-capex needs make rail-based transport advantageous.

Historically central to mining, minecarts facilitated bulk movement long before modern automated systems and continue to play a role in certain mining layouts and legacy operations.