Parts of the following description were taken from Grandoldtoys.com

The toy works using a spring mechanism activated by a two-man coal car. Every time the car rolls down the track and into the white building it strikes a metal ribbon and the mechanism is released. This propels the coal car up the track into the other building on the opposite end. The cycle repeats until the motor has wound down. 

The lithography on this toy is fantastic. Each little image tells its own story. On the upper end is the operations building. In one window you can see a man at the controls of a machine. On the other end is the mine entrance building. Facing the tracks a man pears out through the window watching the miners descend. On the rear of the entrance you can see two engineers working. An office with a secretary filing papers can be seen in the window above. Even the tracks are all laid out with rails and siding. The inclined plane below the tracks (between the two buildings) Shows a scene with a early steam engine pulling into the depot. This scene is shown on the opposite side of the toy. 

The small two-man mining car also has an amazing amount of detail. The sides were lithoed with wooden slats and handles in the center. The corners are reinforced with steel plating. The two different miners in a crouching position. This is very authentic since most coal mines were no higher than four feet tall. 

The original box shows a similar scene with a steam engine pulling into a depot but it also shows a vast mining operation in the background. The toy itself is represented on the box showing brick buildings and the two manned coal cart going down into the mine.  

The toy also has its original cardboard underlining in place, this was done to protect the windup mechanism. 

Production of this toy was halted in 1941 and reintroduced around 1949. This example was made prior to 1941, and is most likely the second variation out of the four knows to be produced.

This busy miner shows that it has been played with and was enjoyed by some youngster almost 75 years ago. The windup mechanism is strong and winds with ease but the coal car seems to not have enough weight to get the “kick” needed to repeat its action all of the time. 

Size: 16" long x 4" tall.