The Asturian Miners Column was a popular militia that fought for the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War in the Province of León. On the night of 18 July 1936, a special train full of miners left Asturias for Madrid, in order to defend the constitutional order. The train, after passing through León, returned to Asturias from Benavente on 21 July. A part of the mining column participated in the defense of Ponferrada.