Haulage Blogs

HAULAGE – THE USE OF PONIES IN A COAL MINE A blog inspired by the drawings of Brian Morley, Mining Artist A term we used at the pit: inbye means going to the coalface Outbye means going out towards the surface or pit bottom. Eric Eaton recollects his experiences ‘ganging
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THE OAKS COLLIERY DISASTER, 1866

Fact Sheet 1 The Explosion 1866 saw England’s worst ever mining disaster at, The Oaks Colliery, Barnsley. Wednesday 12th December 1866. About 1.15 pm – The first explosion ripped through the underground workings of the Oaks Colliery. It could be heard 3 miles away! Dust and soot from the pit covered
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Explosives and Explosions

Blog 4, Eric Eaton HSE:  The Prevention and control of fire and explosion in mines    Follow this link: The prevention and control of fire and explosion in mines (hse.gov.uk)  
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Explosives and Explosions

Explosives and Explosions- Blog 3, Eric Eaton Two Explosions At South Normanton, Alfreton, Derbyshire At 9pm on 15th February 1937 there were two explosions in the Waterloo seam on 11s district at South Normanton colliery (Derbyshire), locally known as Winterbank (South Normanton Colliery Co). 7 men were killed: The men who died were:- Edwin Samuel Hill aged 19
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Explosives and Explosions

Explosives and Explosions –  Blog 2 by Eric Eaton Firing off solid   When firing any explosives they tend to go to the weakest point, and that is why the old miners when it was hand got used a cutter to undercut/middlecut/overcut the coal seam before they fired the coal,
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Explosives and Explosions

Explosives and Explosions Blog 1 by Eric Eaton Explosives used in coal mines 1627 First recorded use of black powder for rock blasting (Hungary). 1670 Black powder use spreads to tin mines of Cornwall England by German miners Explosives are used in underground mines and quarries to break coal and other rocks. An explosive is a solid or a liquid substance
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Out to grass

What Came Next We all know what came next!  Pits closed; machinery and men all thrown on the scrap heap – or down a closed mine. BUT, we’ve still got our memories and we still have a passion for passing on our ‘coal mining communal black gold’ to future generations.
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Ooo…ps!! Pay docked!

Familiarity can breed contempt!  Short cuts and lessons learned! This drawing by Brian Morley, Mining Artist*, shows the other side of pit life.  When familiarity with the ever present dangers can lead to corners being cut and dangers being ignored. These are some of the stories we have been told. 
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Safety! Alert!

Safety Alerts and HSE Reports Yesterday we looked at manriding accidents.  Today we are drawing your attention to HSE (Health and Safety Executive) recommendations arising from the Silverwood and Bentley fatal accidents and other analysis arising from the more widespread introduction of Underground Locomotive Haulage into coal mines following the
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Categories: News.