My additional comments on the Interesting discussion about Apedale. Apedale footrail is indeed a drift mine with the drifts intersecting the seams as they go down. I recall the big pits did label long, underground roadways as cross measure drifts; the system was known as horizon mining referring to the working zones that were contacted. I understand an adit to be a horizontal access into a mine, usually in a hillside. In a footrail the levels are the workings off a dip in the coal seam, the collier carefully 'steered' his level in to make the waggoning easier. However, in North Staffordshire he would often 'drift' the level back when he had reached the limit, flitching coal off the high side, setting supports and lifting his rails as he retreated thus offering efficient working. Bord and pillar working, where the seam was blocked out, was usually reserved for flatter seams. Trust this is of interest.
Apedale Colliery Discussion
- Thread starter Alex
- Start date
I've gone in for an extra for few days in an attempt to try and make a set of points. The plan is to make a siding along the entrance to store all the tubs that are located around the back. It's certainly been an interesting experience with lots of trial and error. The whole thing is a bit rough and ready, there is a few more tweaks that need doing; fish plate holes need drilling and bolting, rail head on the frog needs grinding/cutting and the point blade on one side needs finishing.
Before we started. Luckily we had a curved panel that was a perfect fit.
Laying the rails over the top to see where needed digging out.
First ground being broken
Testing out some clips I cut out.
Took a couple of hours to dig it out by hand. Note the handy conveyor belt runway to the tip.
Putting the panels in place. The original idea was to bend the inner rail into a wing rail, this was too difficult as it was twisting the whole panel.
It was at this moment I realised I had messed it up. The bottom is supposed to be a V shape with gap for the flange to go through.
2nd attempt, it may look super rough but the tubs do go over it with a bit of a push. The railhead on the centre rail still wants grinding/ a slice cutting off.
The first points blade, it was a bit of fluke because it worked perfectly first time!
Was not so lucky with the other blade, it kept needing slithers taken off it but by this time I'd run out of disks so that's a job for the future.
Before we started. Luckily we had a curved panel that was a perfect fit.
Laying the rails over the top to see where needed digging out.
First ground being broken
Testing out some clips I cut out.
Took a couple of hours to dig it out by hand. Note the handy conveyor belt runway to the tip.
Putting the panels in place. The original idea was to bend the inner rail into a wing rail, this was too difficult as it was twisting the whole panel.
It was at this moment I realised I had messed it up. The bottom is supposed to be a V shape with gap for the flange to go through.
2nd attempt, it may look super rough but the tubs do go over it with a bit of a push. The railhead on the centre rail still wants grinding/ a slice cutting off.
The first points blade, it was a bit of fluke because it worked perfectly first time!
Was not so lucky with the other blade, it kept needing slithers taken off it but by this time I'd run out of disks so that's a job for the future.
I did consider this an option, but it only seems to work with V shaped points. With the curved that was on it, it would have been miles out of gauge.
Bit more action today; fishplates have now been bolted on, ground around the points backfilled, temporary stop added to end of the siding and tested with a load.
All that needs doing now is a stretcher bar and a couple of bits of grinding to smooth a couple of bits down.
The tub with the waste bricks derailed round the back of the yard on the way back over, the rails couldn't handle the weight and spread apart. So the next job is sleeper replacements on that stretch.
All that needs doing now is a stretcher bar and a couple of bits of grinding to smooth a couple of bits down.
The tub with the waste bricks derailed round the back of the yard on the way back over, the rails couldn't handle the weight and spread apart. So the next job is sleeper replacements on that stretch.
Had a busy day sunday and today.
Patched up the embankment round the back.
Before:
After:
Siding has now been extended to its full length.
We almost got it level apart from the kink where the fishplate is. The final job is to finish the wall infront and backfil it up to rail level.
Patched up the embankment round the back.
Before:
After:
Siding has now been extended to its full length.
We almost got it level apart from the kink where the fishplate is. The final job is to finish the wall infront and backfil it up to rail level.
Alex, congratulations to you for this magnificent effort; and well done to Aidan too. Your crossing is unusual to say the least and I don't think HS2 will be coming for it. (I dont think k HS2 is worth my spit actually). The siding will provide a useful shunting arrangement but also display some of the colliery wagons which we need to paint and restore. The wall is actually the wharf wall over which the coal was tipped then scooped away for screening. The ground levels have altered since the colliery closedHad a busy day sunday and today.
Patched up the embankment round the back.
Before:
After:
Siding has now been extended to its full length.
We almost got it level apart from the kink where the fishplate is. The final job is to finish the wall infront and backfil it up to rail level.
This thread all started because of terminology and it turns out Apedale also had an adit! Located around where the railways workshop is today.
Was hoping to pick people brains as well. I have the 'British Small mine (south)' book which suggests that there was 2 haulage engines on no 4 drift - which is incorrectly marked and 3+4. Could anyone confirm if this was the case and if one side actually dropped into the Peacock workings?
This is no 4 drift.
Confirmation
Now the plan of the Peacock suggests No 3 had a Crut in it.
So how actually was the Peacock accessed? Through 3 or 4 (maybe even both)
Was hoping to pick people brains as well. I have the 'British Small mine (south)' book which suggests that there was 2 haulage engines on no 4 drift - which is incorrectly marked and 3+4. Could anyone confirm if this was the case and if one side actually dropped into the Peacock workings?
This is no 4 drift.
Confirmation
Now the plan of the Peacock suggests No 3 had a Crut in it.
So how actually was the Peacock accessed? Through 3 or 4 (maybe even both)
Both the folk I could just ring and ask, are not there to ring and ask any more - My Uncle Roy who was Deputy on the Peacock & of course Paul Deakin who was surveyor.
The Peacock was worked from new 3s and from 5s, as far I know to. On that 83 plan 3s & 4s were both accessed via the 4s portal & it's old 3s (the present 3s) shown as disused.
New 3s which runs below old 3's was where the current museum 3s collapsed in to. There's a discussion on here somewhere about the crut and it does indeed access the Peacock (IIRC) and is shown there on a much better plan.
7s shown on the 83 plan dosnt ring a bell with me & if certainly is not the current 7s, which is to the E, at about 90deg to it.
Best bet for better info is probably Les R now.
The Peacock was worked from new 3s and from 5s, as far I know to. On that 83 plan 3s & 4s were both accessed via the 4s portal & it's old 3s (the present 3s) shown as disused.
New 3s which runs below old 3's was where the current museum 3s collapsed in to. There's a discussion on here somewhere about the crut and it does indeed access the Peacock (IIRC) and is shown there on a much better plan.
7s shown on the 83 plan dosnt ring a bell with me & if certainly is not the current 7s, which is to the E, at about 90deg to it.
Best bet for better info is probably Les R now.
This is interesting thanks, I didn't realise there was two 3s - they couldn't make it anymore confusing if they tried. I thought 7s was a mistake and actually the current 3s. Asking people there you seem to get a different answer everytime.
I think it will depend when they worked there, of if they worked there al all. The info I have is from people who worked there, plus I was involved in the recovery work after the 3's collapse. Unfortunately better, first-hand info just gets rarer.
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Les Riley
Member
It was as the book shows when used by small mines.
I suspect some of the confusion comes from the difference between NCB names and later names perhaps?
Two haulage engines worked the No 4 drift when I was there, although the RHS looking down was disused.
The LHS, Bassy side was a later addition, not NCB.
The Bassy side formerly went down to the Spencroft but that became worked out and I blocked off the dip at the Bassy inset and we worked that instead. The blockage was only split bars and dirt/coal and the dip rails broken and refitted into the Bassy which was less steep. Bit difficult to visualise.
I suspect some of the confusion comes from the difference between NCB names and later names perhaps?
Two haulage engines worked the No 4 drift when I was there, although the RHS looking down was disused.
The LHS, Bassy side was a later addition, not NCB.
The Bassy side formerly went down to the Spencroft but that became worked out and I blocked off the dip at the Bassy inset and we worked that instead. The blockage was only split bars and dirt/coal and the dip rails broken and refitted into the Bassy which was less steep. Bit difficult to visualise.
Les Riley
Member
Not sure about the little room, can't remember that.
I said it was confusing!
The Bassy dip went down to the Spencroft first. As the dip goes down, the Bassy starts to level out. At that point the dip carried on at the steep angle, through the measures until it met the Spencroft where it then followed that down until it went flat and stopped. All in the same dip.
I have no idea where the main number 4 went as I only ever went a short way down being wary of bad air.
Don't forget that all we had then was a safety lamp and a methanometer. No fancy gas detectors!
I said it was confusing!
The Bassy dip went down to the Spencroft first. As the dip goes down, the Bassy starts to level out. At that point the dip carried on at the steep angle, through the measures until it met the Spencroft where it then followed that down until it went flat and stopped. All in the same dip.
I have no idea where the main number 4 went as I only ever went a short way down being wary of bad air.
Don't forget that all we had then was a safety lamp and a methanometer. No fancy gas detectors!
Is it really exploring when you don't get a face full of carbon dioxide.
Sorry to bombard you with questions. Do you know if 7s cut through this roadway in the peacock? I know the one of the right goes underneath.
The Chalkey workings are marked post 1990 so would have been after you left. June 1991 the first working is marked as and 7s level as it is now known was April 92.
