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.
