Gone are the jobs. Gone are the future jobs for our children. Gone is the self sufficiency by using our own fuel reserves. Gone is the money coming into local communities. What isn't gone is our fond memories of a once mighty industry. Farewell coal, you did us well :)
I worked at Askern pit as an underground loco driver.I must say i thought i was the one of the few who are still sad about it all and fed up about hearing about green.Google maps are miles out of date as i can still see the headgear at Harworth.
You're not on your own duck, I'm still bitter about this devastating destruction of not just our collierys but all those other companies that supplied the coal industry.
This is what is lacking now a days in schools history topics, I've never heard or seen any kid at school talking about history of what it was like working down a deep coal mine as today's era wouldn't have a clue today of what any coal mine in the UK looked like.
I hate to correct Frixster, BUT Harworths winding engines were NOT the largest winders EVER IN THE UK, Try Boulby Mine's No1 shaft winder at 7000HP, installed in 1975 and still running, Wheal Jane in the 1970's had a similar 7000HP winder, and although not a winder, Selby's Cable Belt drive at 7000HP. There was a Lancashire Colliery that ran a larger steam winder, I forget the HP now, but larger than Harworths 5364HP...
Harworths winder was only 4000Kw which is 5364HP Boulbys No1 winder installed in 1975 was and still is 7000HP which makes Boulby the largest installed winder HP! The old Wheal Jane tin mine also had an identical winding engine motor as Boulby's at 7000HP as did the Selby Colliery complex Cable Belt. I worked at Boulby for a few years.
I might add, Boulbys No1 winder is a Blair type ground mounted winder using twin ropes terminating on a balance wheel on the 20ton capacity skips. It hoists 3/4 mile from loading level to tipping level. The No2 men and materials winder is 3000HP. Both are DC motors being controlled by SCR's in multiple cabinets on the main winder floor. The No2 winder is a conventional single rope per cage.
Boulby Mine, the old Wheal Jane Tin mine had 7000hp winder motors in the 70's and 80's and Selby drift had similar DC motors of the same HP, so your claim the 4000Kw was the biggest winding motor is FALSE. The most powerful steam winder was in the Lancs coalfield at a colliery in Manchester, if my memory is right it was 5000HP.
NCB took over all pits but UK coal finshed them off & the tower was built to last hence why it didn't wanna go down without a fight, harworths landmark long gone & along with it a major piece of coal history, its the same everywhere theres a pit its all being wiped out(thatchers dream to obliterate every pit came true) saddens us all to see this happen
Has anyone got footage of the second tower (smaller one) destruction, I am sorry but I need too see it becuase I never knew it was there until now though I have memory of seeing it
The coal industry was nationalized in 1947 and was managed for the people by the National Coal Board NOT British Coal. I served my apprenticeship as an electrician with the NCB and left in 1968 when it was STILL the NCB!!
