Coal Mining terms. Definition of Engine, Engineman
With the invention of the steam engine, mines became possible in hitherto unecomonmic areas. Steam engines also began to be used to winding: that is, pulling things up and down a shaft.
Naturally, moving things (particularly men) up and down shafts is a dangerous activity and required great attention to detail on behalf of the three main men involved: the Banksman (at the top of the shaft), the Onsetter (at the bottom of the shaft), and the Engineman (operating the steam engine). Steam engines were large and were usually in a building, so the engineman was not able to see the activity at the top of the shaft. He was therefore dependant on the signals sent to him by the Onsetter and the Banksman to tell him when to raise and lower the case, and at what speed (see for example Visible and audible signals to winding enginemen / Institution of Mining Engineers in the Institute Library). Since lives depended on his diligence, the job of engineman was a very responsible one.
There were often many shafts in one mine (after the hartley disaster of 1863 this was required by law). The one with the engine next to it was usually called the Engine Shaft, and the phrase Engine Pit was often used as if it were the name of a mine. The terms Engine and Engineman are recorded in the English mining glossaries:
Definitions
A glossary of Terms used in the Coal Trade of Northumberland and Durham, W. E. Nicholson, 1888:
Engineman
A man having charge of an engine and boilers
Engine Piller
The stone pillar or foundation upon which a stationary engine is secured
Engine Pit
Pumping shaft
Engine Plane
A road on which the tubs are hauled along by ropes from a stationary engine.
English and Foreign Mining Glossary, Mining Journal 1871.
Engineer
Cornwall term: The superintendant of the machinery
Engineman
Cornwall term: Man who attends to, and works, the engine
Engine Shaft
Cornwall term: The pit of shaft by which the water is drawn by the engine from the lower parts of the mine to the adit or surface.
Enginewright
Newcastle term: The man who repairs the engines and machinery
Engine Pit
South Staffordshire term: The pumping shaft
Quotes concerning Engines and Enginemen
This page contains references to Pumping Engines
This page contains references to Winding Engines
This page is an example of the sort of detail you might find in the Institute's historical collection: the names of individual Enginemen and Enginewrights are cited.
A treatise on the steam engine in its various application to mines, mills, steam navigation, railways and agriculture ... by the Artizan Club. 11th ed. edited by John Bourne is available in the Institute library.
The history, duties and qualifications of enginemen, engine-drivers and marine engineers by John A. Haswell. Leeds McCorquodale 1876. 50 p.; 22 cm is available in the Institute library.
The Bell Collection contains details on individual engines in the North East of England. Typical example:
Specifications and tenders for the supply of a steam pumping engine by A. Stansfield Rake, for Tangye Bros and Holman, P. Wallan, for Black, Hawthorn and Co and Garrett Marshall and Co with detailed drawing of front and side elevations of steam pumping apparatus at Castle Eden Colliery
The Institute holds newspapaer cuttings and other information on mining throughout the world. Here is a typical example:
A Careless Engineman. Saturday 23rd. June 1866. Page 3 Col. 4 and 5 Derbyshire: Derbyshire Times
This page contains details of how engines influenced the South Staffordshire coalfield.
We hold details on the legislation passed relating to engines: for example,
The parts of the Abstract and General Regulations required to be supplied to haulage enginemen and persons engaged in mechanical or gravity haulage operations and
General regulations as to hours of employment and duties of winding enginemen from the Coal Mines Act of 1911
Search for references to Bank and Banksmen in the library here.
Search for references to Bank and Banksmen in the Colliery Guardian and Mining Journal on-line index.
Search the Institute on-line catalogue for Bank and Banksmen here
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