Electric Coal-Cutting Plant at the Lambton
Collieries, Co., Durham.
An interesting excursion was made recently to Newbottle by the associates and students of the North of England Mining and Mechanical Engineers, in order to witness the electrical coal-cutters in operation at the Margaret Pit, belonging to the Lambton Collieries, Limited. A numerous party met at Penshaw Station, including representatives from the Newcastle, Durham, and Sunderland districts. The visitors were taken from Penshaw Station to the colliery offices in a saloon carriage, and were most kindly received by Mr. C. W. Martin (agent), Mr. Austin Kirkup (manager of the Newbottle Colliery, Mr. Brown, Mr. T. Wood, Mr. Nesbitt, and other officials. A descent was made into the Margaret Pit, to a depth of about 650 feet, and a journey of about a quarter of a mile underground brought the visitors to a seam where a Diamond coal-cutter was in operation. There are three electrical coal-cutting machines in this mine, but only two are generally in operation at one time, the third being kept as a kind of reserve machine. These machines require three men each to operate them, and can “win” about 100 tons of coal each per day. A great advantage which they possess over manual labour is that bigger coal is obtained by their means. There is not nearly so much dross as is got by hewing with the pick. The power for working the machines is taken from the surface by means of cables, some of the latter being as long as two miles, but the machine actually seen in operation yesterday had a cable of about 500 yards in length. The visitors were greatly interested in seeing the machines at work, and were readily furnished with all information at the disposal of the officials.
The members forming the party were afterwards entertained to luncheon in the drawing offices by the Lambton Collieries, Limited.
From The Colliery Journal and Mining Engineer, Volume 1, 1902 – 1903.