PROGRESS REPORT: TRANSPORT

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 12th Year

Issue

Issue No.

8

Date Released

Apr 1959

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1PROGRESS REPORT: TRANSPORT
2. 2SACKED
3. 3RETIREMENT
4. 4BABY TOWER

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 4

Section Title

PROGRESS REPORT

Summary

BFI synopsis: A survey of progress in the field of underground transport.
NCB Commentary - Many big changes have taken place in Britain’s coal industry and not the least of them is in the field of underground transport. Twelve years ago as much as a quarter of the total of all underground man-power was employed simply in getting the coal to the surface. "No other operation associated with coal production", said the Reid report of 1945, "offers more scope for improved efficiency."
Today, on the many mechanised foaces the coal is loaded straight on to conveyors which take it to well laid out loading points. Over 90% of coal output is mechanically conveyed from the face.
At the loading point it goes straight into mine cars of tubs. To increase their capacity, vibrating platforms are sometimes used to shake the contents into every nook and cranny.
Nearly a thousand locomotives, both battery and diesel, are now in use in British coal mines. They and the better roadways in which they run, have increased efficiency and reduced the time spent on getting coal from the face to pit bottom.
In the same way methods of getting coal to the surface have also changed. In many situations skip winding is being used in preference to the more conventional methods of taking the mine cars up full and bringing them down empty.
In drift mines the introduction of drop bottom cars has reduced unloading time considerably. At a lot of pits now, men are being taken direct to the face by railway - a walk probably of several miles is saved and that much more time can be spent every shift in the productive business of getting coal.
More and more collieries are installing mechanised haulage and handling equipment, which is playing a big part in increasing efficiency, safety and output.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 2nd March 1959.

Keywords

Transport; Mining

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.13 No.157 November 1959, p585.
The National Archives COAL 32   /12 Scripts for Mining Review, 1956-1960

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board