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April, 1958
Durham Coalfield Reconstruction
Excellent progress continues to be made with the reconstruction programme in the Durham coalfield. The programme, though costly, is vitally necessary to maintain output in a coalfield where many collieries are 80 to 100 years old, and where nearly half the seams are less than 2 ft. 6 in. thick.
Broadly speaking, a major reconstruction is one in which capital expenditure exceeds £250,000, and during the past year the following major reconstructions were substantially completed: Wardley-Usworth, Boldon, Herrington, Horden, Fishburn, and Beamish Mary, while the following are expected to be completed this year: Clockburn-Marley Hill, Easington and Thornley.
In addition, major reconstructions are in progress at Wearmouth, Westoe, Seaham, Dawdon, Vane Tempest, Hawthorn, Elemore, Silksworth, Shotton, East Hetton, Thrislington, Dean and Chapter, Handen Hold, Morrison Busty and Ryhope.
Considerable progress has been made with the Hawthorn combined mine, the largest scheme in the coalfield and one of the largest in the country. The combined output of three pits-Murton, Eppleton and Elemore-is to be concentrated at a new shaft which has been sunk more than half of its ultimate depth of 1,500 ft. Moving towards it at various levels from the three pits are large tunnels, five miles of which were driven in the last 12 months. The surface pattern, too, is now clear with the coke oven plant well advanced, the coal preparation building nearing completion, and the laying of railway sidings proceeding satisfactorily.
At many Durham collieries existing winding and haulage capacity prevents any increase in output until extensive reconstruction takes place. The reconstruction, usually involving new haulage roads and shaft bottoms, results in the diversion of existing winding capacity to deal with the stone produced, and also of manpower to drive the new roads. The colliery's output cannot, therefore, increase until the reconstruction is complete and until the men employed in this work are redeployed to the face.
As well as reconstruction schemes, there is a mechanisation programme, and at the end of 1957 coal output power-loaded in the Durham Division amounted to 17 per cent. of the output, compared with 11.5 per cent. the previous year. Various types of new machines were introduced and in North-West Durham a new type of scraper box is giving good results in seams less than 2 ft. thick. In other areas a multi-jib cutter loader enables very thin seams (16 to 24 inches) to be worked more efficiently.
Efforts, too, are proceeding with the aim of producing more large coal. These measures include the ploughing of prepared coal, as well as new forms of shot-firing. Pulsed infusion blasting is now in use at many collieries in the Division.
The use of steel supports, particularly hydraulic supports, on coalfaces has been substantially increased during the year. More than 100,000 hydraulic supports are now in everyday use in the coalfield.
A new type of machine has been introduced into the Division for the withdrawing of steel supports, mainly arched girders in disused roadways.
Article reproduced from a copy of the magazine held at National Mining Museum Scotland, Newtongrange, Midlothian.
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