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The Cumberland coalfield is a very disturbed one geologically and is disrupted by numerous faults, large and small. In particular in regard to the explosion, the colliery take contained two major displacements. viz., the Maryport and the Flimby Brow faults, with estimated downthrows of 500 feet and 750 feet respectively. Evidence provided by underground boreholes and drifts from workings indicated that considerable quantities of most of the seams were at workable depths on the other side of these faults, and as the known reserves were being rapidly exhausted a major drifting programme was put into being in order to prove the position and at the same time to provide suitable airways and transport roadways.

The general layout is shown in Plan No. I.

The drifting programme was initiated in 1947 by the setting away of two parallel cross-measure drifts, known as the Loco Back and Loco Main Drifts, which were driven 14 feet wide by 10 feet high at a gradient of 1 in 200 rising inbye in a north-westerly direction from the vicinity of the shafts towards the Maryport fault.

By 1953 they had been driven a sufficient distance to warrant exploration in a south-westerly direction towards and through the estimated position of the Flimby Brow fault. Accordingly, two drifts were started for this purpose in 1954.