Descriptions of Horden Colliery having already appeared in the Transactions,^* the present description is confined practically to the surface arrangements.

Shafts. — The North Pit, which draws from the Hutton Seam, and the South Pit, which draws from the Low Main and Main Coal Seams, are both fitted with wire-rope guides; the East Pit, which, in case of need, draws from any of the before-mentioned seams, being fitted with wooden guides.

Boilers. — Steam is supplied from nine Lancashire boilers, 30 feet long and 8 feet in diameter, working at a pressure it 150 pounds per square inch, eight of which are fitted with Galloway super-heaters. A water-softener and heater, capable of treating 6,000 gallons of water per hour, supplies feed-water at about 190° Fahr.

Ventilation. — The fan, 22 feet in diameter, is rope driven by a cross-compound Corliss engine, which has a high-pressure cylinder, 21 inches in diameter by 3½ feet stroke, taking steam at a pressure of 140 pounds per square inch, and a low-pressure cylinder, inches in diameter by 3½ feet stroke, the engine running at 60 revolutions per minute. The fan, when running at 150 revolutions per minute, produces 300,000 cubic feet of air per minute at a water-gauge of 6 inches.

Winding-engines. — At each of the three pits there is a pair of semi-Corliss high-pressure winding-engines, fitted with Whitmore overspeed and overwinding automatic brake-gear, and with automatic cut-off gear. The North and South Pit engines have cylinders 36 inches in diameter by 6 feet stroke, and take steam at a pressure of 140 pounds per square inch. The winding drums are 18 feet in diameter and 11½ feet in width, the patent flattened-strand winding-ropes being 6 inches in circumference. The weight of the winding-rope, cage, chains, tubs (full), etc., is in each case 18 tons 15 hundredweights, the balance-rope weighing 4 tons 10 hundredweights. The depth of wind is, at the North Pit, 1,200 feet, and at the South Pit, 1,080 feet, the time of wind being 33 seconds in both cases, and the maximum and mean horsepower developed 2,100 and 1,260 respectively. The East Pit engine has cylinders 30 inches in diameter by 6 feet stroke, and takes steam at a pressure of 140 pounds per square inch. The winding drum is 16 feet in diameter and 8½ feet in width, the Lang’s lay plough-steel winding-rope being 6 inches in circumference. The weight of the winding-rope, cage, chains, tubs (full), etc., is 18 tons 15 hundredweights, and there is no balance-rope. The depth of the wind is 1,200 feet, and the maximum and mean horsepower developed is 2,260 and 1,800 respectively.

Power-house. — (a) Air-compressing plant. — Nos. 1 and 2 compressors are of the Ingersoll-Rand horizontal compound two-stage inter-cooling type, and have high- and low-pressure steam cylinders, 21 and 32 inches in diameter respectively, and high- and low-pressure air-cylinders, 20¼ and 32¼ inches in diameter respectively, with a stroke common to both of 24 inches. Each compressor is capable of producing, when running at 100 revolutions per minute, 2,180 cubic feet of free air per minute, at a steam-pressure of 140 pounds and an air-pressure of 80 pounds per square inch, the horsepower being 831. No. 3 compressor, which is of the Sentinel vertical compound high-speed self-lubricating two-stage inter-cooling type, has high- and low-pressure steam-cylinders, 25 and 37 inches in diameter respectively, and high- and low-pressure air-cylinders, 22 3/8 and 37 inches in diameter respectively, with a stroke common to both of 16 inches. When running at 182 revolutions per minute, it is capable of producing 3,300 cubic feet of free air per minute, at a steam pressure of 140 pounds and an air-pressure of 80 pounds per square inch, the horsepower being 580.

(b) Electrical Plant. — For power purposes, the Nos. 1 and 2 direct-coupled generators, each of 365 horsepower, supply continuous current of 450 amperes at 550 volts. They are driven by vertical compound self-acting lubricating high-speed engines, having high- and low-pressure cylinders 15 and 26 inches in diameter respectively, with a 12-inch stroke, taking steam at a pressure of 140 pounds per square inch, and running at 340 revolutions per minute. For lighting purposes, the Nos. 3 and 4 direct-coupled generators, each of 220 horsepower, supply continuous current of 763 amperes at 220 volts. They are driven by vertical triple-expansion self-lubricating high-speed engines, having high-, intermediate-, and low-pressure cylinders, 9, 14½, and 23½ inches in diameter respectively, with a 10-inch stroke, and take steam at a pressure of 140 pounds per square inch, and run at 380 revolutions per minute.

Hydraulic Decking-gear. — At the North and South Pits, the top deck of each cage is unloaded and loaded by hydraulic rams power being derived from two steam-driven duplex pumps, which are controlled by the hydraulic accumulator. The hydraulic pressure is 650 pounds per square inch.

Screening. — All the tipplers, six in number, are automatic. There are seven picking-belts, and three conveying-belts for small and nut coal, all being electrically driven.

The thanks of those present was unanimously accorded to The Horden Collieries, Limited, and to Mr. J. J. Prest.

^* Trans. Inst. M. E., 1904, vol. xxviii., page 149; and 1906, vol. xxxii., page 4.