Killed in a Coalpit updated

The picture above is me with my man George at Big Pit National Coal Museum, Wales for my birthday treat 13 June 1986. I wish we were young again, but I think I’m still wearing the boots!

This blog is prompted by a visit to Avon Valley Railway to celebrate the anniversary of the world’s first passenger train, which ran from Shildon to Stockton on Tees, 27 September 1825.

I was with David & Steve, fellow members of South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group. Thanks for your company chaps, and for the lifts there and back.

If the connection between mines and railways isn’t obvious, this is the explanation I give to school children. Those who know it already, please shout “duh!” and ignore the next bit.

To avoid repetition, railways ran on coal, which produced steam. Though others may not agree, I find the explanation of this world-shattering discovery incredibly romantic. To avoid repetition, you will find it on a previous blog: Irish Odyssey Day 3 concluded. The Engine House.

In short, the steam engine was invented. It transported miners, and the minerals they dug, up and down the mines, saving time and money for the owners, and hours of daily back and leg breaking ascent and descent of terrible ladders for the men.

The steam engine was housed in a rectangular building. If you imagine turning the building (complete with the engine) on its side, put wheels on it, provided you have already built a track, it will travel along the ground as well as up and down the shaft. Eureka! You have a train.

From the enthusiasm generated on the day at Avon Valley, including the books sold, and despite coal being off limits (rightly in UK, though enforcement of the same ban is not promising elsewhere; it may already be too late), there is still interest in the subject of mining.

I hope it might be appropriate to draw attention to previous blogs:

Killed in a Coal Pit – The Lives of the Kingswood Miners

the book and its companion volume,

Killed in a Coalpit II – Lives of the Somerset Miners

The second raises its head with a command to “Watch this space!” Due to an oversight, I forgot to post an update. It was published some time ago.

Both titles can be obtained direct from South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group who sponsored me after years of often lonely toil, (see date of top picture!) I am eternally grateful.