1. Dollar Mines 4 & 5 – A brief history

  1. Drift for both mines started to be dug in 1956.
  2. Drifts completed in 1960.
  3. Drifts approx 900m long.
  4. Bottom of drifts at 180m below the River Devon at this stage.
  5. Coal seam was the “Upper Hirst Seam” and approx 1.8 – 2.4m thick.
  6. Coal of poor quality, only used for Power Station furnaces.
  7. Efforts were made to connect this mine to Solsgirth complex.
  8. Solsgith had an 18 Km underground conveyor system directly to Power Station.
  9. This was not possible due to complex faulting in the ground structure.
  10. All coal delivered to Power Station on BR Main Line railways.

Brief Statistics of Mine

  1. Typical Coal face length approx. 70m.
  2. Face advanced 22 – 24m per week
  3. At maximum production 2000T of coal mined per 24hr (3 shift working)
  4. This was a record production amount.
  5. Average production 67cwts per man shift.
  6. No 5 mine furnished with a man riding rail car system.
  7. No 5 mine furnished with an air lock and air extraction fan house.
  8. Pithead baths and showers increased in capacity from 250 to 400 men.
  9. Railway siding and handling capacity increased to 2500T per day.
  10. Every 3 weeks the following extensions needed to be undertaken.
    1. Electrical extensions involving 24 panels and gate boxes.
    2. Stage Loader extension.
    3. Main belt conveyor extension.
    4. Main transformer moved every 6 weeks.
  11. Staff employed
    1. 32 managerial staff
    2. Safety Officer
    3. Training Officer
    4. Materials control Officer
    5. Chief Mechanical Engineer
    6. Chief electrical Engineer
    7. 6 Office Staff
    8. 17-man Mechanical Maintenance team.
    9. 11-man Electrical Maintenance team.
  12. Machinery Equipment employed
    1. 30” Armoured Flexible conveyor with 3 x 50HP motors
    2. 2 x 24” Stage Loaders with 3 x 40HP motors
    3. 1 x Manumatic controlled 60” Disc Shearer wit 125HP motor
    4. Electrical control system.
    5. 40 x Dobson 25T hydraulic roof support Jacks
  13. Coal transport and handling equipment
    1. Sutcliffe trunk conveyor 60 HP motor
    2. Underground coal storage bunker 18ft diameter, 50ft deep, 300T
    3. Main mineral haulage
      1. 3-rail 42” gauge system with by-pass
      2. 21T drop bottom mine cars, 4/5 hauled per trip
      3. Hauled by balanced direct rope with 350HP at 71/2 mph
      4. Vibro-feed sieve system
      5. Coal crushed to 1” size with 36/42” flex-tooth crusher 90HP
      6. Mainline haulage 24T drop bottom wagons