SPARWOOD VIRTUAL MUSEUM OF COAL MINING
INTRODUCTION
NATURAL HISTORY
  HUMAN HISTORY
MINING COAL - ECONOMICS
MINING COAL - METHODS
MINING COAL - COSTS
MICHEL-NATAL BEGINNINGS
MICHEL-NATAL CELEBRATIONS
MICHEL-NATAL WOMEN
MICHEL-NATAL CLUBS
MICHEL-NATAL SPORTS
THE MOVE TO SPARWOOD
SPARWOOD TODAY
LEST WE FORGET
GLOSSARY
CONTACT US
SITE MAP

MINING COAL - METHODS - Underground Railways

Coal was moved from the workings to the surface by underground railways. When mining started here in 1898, small spark free compressed air powered locomotives or "dinkys" were used to haul trains of one ton coal cars to surface.

Steam locomotives could not be used underground because of the danger of their fires starting an explosion. Electric locomotives were seldom used in the early mines and only in areas that were completely free of explosive gases.

 

 

As time passed and technology advanced the railways were replaced by electric powered loaders and conveyor belts.

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