A Unique History From My Work Diaries

Surveying Jobs

No4 Sub-Area, No4 Area, East Midlands Division, NCB from 1st January 1947

Page - 21 -

Jan 1962

Mon 1 … Office … Monthly figures. Reports. Conveyor belt figures.  Checked sterilized areas tracings and calculations of tonnages.

Tues 2 … Office … Ventilation info with Cyril Ward Ventilation Officer. Prints up to date. Old Top Hard workings for new 6 inch plans on SK 46 SE.

Wed 3 … Office … Continued with plans SK 46 SE and SK 56 SE.

Thurs 4 … Office … Finished 2 plans.

Fri 5 … Office … Continued … Completed another plan SK 46 SE                   

Sat 6 … 6498 tons

Mon 8 … U/g … Established face line on new 3s. Established 1in3 grade in new Waterloo to Dunsil drift … 3 men (RB*, DH, TB) 

Tues 9 … Office … Concentration of Colliery workings 8/2/1961 … Stats 226 NAT.

Wed 10 … Office … R & FF plans.  Exchange plan for Sherwood showing 30s panel Dunsil.

Thurs 11… Office … R & FF prints and colouring same       

Fri 12 … Office … Continued colouring R & FF prints.                                   

Sat 13 … 9393 tons

Mon 15 … U/g … Theodolite angling from 3s RH to 3s DG for face thirling … 4 men (BTB, RB, JC, TB)

Tues 16 … U/g … Catenary measuring same traverse … 4 men (BTB, RB, JC, TB) (night shift)

Wed 17 … Office … Stats /212/NAT form with Ike Sutton PPM.  R & FF plans 11 plans, 1 set for Group Surveyor.                         
Evening BACM AGM

Thurs 18 … Office … Distributed R  FF plans,  1/5000 Composite plan with Silverhill and Teversal workings, neg and prints.  29 copies … Rescue Room 11, Manager 1 and 2 for Undermanager.

Fri 19 … Office … Check calculations for 3s thirling survey plus catenary calculations.

Sat 20 … 8286 tons

Mon 22 … Office … Finished calculating 3s thirling position.  Made catenary correction chart for 50m band and 20lbs pull. 

Tues 23 … Office … To Sutton Colliery for Low Main workings.  Updated 1/5000 Composite plan.  Prints off Sutton R & FF plan and also Catenary chart. Updated Second copy plan tracings.  Copying notes.

Wed 24 … Office … Copying notes.

Thurs 25 … Office … Top Hard SK 56 SW 6 inches to 1 mile (1/10560) O.S. sheet.

Fri 26 … Office … Top Hard SK 56 SW and SK 56 NW O.S. sheets. (Cards +6s 9d total)   

Sat 27… 7916 tons

Mon 29 … U/g … Setting out 3s RH face thirling position … 4 men (BTB, RB, JC, TB)

Tues 30 … Office … Pleasley adjacent workings on Dunsil 43/5061.  Stippling plans. 6 inch roll plans.

Wed 31 … Office … Stippling and completing Top Hard 6 inch flat sheets.

Feb 1962

Thurs 1 … Office … Cleaning plans with cheese rubber and bread crumbs and putting plans in the new fire-proof plan cabinet kept in the safe.

Fri 2 … Office … Dunsil workings on 1/2500 Subsidence plan SK/4860 and SK4960 double O.S. sheet … Surface … Dirt tip extension survey … 3 men (BTB, RB, JC)                    

Sat 3 … 7817 tons

Mon 5 … Office … Holiday

Tues 6 … U/g … Checking setting out 3s RH face line for thirling and turned 1in3 drift … 3 men (BTB, RB, JC)
(610 + 30 u/g)

Wed 7 … to No4 Area HQ at Huthwaite 2nd copy plans … 2 men (BTB, RB)

Thurs 8 … Office … New sheet for copying surveys … after discussion … for Area Chief Surveyor Mr Arthur Morley’s perusal.

Fri 9 … Office … Reducing old 3 chains to 1 inch plan of old Wharf pit Top Hard workings.
Fri 9 … Surface … Fatal accident measures for A Gregory wagon lowerer under screens, 3 men (BTB, RB, JC) … plotting same.                                               

Sat 10 … 7343 tons

Mon 12 … Office … Progress. Overlay tracings.

Tues 13 ... Surface … Civil Defence Course, week 1, for Radiac Officer at South Normanton old offices (RB*) … Messrs McGregor, Bramwell and Sanderson Lecturers.  ‘Thack’ pub nearby for a pint at lunch time with other Assistant Surveyors from the other pits in the Area.

Wed 14 … Office … Old Top Hard on 43/4860 and barriers round old Dunsil workings on 43/4860.  Updated and cleaned Mr GK Noble’s Progress plans.

Thurs 15 … Office … New 1/2500 R & FF plan for 3s Waterloo.

Fri 16 … Office … Manager’s 1/5000 Composite plan.  Survey book made out. Monthly book.

Sat 17 … 8258 tons                        

Mon 19 … U/g … 2s panel dial survey and measurements … 4 men (RB*, JC, TB, JS) 
Mon 19 … Office … Calculated survey.

Tues 20 … Surface … Civil Defence Course, week 2, for Radiac Officer at South Normanton old offices (RB*) … Messrs McGregor, Bramwell and Sanderson Lecturers.  ‘Thack’ for a pint at lunch time. Charging individual Dosimeter. Contamination meter. Survey meter.

Wed 21 … Office … 2s face on 1/2500, 1/5000 nd 6 inch scales.  Overlay tracing for 43/4862.  Title on R & FF 1/2500 neg for 3s Waterloo also for 2s.  Dust Zone plan and 6 inch Scheme plan.

Thurs 22 … Office … New 6 inch scale Composite plan for Progress folder.

Fri 23 … Surface … Measuring subsidence holes at Skegby Churchyard continued … 3 men (C Skeavington, BTB, BTB) … Grave stones tilting, one coffin rearing up!                         

Sat 24 … 8538 tons
(Cards + 11s 10d total)

Mon 26 …U/g … 30s RH theodolite survey … 5 men (RB*, JC, DH, TB, JS) 

Tues 27 … Surface … Civil Defence Course week 3 for Radiac Officers continued (RB*) Film on Colliery organisation.

Wed 28 … Office … Calculating 30s theodolite survey and plotting same.

Peter Holmes (PH) left to Port of London Authority from Pleasley, John Wilmot (JW) transferred from Group to Pleasley as Assistant. Trevor Speed transferred from Alfreton to Silverhill. Colin Burlinson left Area HQ to John Collins Estate Agent.

Mar 1962                    
Alan Toon (AT) started as Linesman

Thurs 1 … Office … Monthly book, figures etc.  Inked in 3s face thirling and gates and 1in3 drift W/43/4862.  6 inch Composite neg.

Fri 2 … Office … Prints off Composite neg and coloured same.                   

Sat 3 … 8634 tons

Mon 5 … Surface … Pegging out for new Workshops and Stockyard … 3 men (BTB, RB, JC)

Tues 6 … Surface … Civil Defence Course week 4 for Radiac Officers continued … field trials locating sources of radioactivity (RB*) Given an Opisometer (Similar to a thick fountain pen) to detect radiation in the event of Neuclear War. Appointed RADIAC Officer.

Wed 7 … Office … Prints for Herbert Cousins. Made out survey books.  Colouring 6 inch plans.

Thurs 8 … U/g … 30s DG check theodolite survey and catenary measuring … 6 men (RB*, JC, DH, TB, JS, Alan Toon new linesman AT) CTS. VO300 theodolite … split into 2 parties.

Fri 9 … Office … Colouring plans.  Completed Working Ventilation Development plan for new Waterloo 4s. 

Sat 10 … 9294 tons

Mon 12 … U/g … 120s LH and 120s RH theodolite surveys … 4 men (RB*, JC, JS, AT)

Tues 13 … U/g … 120s DG check theodolite survey … 7 men (BTB, RB, JC, DH, TB, JS, AT) - (615 + 30 u/g)

Wed 14 … Office … Calculated 120s surveys.  Electrical installation plans for 3s and 4s panels.

Thurs 15 … Office … Continued with same. Made new tracing and drafting out.

Fri 16 … Office … Inking in same.                                                  

Sat 17 … 8633 tons

Mon 19 … Holiday

Tues 20 … Office … New tracing for 3s and 4s introduction of electricity plans … stencilling.

Wed 21 … Office … Continued with same.  Prints off 4s Stage Development.

Thurs 22 … U/g … 2s DG and 2s RH theodolite surveys … 2 parties … 4 men and 3 men (BTB, JC, TB, AT) and (RB*, DH, JS) Watts 20” theodolite.

Fri 23 … Office … Colouring plans. Calculated 2s survey and plotted same.  Monthly book.

Sat 24 … 7666 tons

Mon 26 … Office … Index cards for Sister Barbara Harrison for Medical Centre.  Monthly book.  Copying surveys into ledger.  Printing.

Tues 27 … Office … Finished copying theodolite surveys.  Prints coloured for 3s and 4s Installation of electricity.  Ventilation negatives.

Wed 28 … Office … Made new tracing of old roads in Pit bottom, stoppings etc.  Prints off same.

Thurs 29 … Office … 1/5000 plans. Monthly book … Surface … Pegging out and levelling for new offices … 3 men (BTB, RB, JC)

Fri 30 … Office … Completed 1/5000 plans.  Composite plan negative for Teversal workings.  Check calculations for 30s DG Check survey.  (Cards +14s 4d total)                   

Sat 31 … 8099 tons

Apr 1962        
Stan Hays transferred to Pleasley, Mick Cleaver from NE new Surveyor at Sutton

In charge … BTB holiday Mon 2 to Sat 7 April

Mon 2 … Office … Monthly book. Reports etc.  Monthly progress 4 folders.  Sections etc

Tues 3 … Office … Healdswood Estate plan, Dunsil workings.  Negative for Area HQ.  Mr G Noble re 1in6 1in4 drift from South Dunsil Plane Road to 3s RH.

Wed 4 … U/g … Examination of old Top Hard roadways in Pit bottom area and to old 1870s Staple pit with Ventilation Officer … 2 men (RB*, Cyril Ward Ventilation Officer)

Wed 4 … Office … Drawing for electricians … 24 prints.

Thurs 5 … Office … New Ventilation negative for Main Roads.  Calculated and plotted 2s survey.

Fri 6 … U/g … Measurements for proposed new Bunker on South Level … 4 men … with Manager George Noble and Planner Gordon Darrington, RB, JC)                

Fri 6 … Office … Plotted same.  Notice for Sister Barbara Harrison.                     

Sat 7 … 8930 tons

Mon 9 … Holiday

Tues 10 … Holiday.  Interview for Trainee Planner at Bestwood, No6 Area … not offered the job.

Wed 11 … Holiday

Thurs 12 … Office … Plan and section of 120s from pit bottom to lip for Derek Harris, Fire Officer … Surface … Practice Civil Defence paper exercise at the colliery (1500 hours).

Fri 13 … Surface … Measures for rail lines to new Loco shed and new Lamp Room … 3 men (BTB,RB,JC) 

Sat 14 … 9653 tons

Mon 16 … Office … Pleasley adjacent workings.  2s plotted on all scales.  Started new progress negatives for 4s Waterloo and 120s Dunsil.

Tues 17 … Surface … Visit to Sutton then Silverhill for workings for Composite plan … (self RB*) … Office … updated same.

Wed 18 … U/g … Examining old Dunsil North districts … 70s, 40s, 11s etc with Ventilation Officer … 2 men (RB*, Cyril Ward, Ventilation Officer) … 5% methane … Ventilation book.

Thurs 19 … Office … Finished progress negatives for 4s and 120s. 2s updated. Stencilling in Ventilation book.

Fri 20 … Office … Continued with same                                             

Sat 21 … 9554 tons

Mon 23 … Tues 24 … Easter Holiday   Tues 25 … Holiday

Wed 25 … Office … Monthly book. Print off 120s profile section for Derek Harris.  Continued with Ventilation book.

Thurs 26 … Office … Continued with Ventilation book.  2 notices for Jack Limmer Manager’s Clerk … Surface … Safety Exhibition at Mines Rescue Station, Mansfield Woodhouse (RB*)

Fri 27 … Office … Notice for Manager.  Information on new Ventilation negative.  New 6 inch negative to date.  Monthly book etc.  Tracings for Second copy plans.  4 overlay tracings.

Sat 28 … (Cards + 8s 11d total) - 4857 tons

Mon 30 … Office … Monthly reports.  Section sheets etc.  Continued with Ventilation book. Made out survey book.

May 1962

Tues 1 … Office … Area HQ 6 inch tracing.  Continued with info on Ventilation negs.

Wed 2 … Office … Continued with same.

Thurs 3 … U/g … 1s DG check theodolite survey angling and measuring … 7 men, 2 teams (RB*, DH, AT) and (BTB, JC, TB, JS) - (620 + 30 u/g)

Fri 4 … Office … Alterations to Installation of electricity plan for 3s and 4s.  Prints off same and coloured.                                                                               
Sat 5 … 9951 tons
Alan Toon linesman left

Sun 6 …U/g … Underground visit with neighbour to 3s panel (RB* John Hendrie) (Sunday morning)

Mon 7 … Office … Continued with Ventilation negs … Surface … Standardising 50m band with Invar band.

Tues 8 / Wed 9  … U/g … New centre line for dint for new Butterley bunker and line for ripping at new Loading point … 3 men plus Planner (BTB, RB, JC, Gordon Darrington) night shift 

Thurs 10 … U/g … 1s LH theodolite survey, angling and catenary measuring … 4 men (RB*, JC, TB, JS)

Fri 11 … Office … Coloured two 1/5000 ventilation plans for Mr Percival Area Ventilation and Cyril Ward Ventilation Officer.                                                 

Sat 12 … 9907 tons

Mon 14 … Office … New set of Ventilation plans.

Tues 15 … Office … Notice for Sister Barbara Harrison.  Negative and print of Nonogram chart for number of shelves for a stone dust barrier … Surface … Datum lines for walls on new offices … 2 men (BTB, RB)

Wed 16 … Surface … to No4 Area HQ at Huthwaite 2nd copy plans to date … 2 men (BTB, RB)

Thurs 17 … Office … Notice for Manager George Noble.  Began plan of Waterloo 43/4863 pagra sheet.  Gridding same.

Fri 18 … Office … Continued with plan. Prints off 20lb and 30lb tension charts for 50m 3 band for Jim Hanson Silverhill.                                                         

Sat 19 … 9313 tons

Mon 21 … Office … Inked in Waterloo 43/4863 and stencilled same.  Monthly book.

Tues 22 … Office … Inked in levels, calculated and plotted contours on 43/4863.

Wed 23 … Office … Completed 43/4863.  Stippled same.  Check calculated 20s theodolite survey of June 1960.

Thurs 24 … Surface … Measurements to new Office block floor and embankment … 3 men (BTB, RB, JC) … Office … Check calculated 20s survey of 20s Mar/Apr 1961.

Fri 25 … Office … Continued with check calculations. - (Cards + 8s 9d total)    

Sat 26 … 8234 tons

Mon 28 … Tues 29 … Sick

Wed 30 … Office … Tracing of Top Hard around Hardwick for No1 Area HQ. Monthly book. Sections, figures etc.  Manager’s report … Surface … Check position of electrical earthing pit … 2 men (BTB, RB)

Thurs 31 … Office … Section books.  1s Progress negative to date.  Plotted 1s on all scales. Monthly book. Print off General Purpose plan. With Ike Sutton PPM re information to date.

June 1962             
Fred Daft finished as Safety Officer and transferred to Salvage Officer

Fri 1 … Office … Coloured General Purpose plan.  With Ike Sutton again re information on plan.  Plan for Area HQ showing coloured lengths of conveyor belts etc. on 1/5000 scale.

Sat 2 … 8788 tons

Mon 4 …U/g … 20s TG theodolite angling from South Plane Road … 5 men (BTB, RB, JC, DH, TB)

Tues 5 … U/g …20s LH catenary measuring … 4 men (RB*, JC, DH, TB) - (625 + 30 u/g)

Wed 6 … U/g … 30s district both gates dial survey and taping and heading in TG … 3 men (RB*, DH, TB) 

Thurs 7 … Office … Continued with same and took prints.  Calculated 30s survey and plotted same.

Fri 8 … Office … Plotted 30s on 1/5000 and 6 inch scales.  Progress negs to date. 

Sat 9 … 6126 tons

Mon 11 … Whitsuntide Holiday

Tues 12 … Office … Calculated 3s and 4s surveys and plotted same.  Began tracing new General Purpose neg for Dunsil seam

Wed 13 … Office … Completed General Purpose neg. Plotted 3s on 1/5000 and 6 inch.  Progress neg made for 3s Waterloo.  Began tracing new General Purpose neg for Waterloo.

Thurs 14 … Office … Continued with same. 3 prints for HMI Stevens of Stable Hole supports in middle of 3s shearer Waterloo face. 20s and 120s progress negs to date

Fri 15 … Office … Ventilation, Electrical negs.  Stencilled new Support plan for 3s Waterloo.  R & FF 1/2500 neg.

Sat 16 … 3903 tons

Mon 18 … Office … Deputy’s Districts, Means of Egress, Dust Zone neg and scheme neg 6 inch.

Tues 19 … Office … Manager’s Ventilation plans to date. Working on ‘stinker’ negs making Dunsil and Waterloo Composite plan.  ‘Stinker’ so called due to smell of the ‘plastic material’

Wed 20 … Office … Continued with ‘Stinkers’. Making general tracings for several purposes

Thurs 21 … Office … Planned out haulages on ‘stinker’ neg … Meeting Jimmy Wright CME, Alwyn Noble Planner, RB … re to turn 3s panel to left at LG and rip up face due to large swilley.

Fri 22 … U/g … 3s DG new gate line for ripping up face line from DG end new LG from 3s RH due to swilley … 4 men (RB*, JC, DH, JS)

Sat 23 … 5407 tons

Mon 25 … Office … Continued with ‘stinkers’.  Monthly book.

Tues 26 … Office … 2 prints off Dunsil Support plan for 120s panel for Fred Daft. Continued with General purpose negs.

Wed 27 … Office … Made 2 Dunsil negs on 1/5000 for Mr J Frith showing contours, faults etc.  Started plan showing system of Haulage for manriding and materials for Mr J Atkinson.

Thurs 28 … Office … Continued with same ... PPM with Ike Sutton re info etc.  Accident plan of T Dudley 20s face … 12 print.

Fri 29 … U/g … 2s panel both gates dial survey and taping … 4 men (RB*, DH, TB, JS).  (Cards +9s 8d total)

Sat 30 … Office … Monthly book, part.  Report.  Progress, part.  -  ½ day overtime.  5635 tons

Annual Leave 8 days…  Mon 2 – Wed 11 July    North Wales - 6164 tons

Frank Walton, Dust Control, replaced Percy Hinds