A Unique History From My Work Diaries

Surveying Jobs

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

Page - 30 -

Jul 1966

10583 tons

Mon 4 … Office … Monthly reports, section sheets, books etc.  Updated Cost Clerk’s plan.

Tues 5 … U/g … Checking lines in 5s Scouring and new 8s DG and 150s face heading … 5 men (RB*, AF,CHS, OH, DF)

Tues 5 … Surface … Marked out lines in Visitor’s car park (RB* plus 1)

Wed 6 … Office … Plan for A Baines. Updated 1/5000 plans to end of June. Pleasley adjacent workings exchange tracings. Dunsil 1/5000 R & FF negative. Ventilation negatives.

Thurs 7 … Office … Continued with Dunsil 1/5000 R & FF negative. Ventilation negatives completed.

Fri 8 … Office … Ventilation prints to date.
(Cards +23s 9d total)

Sat 9 … 10613 tons

Mon 11 … Office … R & FF negatives and information stencilled.

Tues 12 … Office … R & FF negatives and information stencilled.  Showing new Security Officer George Coleman plan of surface.

Wed 13 … Office … Overlay tracings up to date. Contouring on Surface plan 1/2500.  Continuing R & FF negatives.

Thurs 14 … U/g … Theodolite angling from 10s LH round abandoned LH into 10s DG … 5 men (BTB, RB, AF, OH, DF) … Face line in 150s face heading for thirl point.  R&FF info in 130s … 2 men (BTB, RB).

Fri 15 … Office … Contouring old and new dirt tips on 1/2500 and calculated tonnage of tips for C Skeavington.  Safety Crossword Competition for John Wann, Area Safety Engineer.

Sat 16 … 9801 tons

Mon 18 … Office … 1/5000 R & FF negatives amendments … Surface … Measured additional coal stocks.

Tues 19 … U/g … Theodolite angling in 6s RH, check linen tape … 3 men (RB*, OH, DF) … Office … Calculated and plotted survey.

Wed 20 … Office … Copied up Survey etc. Prints off 1/5000 R & FF for Area HQ.  Coloured same. Continued colouring plans. Diagrams and stencilling in Ventilation book.

Thurs 21 … Office … Colouring R & FF plans.  Made up 1/2500 plans for Mr Osborne, British Railways Surveyor (Derby).

Fri 22 … U/g … Catenary measuring in 6s Tail G. Lines in 6s RH laid up … 4 men (RB*, AF, OH, DF) - (800 + 34 u/g)

Sat 23 … 9202 tons

Mon 25 … Office … Monthly reports, sections etc.  Coloured 5 prints of 6s Deputy’s District plan for John Wann, Area Safety Engineer.

Tues 26 … Office … Support Rules for 150s Dunsil, negative amended and 2 prints taken. Referencing same.  Mr Nixon from Sutton Fire Station re Surface plans.  Preparing 1/8 plan of Canteen and Medical Centre … Surface … Measuring doors for same with CHS.

Wed 27 … Surface … locating surface bases and then spudding out in afternoon for new surface bases … 6 men (BTB, RB, AF,  CHS, OH, DF) … Office … Copied out. Plan of 6s with ventilation for John Wann, Area Safety Engineer. Changing R & FF plans for old copies.

Thurs 28 … Office … Finished 1/8 scale plan of Canteen and Medical Centre for Fire Station.  Prints off same plus Main Office block.  Recalculating 6s RH theodolite survey.

Fri 29 … Office … Numbers on boards for Deployment Centre.  2 x 6s plan with Transfer points for Safety Department.  Working on tracing of 1/8 scale Time Office etc. for Sutton Fire Station.
(Cards +33s 11d total)

Annual Leave Tues July 30 – Sat Aug 3      Weymouth

Aug 1966                  
Pit Holidays Mon 5 Aug to Sat 13

Mon 1 … Office … Preparing plan of Lamp Room, Time Office etc. with doors for Sutton Fire Station.

Tues 2 … Surface … Theodolite angling to new surface bases … 5 men (BTB, RB, AF, CHS, DF)

Wed 3 … U/g … Theodolite survey 7s DG … 4 men (RB,*, AF, CHS, DF) … Office … Copied up survey.  Prints of Lamp Room for Sutton Fire Station.

Thurs 4 … Surface … angling from Winding house base to surface base and loose leg up dirt tip … 5 men (BTB, RB, AF, CHS, DF)

Fri 5 …U/g … Theodolite survey in 4s LH … 5 men (BTB, RB, AF, CHS, DF) … Office … Discuss Triangulating with C Skeavington.

Mon 8 … Surface … Flagging Whiteboro’ Reservoir O.S. Station.  Lines on Car Park … 4 men (RB*, AF, CHS, DF) … Office … Coloured 2 x 6 inch plans for John Wann Area Safety Engineer.  Adjusted Station 24 on Main surface base line.

Tues 9 … Surface … re-angling to stn 24. Triangulation observations from No1 Winding house roof to pit yard base with 1” theodolite … 6 men (BTB, RB, AF, CHS, OH, DF)

Wed 10 … U/g … Measuring No1 shaft … 6 men (BTB, RB, AF, CHS, OH, DF plus Les Parker Joiner shaftsman) … Office … Calculating the results.

Thurs 11 … Office … Cleaning out the Safe and Store room and rearranging.  Began calculating 7s DG and 4s LH theodolite surveys

Fri 12 … U/g … Check measuring No1 shaft … 3 men plus 1 (BTB, RB, AF and Les Parker) … then … Surface … re-angling on main base with Watts 1” theodolite … 6 men (BTB, RB, AF, CHS, OH, DF)                                    

In Charge … BTB on Holiday Mon 15 – Sat 20

Mon 15 … U/g … Abandonment survey of 10s Dunsil panel fin 27 July … coal 1’ 6” thick on benk … 5 men (RB*, AF, CHS, OH, DF) … Office … Re-covering boards - (805 + 32 u/g)

Tues 16 … Office …Calculated and plotted  Meeting … Bunker project … George Noble, Harry Coppell, Terry Wood, Alan Mc Diarmid Electrical Engineer, Billy Lowe Assistant Mechanic Engineer, Gordon Darrington Planner and self.

Wed 17 … Office … Calculated 7s DG and 4s LH theodolite surveys.  Updated 1/5000 General Purpose negative.  Lettering Geological roof and floor samples.

Thurs 18 … Office … Plan of 8s development and 5s Scouring with 3 fans in one airstream for HMI.  Cleaning out drawers and re-filing.

Fri 19 … Office … Calculated 10s levels through the face line. Plotted 10s final survey on 1/5000 and 6 inch scales … Surface … Continued measuring bases on surface with 100 feet tape … 3 men (RB*, CHS, DF) … Office … Figures on 8s Fan plan.                          

Sat 20 … 9325 tons

Mon 22 … Office … Monthly Progress for Area HQ, Manager and amended 4s, 5s, 8s on one plan.  Face lengths, sections, advance per shear now. Report.

Tues 23 … Surface … check measuring bases with 100 ft steel band … 2 men (RB*, AF)

Wed 24 … U/g … Theodolite survey 5s RH … 4 men (RB*, AF, CHS, OH) … Office … Calculated survey. 

Thurs 25 … Office … Plotted 5s RH theodolite survey.  Copy of 10s levelling for record. Plotted 150s levels and made plan up to date.

Fri 26 … Office … Amendments to Ventilation plans. Meeting … new Progress Bar charts on wall … George Noble Manager, Jack Ridyard (ex U/m, Planning) and RB - 10407 tons
(Cards +43s 2d total)

Mon 29 … Bank Holiday Monday
Annual Leave Mon 29 – 3 Sep … North Wales

Sep 1966

Sat 3 … 8216 tons

Mon 5 … Office … Plotted 5s and 6s on 1/5000 and 6 inch and 4s and 7s on Area HQ 6 inch Progress …. Surface … Check levelling from Silverhill O.S. bench mark to Teversal Power House BM … 3 men (RB*, CHS, OH)

Tues 6 … U/g … 4s district dial survey and measurements … 5 men (RB*, AF, CHS, OH, DF) … Office … Calculated and plotted 4s on 1/2500.

Wed 7 … Office … Plotting 4s on 1/5000 and 6 inch … Surface … Levelled from BM on Power House to O.S. BMs on Pleasley Road ... 2 men (BTB, RB).  Surface … Levelled from Bridges to St Katherine’s Church Teversal … 3 men (RB*, CHS, OH)

Thurs 8 … Surface … Check levelling from O.S. BM from Pit Lane to Fackley Bridge and then to Silverhill Winder Engine House 2 men (BTB, RB*). BM … Office … Updated General Purpose 1/5000 negative.  Print coloured for Brian Stones, Ventilation Officer.

Fri 9 … Office … Calculating levels … Surface … Levelling from Carnarvon Arms to Wild Hill and to Silverhill Winding house BM … 2 men (BTB, RB).  Check levelling down Pit Lane … 3 men (RB*, OH, DF)

Sat 10 … 10936 tons

Mon 12 … U/g … Setting out 1in77.75 grade line at 130s LH head for new bunker … 4 men (RB*, CHS, OH, DF) … Surface same day … Check levelling down Pit Lane … 2 men (RB*, CHS)

Tues 13 … Office … Inked in 1/5000 and 6 inch plans for 4s. Updated 4s and 5s Overlays … Surface … Checking S400 level … (BTB, RB) … Office … Making a plan of the Welfare Car park with BTB.

Wed 14 … Office … Sketches in Ventilation book for BW Stones for Return measurements at outbye end, new negative. Working Ventilation Development plan negative for 8s. Continued with sketches on Waterloo plans.

Thurs 15 … Office … Recalculated 4s LH theodolite survey. Sketch of Spray holder for Ken Bullock, Dust Suppression.  Calculating bearings from Trig stations to CWS Water tower.  Made out preliminary sheet for same.  Coloured 6 copies of 8s W V D plan.

Fri 16 … Surface … Triangulation observations from Hardwick Hall … moved to new location … also to Green Lane O.S. stn … 4 men (C Skeavington, BTB, RB, CHS)

Sat 17 … 10054 tons

Mon 19 … Office … Calculating bearings from Hardwick Hall to O.S. Stations. Surface … Levelling from Teversal to Silverhill and to Fackley (RB*, OH) then triangulation observations from Green Lane O.S. stn … 4 men (C.Skeavington, BTB, RB, CHS) … Office … Plotting on new Waterloo sheet 43/4662.

Tues 20 … Office … Updated old Dipole negative and re-inked in. Surface … Catenary measuring surface bases … (RB*, AF, CHS, DF) plus (BTB, OH) in afternoon … 73 F.

Wed 21 … U/g … Dial survey and measurements 150s Dunsil panel … 4 men (RB*, CHS, OH, DF) … Office … Calculated and plotted same.

Thurs 22 … Officer … Tracing and information on Dust Suppression Plan for Ken Bullock, Group Dust Suppression Officer.

Fri 23 … Surface … levelling from Carnarvon Arms to Sutton Colliery BM with CTS 500 parallel plate micrometer and precise staff … 3 men (BTB, RB, AF)                               

Sat 24 … 10085 tons

Mon 26 … Bank Holiday

Tues 27 … Office … Monthly book and reports etc.  Completed Dust Suppression negative. 3 prints and colouring same

Wed 28 … U/g … 7s Trepan/Shearer dial survey and measurements … 4 men (RB*, CHS, OH, DF) … Office … Copied into book. Completed colouring Dust Suppression plans.  Salvage negatives to date.   
I think this was the day when I was riding the panzer through the face on top of the coal with knee pads kneeling on a flight. As I neared the gearhead and attempted to get off suddenly realised a knee pad strap was fast under a flight or the chain as moving down the face the coal had settled lower. It was frightening as I was waving my light and shouting for someone to stop the panzer which George Daft the Overman did  as he sat beaming at me, but again fortunately the long strap came away as I was tugging it just as the panzer was stopping.  Very frightening, a stupid thing to do but at the time frowned upon for riding but not banned as such and a lot of men did.  I never ever went on a panzer again or crossed a panzer if was running - (810 + 32 u/g).

Thurs 29 … Office … Calculated and plotted 7s on 1/2500, 1/5000 and 6 inch. Plotted 150s on 1/5000 and 6 inch. Made all plans up to September. Stippled additional area of Top Hard on Abandonment negatives. Updating R & FF negatives.

Fri 30 … Office … Finished off R & FF negatives to date. Updated Dust Zone negatives and amendments. Updated Pithead Sketch (Means of Egress) and Deputy’s Districts negative. Updated Ventilation negatives and amendments. Checked 6s progress on 1/500.
(Cards +39s 7d total)

Oct 1966  

Sat 1 … 10105 tons

Mon 3 … Office … Updated R & FF negatives.  Updated Cost Clerk’s plan and Deployment Centre plan. Completed Ventilation negatives and information.  Conveyor Layout diagram from Harry Coppell, Undermanager and Ike Sutton PPM.

Tues 4 … Office … Dust Zone Scheme negatives. Electrical plan negatives.  Updated Conveyor diagram. Updated Conveyor negative with information and updated Haulage, negative only.

Wed 5 … Office … Coloured set of Ventilation plans. Stone dust plans. Coloured Pithead Sketch plan. R Webb (ex-Manager, Derbys)… TH Rep, discussion re arches. Amendments to Conveyor diagram.

Thurs 6 … Office … Check calculating 5s DG survey and 8s Drift thirling survey. Calculated area of Welfare using planimeter… 8.77 nd 8.30). Colour washing plan for Safety department.

Fri 7 … Office … Copied 10s trigonometrical abandonment levels into Copy book … Surface … standardising 50m bands with new 50m Invar band … 5 men (BTB, RB, AF, CHS, DF)

Sat 8 … 10418 tons.

Mon 10 … Office … Explaining about R & FF plans to Don Newbold, Potential Overman.  Colouring R & FF 1/5000. Sorting out levels for Main Road.

Tues 11 … Office … Finished of R & FF prints.  Discuss Arthur Coggan re ventilation leakages.  GK Noble and D Green re Bunker and Car Park at the Welfare. Began Progress negatives.

Wed 12 … Surface … Setting out car park lines at Teversal Welfare with bricklayers … (RB*) … Office … Put schematic layout on Introduction of Electricity for 8s and 17s.  Cleaning instruments.

Thurs 13 … Office … Stencilling. New referencing system labels on drawers.

Fri 14 … Office … 6s Overlay tracing.  7s Overlay. Stippling 1/5000 and 1/2500 to date.  Surface … Although I was only Assistant Surveyor at Teversal I suppose it was a privilege that I was chosen from all surveyors in No4 Area to give a small Refresher Course on a theodolite, a Level and modern 30m and 50m bands for Harry C Ward, Deputy EM Divisional Surveyor who was to be the new North Notts. Area Chief when Division closed in March 1967, and J Arthur Morley current Area Chief Surveyor No4 Area who was to be his Deputy for about a year. They were both MQB examiners and needed to be conversant with modern instruments etc. to be able to observe candidates in their examinations … I had to give a demonstration of setting up and reading the instruments. It was kept quiet regarding the exercise. (RB* plus 3) as Clary Skeavington watched from a close distance. 

Sat 15 … 10984 tons

Mon 17 …U/g … Grade line and centre line for new Hanmade Bunker development … 3 men (RB*, CHS, DF) 

Tues 18 … Office … Overlay tracings … Surface … to Green Lane O.S. station (RB*)
Sick  Gall stones / bladder … excruciating pain.

Sat 22 …  (Cards + 38s 6d total) - 9911 tons

Sat 29 … 10099 tons

Nov 1966          
Jeff Drury ex linesman Sutton to Silverhill from Bentinck. Phil James Apprentice

Thurs 3 … Office … Monthly book, seam section books to date. Checked 1/2500 R & FF negs

Fri 4 … Office … Plotting 4s and 8s on 1/5000 and 6 inch scales. Check calculating 5s DG theodolite survey.  Notice re Damaged cables for Safety department for Safety Exhibition in Pit Yard. Plan for S Holloway. 

Sat 5 … 10303 tons

Mon 7 … Office … Finished calculating 5s DG Check survey.  Inked in 8s and 4s on 1/5000 and 6 inch.  4s Overlay tracing. Plan for BW Stones Ventilation Officer. Copying up Theodolite surveys into Area HQ Ledger.

Tues 8 … Office … Finished copying Waterloo theodolite surveys into Ledger. Sorted out Ordnance Survey (O.S.) sheets. Copy of Ancient Monuments list. Slurry pond plan.  Check calculated 5s RH theodolite survey.  Plans with John Banks, Group Cost Clerk.

Wed 9 … U/g … Check theodolite survey in 4s DG from Siding end. … 5 men (RB*, AF, CHS, OH, DF) … and … Surface in afternoon … Erecting lamp on Winding house roof station … 2 men (RB*, AF) 

Thurs 10 … Office … Calculated and plotted 5s survey on 1/2500, 1/5000 and 6 inch.  5s Overlay. Co-ordinates in Dial book. 2 sketches of Lip mesh support for Jack Truswell, Safety Officer.

Fri 11 … Office … Copied up 4s theodolite survey. Exchanged R & FF plans.  Explaining to David Haighton (OH) how to update R & FF plans.  Copied Dunsil theodolite surveys into Ledger.

Sat 12 … 10772 tons.

Mon 14 … Office … Co-ordinates in Dunsil Dial book.  Check calculating 2 Point Problem for Triangulation results … Surface … to Coxmoor O.S. station … 2 men (BTB, RB)  ... too hazy to see Teversal.

Tues 15 … Continued calculating problems by analytical method.  Checking levelling results for CHS.

Wed 16 … U/g … Catenary measuring for check survey in 4s DG … 5 men (RB*, AF, CHS, OH, DF) … Office … Continued calculating. Worked out 4s distances.

Thurs 17 … Office … Continued calculating CWS tower resection points.

Fri 18 … Office … Monthly book.  Railway claim with Mr G Noble and C Skeavington. Sorting out new Support Regulations.

Sat 19 … 10509 tons

Mon 21 … Office … Monthly reports, sections, face lengths etc.  Cleaning 50m band.

Tues 22 … U/g … Catenary measuring in 4s DG … 4 men (RB*, AF, CHS, OH) … Office … Copied up survey.

Wed 23 … Office … Calculating distances. Tracing of Ripping Lip Face Guard and prints. Support Rules. Information re various for G Darrungton, Group Planner.

Thurs 24 … Office … Amendments to 4s and 7s Waterloo Support Rules to comply with new Regulations.

Fri 25 … Office … Continued with same … Moved into Conference Room whist the Survey Office was being decorated.  Sketches and stencilling in Ventilation book.

Sat 26 … 10305 tons

Mon 28 … Office … Continued with amendments to Support plans for 7s panel.  Started on 5s.  Updated Cost Clerk’s 1/5000 Wall plan.

Tues 29 … Office … Calculating and copying up levels and sorted out 7s RH, 4s LH, 4s DG and South Main Road.

Wed 30 … U/g … Theodolite survey in 4s LH … 4 men (RB*, CHS, OH, DF) … Office … Sorting out the safe and rearranging.   Updated 1/5000 General Purpose print to November - (815 + 32 u/g).

 Dec 1966

Thurs 1 … Office … 1/5000 General Purpose print coloured for Medical Centre.  Tracing of Engineering drawing.  Calculating 4s LH theodolite survey.

Fri 2 … Office … Checking and copying levels.  Notice for Welfare Dance. List of Rescue team members. And prints.  Salvage negatives to date.
(Cards + 35s 3d total)

Sat 3 … 8386 tons

Mon 5 … Office … Copied 4s DG theodolite survey into book. Typing Calculation Folder titles

Tues 6 … U/g … Theodolite check angling from 1s LH to 4s DG … 5 men (RB*, AF, CHS, OH, DF) … Office … Discuss G Noble, Gordon Darrington, D Green, Don Hollingsworth plus 2 Reps from Hanmade re bunker installation. Calculated bearings for 4s etc.

Wed 7 … Office … Calculated surveys from Main Road after re-angling … Surface … Catenary measuring from Winder station to Headgear station … 2 men (BTB, RB)

Thurs 8 … Office … Re-calculated theodolite survey in 4s DG on 8/3/1966 and compared results.  Overlay tracings for 6s and 7s Waterloo.  15s Dunsil Abandonment MS forms. Inked in theodolite stations on 15s.  Stencilling surface features on Waterloo plans.

Fri 9 … Office … Support Rules and extra support chocks for 7s RH.  Stencilling on Waterloo 43/4662 new plan.

Sat 10 … 10047 tons

Mon 12 … Office … Discussing Hanmade Bunker installation.  Checking distances for 4s and 5s DGs for comparison

Tues 13 … U/g … Check levelling from 7s RH down South Main Road to 1s and then to 2s DG Junction, also measurements at 130s Junction for new Hanmade Bunker installation … 2 men (RB*, OH) … Office … Plotting same.

Wed 14 … Office … Control with Bunker plan. Tracing etc.  Checking levels. Pit Bottom negative to date and prints, 1 for Method Study re changing to double deck winding at No2 shaft.

Thurs 15 … U/g … Check levelling from 2s DG Junction to last station inbye in 4s LH … 2 men (RB*, OH) … Office … Completed 7s LH Stable hole chock plan … 12 prints.  Mr G Noble re 15s abandonment.

Fri 16 … Office … Notice.  Ventilation negatives amended.  Plotted 4s on 1/5000 scale.

Sat 17 … 10067 tons

Mon 19 … Office … Plotted 4s Waterloo and 150s Dunsil on 1/5000 and 6 inch.

Tues 20 … U/g … Hanmade Bunker development and offsets, girder grade lines and wire for offset and grade … 6 men (BTB, RB, AF, CHS, OH, DF) day shift.
Tues 20 … U/g … Doubled back on afternoon shift to check same … 3 men (BTB, RB, AF) - (820 + 32 u/g).

Wed 21 … Office … Plotting on Bunker plan.  Sections on old 1s panel.  Conveyor belt figures for Austin Davies, Storekeeper.

Thurs 22 … Office … Surface conveyor belt figures from D Green. Preparation of Overlay tracing for 8s. 4s Overlay on 43/4663.

Fri 23 … Office … Polished drawing table.  8s and 4s Overlay tracing 43/4863.  Coloured Overlay for 8s … 43/4662.   Monthly book.
(Cards +41s 2d total for year)

Sat 24 … 9279 tons
Output for 1966 = 496,531 tons    -    Manpower 729 u/g, 147 s/f
David Franks (DF) linesman left to be a Jockey

Holiday Boxing Day Mon 26, Statutory Holiday Tues 27
2 Colliery Rest Days Wed 28 and Thurs 29 and Fri 30 Holiday in lieu for next Good Friday

No pay increase for New Year … Labour Government Policy … Harold Wilson PM