|
Rossington Prepares To Recover Equipment After Last Coal Was Produced On 31 March 2006
|
Situated 5.5km south east of Doncaster, Rossington has a history dating back to 1915 when two shafts were sunk. These were subsequently deepened in 1964 to 850 meters. British Coal initially closed the colliery in April 1993, and in its last full year under British Coal’s management, production at Rossington was 697,000 tonnes. Being re-opened in March 1994 by RJB Mining, (now UK Coal) the colliery has since produced 8.4 million tonnes of coal.
Now with owners UK Coal actively trying to secure financial arrangements that would enable more of the reserves at the Doncaster mine to be developed. Rossington has made multi-million pound losses in recent years since encountering geological problems, which wiped out reserves being developed for future extraction. Over £20m would have been needed to open up further reserves and equip a new face, with even more money required to improve the mine infrastructure to enable the mine to consistently perform at viable levels.The miners at Rossington have now started the process of preparing for the recovery of equipment, after the last coal was produced on 31 March 2006. Much of the equipment will be refurbished before being installed at other mines, the salvage operations could take around three months to complete.As such, the stockpile of coal is now being removed, mostly by rail. At present there are 100,000 tonnes of coal remaining, being removed by one train a day as and when required. Both EWS and Freightliner have been moving the coal, on 19 May hired DRS No. 66409 worked the train. Probably the first and last DRS loco to visit the site.
Another nail in the coffin for production of coal in the UK, and another branch line to close unless someone purchases the colliery as a going concern, something looking ever more doubtful.
|
