Old Pit Coal Tubs

These coal tubs formed part of an underground railway system and were pulled by an engine. When filled with coal, by hand, (hand filling) on the coal face, they were shunted into the pit bottom area and then pushed manually into the cage (lift).Once brought to the surface, they were pushed out of the cage, and then emptied and sent back underground. They were the forerunners of the mining mechanisation system.

Extremely hard work for little reward. Industrial disease claimed many lives.