apprentices

[Ayupmeducks 1,730]

OOOOOO belts Dave, we called them "magic carpets" dahn pit, as the old lads used to say a second class ride on belts was better than a first class walk.

My last few years as an elec underground, I was mostly Longwall elec, not much to do unless I had a breakdown. I'd do all my visual inspections during the first hour or so of the shift, then muck in with the face crew to pass the time.

Although I wasn't authorized in writing, I took turns at driving the shearer, pushing the face conveyor over or advancing the roof supports. Better than sitting around getting bored.

Always amazed me when someone brought their relatives to see a modern face operating, their jaws dropped and eyebrows raised, they had it in their minds we still cut coal with picks and loaded it out with shovels.

Only todays picks are mounted on two drums that are operated by several hundred HP HV motors, usually 1100 to 3300 volts.

[Bubblewrap 3,815]

I worked at Brush(transformers)who made the transformers & switchgear that was used to control these machines.

My job there went with the mines.

[Ayupmeducks 1,730]

It's estimated that one mine worker supported ten jobs that supplied material and equipment in outside industries. I maintained Brush FLP trasformers with SF6 circuit breakers mounted on them.

[loppylugs 8,427]

It was said to get interesting when somebodies case broke open on a belt and their underwear could get tangled. I never actually saw it but it must have been fun.

[radfordred 6,284]

My youngest Sons best mate has just finished a plumbing apprenticeship, while he was round visiting my Son, Mrs Red tapped him for job, he fetched his works toolbox from his van it didn't contain one spanner! 

[NewBasfordlad 3,599]

^^^^ I have three sets of spanners of different sorts but they live on the van not in my tool box don't use em often enough to carry the weight.