IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Sherwood Street, MANSFIELD, NG19 9NB

From a passing train.

Terraced housing to the north of the town centre

If the saying "skate or die" is anything to go by then it's just as well this is sited close to the graveyard!

Looking towards Mansfield.

Winding engine house for the big Fraser & Chalmers cross compound steam winding engine that was used for "coal-pulling". This is visible through the hole in the wall. It was still in use as evidenced by the exhaust steam at the top of the image. It was however in the throes of conversion to electric power. The drum was being retained and a big motor was ready for coupling up. In a few day's time the big steam engine was to be broken up and unceremoniously despatched through the big hole in the wall. One of the engine drivers had written a poignant poem but I was unable to get a copy of it (pity). The 1980s marked the final knockings of the steam winding engine in the UK and I'm glad I was there to see it.

Now long gone. This shows the upcast shaft and clouds of steam winder exhaust. Despite attempts at silencing this still had quite an exciting bark and was not popular with the neighbours.

This was the smaller of the two winding engines and was a horizontal duplex built in 1902 by Fraser & Chalmers of Erith. The Corliss valve cylinders were 26 x 54" and fitted with Seymour's patent valve gear (the only example I ever saw) under governor control. The parallel drum was 11' diameter. The engine was scrapped in 1983 but one cylinder was taken to the National Mining Museum at Lound Hall. This museum is long since closed and the fate of the cylinder is not known. The colliery was demolished many years ago. This view is from the crank end on the driver's side. The circular dial with a bell on top is the indicator to show the driver where the cages are in the shaft. This winder was hauling men and materials and was smaller than the monster on the other shaft that was hauling coal. The operation was 24 hours per day and we were kindly allowed in to see these lovely machines. For our part we kept out of the way and did not distract the drivers.

This was the smaller of the two winding engines and was a horizontal duplex built in 1902 by Fraser & Chalmers of Erith. The Corliss valve cylinders were 26 x 54" and fitted with Seymour's patent valve gear (the only example I ever saw) under governor control. The parallel drum was 11' diameter. The engine was scrapped in 1983 but one cylinder was taken to the National Mining Museum at Lound Hall. This museum is long since closed and the fate of the cylinder is not known. The colliery was demolished many years ago. This engine was used to wind men and materials and would run slower for hauling men. The crank is blurred in this photograph, showing that it was winding at the time. The National Coal Board's unit mechanical engineer at Sherwood was kind enough to allow small groups of enthusiasts in his engine houses and for our part we kept out of the way and did not interfere with the safe operation of the site. The drivers had very responsible jobs and were not to be distracted. However, they were usually friendly between winds and I have driven a couple of engines elsewhere (not officially and not with men in the cage). Now the deep mining industry has gone I feel no qualms about relating these stories.

Sherwood had a pair of Fraser & Chalmers winding engines. This is the large 1903 built cross compound with cylinders 32" & 53" bores x 66" stroke and rated at 2800 horsepower. It was stopped and scrapped in 1982. This is a view of the low-pressure cylinder with its Corliss valve gear and Allan straight link reversing motion.