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Eckington Colliery
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This is a drift mine south east of Sheffield, and is in fact the youngest coal mine in England, having opened in 1993. A seam approximately 1.75 metres thick is worked, producing around 25000 tonnes per year. Most of the output goes to Ratcliffe power station, which means that there is a reasonably continuous demand. Around 7% is sold on the domestic market and to steam railways. Remarkably, the mine is able to sell 100% of the material mined. There is a small amount of shale, but this is mixed back into the the power station coal. This is in fact a requirement of the power station, the shale prevents the coal from burning too hot. The mine has to pay penalties if the coal is too clean! There are around 25 employees and a 2-shift system is operated.
This picture shows a train of small wagons which will be used to taken materials such as pit props down into the mine. The fork lift truck will tow them to the entrance to the drift, which can just be seen at the end of the track, and they will then be winched down the slope of the drift (about 1:3) and along the workings. Coal is brought out by the conveyor belt which is fed direct from the cutting machines.
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