References
COLLIERY CLOSED.—Messrs Barr & Thornton have for the time being closed down their colliery at Cultrigg. About 300 men are affected. The owners are doing their best to give employment to as many of the men as possible.
Midlothian Advertiser, 20th May 1927
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Fauldhouse Pit Fire - Extensive Damage to West Lothian Colliery
MINERS ESCAPE BY SAFETY SHAFT. Damage extending to several thousand pounds was caused by an outbreak of fire , which occurred at Cultrigg Colliery, Fauldhouse, belonging to Messrs Barr and Thornton, on Tuesday evening. Practically the whole of the pit-head workings were destroyed, and Falkirk Fire Brigade, which was early on the scene, could only save several out buildings.
MINERS SAFE. The lives of 60 miners, who were working underground when the outbreak occurred, were endangered, but happily these men managed to reach safety. soon after the outbreak was discovered, officials immediately sent word to the men underground to make for one of the pit shafts which not involved in the outbreak. The men at once stopped work and made their underground to another shaft. There was nothing in the way of panic among the men, and they made their way in an orderly manner the means escape. All the men got safely to the surface. By this time the pit-head plant at No. 1 and 2 was a blazing mass, and the fire had such a hold that nothing could done to save either the framework or the valuable plant used for washing the coal. When the news spread that the pits we on fire, there was an anxious feeling in the village, and people made their way in their numbers to the pit heads. The anxiety was relieved, however, when it was found that one of the shafts was not affected by the outbreak and that the men were reaching the surface in safety. The fire later spread railway set fire to some waggons of coal and some empty waggons, to which considerable damage was done. As a result of the fire it is feared between 500 and 600 men will be thrown out of employment until the damage is repaired.
FALKIRK FIREMASTER'S STORY. Mr John Buchan, firemaster of Falkirk Brigade, gives a graphic account of the fire. When we arrived at Cultrig Colliery, he said, the whole of the pit head was of in flames. All the water supply had to be draw upon was from a pond. Three lines of hose were used, as it was very evident that the fire was dangerous. The winding apparatus was completely enveloped in flames, and the flames had strong hold. Little of the pit head could be saved. We managed to this part of the colliery and to save several outbuildings. There is an adjoining pit, belonging to the same company, and from it there runs an overhead gangway, which carries small bogies from this pit to the one affected for cleaning purposes. This gangway was burning when we got there, and joiners had to clear a way to open railway line to let the "pug” engine through to safety At the time of the fire there were 50 men underground and grave fears were tained for their safety. There was absolutely no access to the main shaft and cage, and the safety men found it necessary to proceed to a safety shaft over a mile away to ? these men of the danger. The men eventually managed to get clear of the pit, by way of the safety shaft. The pit head was completely destroyed, but by strenuous work for five hours the fire was under control. By this time the water in the pond had completely given out, the hose having drained it clear. The outbreak created a great excitement in the district, and attracted people to the spot from many miles around.
Falkirk Herald, 25th May 1929
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IMPORTANT SALE OF COLLIERY AND AND ELECTRIC PLANT, BRANCH RAILWAYS, LARGE QUANTITY SCRAP IRON, COPPER, BRASS, Etc. ... -including-
- 120 K.W. 500-VOLT D.C GENERATOR by B.E.P. Co., Ltd ., with Horz.Compound Tandem Engine, by Robey, H.P. Cylinder 13' ½ in., L.P.. Cylinder 21 in. 90 K.W.
- 500-VOLT. STEAM-DRIVEN ELECTRIC GENERATING SET 75 K.W. 525-VOLT D.C. ELECTRIC GENERATOR, by Electric Construction Co. Ltd
- HORZ. COMPOUND NON-CONDENSING DRIVING ENGINE, H.P. Cylinder 12 in, L.P. Cylinder 18 in.
- 13 HORZ . WINDING , HAULAGE and DRIVING ENGINES, from 16 in. to 8 in Cylinders.
- 7 D. F. LANCASHIRE BOILERSHELLS , from 30 ft by 8 in. to 25 ft. by 7 ft. 6 in.
- 6 E.E. and CORNISH BOILER TANKS , 30ft.by 5 ft to 20ft. by 4 ft :
- 3 VENTILATING FANS, 21 ft . and 18 ft , with Horz . Driving Engines ;
- FOUR 17 in. CRESCENT D.C . ELECTRIC DISC COAL CUTTERS ;
- 2 ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN THREE-STAGE TURBINE PUMPS , by Pulsometer Engineering Co . Ltd . Volts 500 / 525 D.C;
- 4 WORTHINGTON and TANGYE DUPLEX STEAM PUMPS, from 14 in by 8 in. to 4 in by 3 in.;
- ABOUT 5000 ft. of MI and CI. STEAM and WATER PIPING, from 7 in. to 3 in;
- ABOUT 4860 YARDS RAILWAY SIDINGS; 100 TONS LIGHT F.B. and STEEL BRIDGE RAILS from 14 lbs per yard; 100 HUTCHES;
- 25-TON BEAM WAGGON WEIGHING MACHINE, by Pooley; 3-TON BEAM CART WEIGHING MACHINE, by Smith;
- STEAM HAMMER 9 in. Cylinder; 11 in. CENTRE SCREW CUTTING LATHE , with 15 ft. Gap Bed;
- PILLAR VERTICAL DRILLING MACHINE 2 in. Spindle; RACK TRAVELLING SAW BENCH;
- ABOUT 300 TONS CI , MI and STEEL SCRAP;
- ABOUT 4 ½ TONS SCRAP COPPER and BRASS ;
- BRICK BUILDINGS of WORKSHOPS , OFFICES and ENGINE HOUSES : CORRUGATED IRON and WOODEN ERECTIONS, TIMBER FIREWOOD , Etc .,
At CULTRIG and CROFTHEAD COLLIERIES, FALDHOUSE . On FRIDAY, 11 th October 1929 , At ELEVEN O'CLOCK PROMPT . SHIRLAW , ALLAN & CO ., Auctioneers , Hamilton , have received instructions from Messrs BARR & THORNTON LTD, owing to Stoppage of Collieries, to Sell , by Auction , as above. ON VIEW DAY PRIOR TO SALE. NOTE . —The Exposers will load the Material on Railway Waggons Free of Charge . CATALOGUES FROM AUCTIONEERS . Hamilton. September 1929 . The Scotsman, 28th September 1929
