Easdale Slate Quarry · AditNow Community

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JMB
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

Anyone know anything about the tramway on Easdale?

I was told that there were several locos and this appears to be the Engine Shed for them because the track is shown going into it on the 2nd Edition OS Map.

I am trying to get HES's record corrected so looking to see if I can find any more information.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72157680935658092

I took a lot of pictures, of the buildings mainly, and will stick on FLICKR when I get chance.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72157683706323235

https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72157681795973660

Great 'car' park near the ferry terminus.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/34555677826/in/album-72157683698802605/

Martin Briscoe
Fort William

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JMB
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

I hoped to attach images to particular records on Canmore but not got around to it.

These are mainly images of the quarries on Easdale Island

https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72157683706323235

These are all the images of Easdale

https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72157681795973660

Martin Briscoe
Fort William

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

The tramway routes are on here.

http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php

This should link direct.

http://www.RailMapOnline.com/UKIEMap.php?lat=56.29274&lng=-5.65796&zoom=16

JMB
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

"Morlock" wrote:
The tramway routes are on here.

http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php

This should link direct.

http://www.RailMapOnline.com/UKIEMap.php?lat=56.29274&lng=-5.65796&zoom=16

Thanks, the 2nd Edition OS Map shows the tracks in more detail.

The 1st Edition does not show them going to the Engine Shed, though it is there and the same shape. Someone on the island suggested they might have been initially horse drawn the locomotives later. If that is the case then the shed could have been originally a stable.

Martin Briscoe
Fort William

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

The 1873 map also indicates a pump next to an engine house, any remnants left?

https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/173725/717017/12/100044

Edit: "The engine house provided the motive power for the railway system and for the pumps in the quarry."

Guessing that at some stage the tramways may have been cable operated?

JMB
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

I noticed that building, presume it was a pump house for pumping water out of the quarries. I read somewhere a comment about steam pipes around the quarry area, perhaps compressed air though for tools?

The Engine House has gone from the 1899 map. My images are Geotagged, I will check the ones in that area later.

You will notice that the tracks do not go to the Engine Shed on that 1873 map but do on the 1899 map.

The maps are better quality on the NLS website.

Martin Briscoe
Fort William

JMB
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

I noticed this Glasgow University paper whilst searching for some information. Quite a lot on the Scottish slate industry.

Glasgow Theses Service
http://theses.gla.ac.uk/[email protected]
Walsh, Joan A.
(1999)
Methods of evaluating slate and their application
to the Scottish slate quarries.

http://theses.gla.ac.uk/4391/2/1999WalshPhD2.pdf

Martin Briscoe
Fort William

grahami
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

Very interesting Phd thesis - lots of information, although no historic illustrations. I once thought of doing a PhD on Oakeley, but suspected the powers that be in such cases would want more of what didn't really interest me - the finances and the social side.

Grahami

The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.

JMB
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

"grahami" wrote:
Very interesting Phd thesis - lots of information, although no historic illustrations. I once thought of doing a PhD on Oakeley, but suspected the powers that be in such cases would want more of what didn't really interest me - the finances and the social side.
Grahami

From an archaeology conference that I regularly go to, they will have to be written in the appropriate jargon and include whatever is the latest fashionable topic - quite likely now expect a discussion of how many transsexuals working in the quarry! :thumbdown:

Martin Briscoe
Fort William

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#10

"JMB" wrote:
quite likely now expect a discussion of how many transsexuals working in the quarry! :thumbdown:

I suspect there are many more tick boxes to be appropriately dealt with.;D

Thanks for the pdf.