There was a very nasty looking bit of roof where some old spiling with rails was no longer supported, along the right branch. Is that where it went?

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Hi Helen,
Can't be sure, but it is further along the right hand branch. The fall shows no evidence of previous supports, just a lot of loose stone right up to the roof line and beyond, but could be holding up a lot more. Up to that point there are no rails holding up the roof, so I assume they must be further in.

Caplecleugh shale fall section is now atrocious, and all in the last 12 months.
Just what is happening?

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I've not been in Caplecleugh for a couple of years. Is this the 'black' crosscut from the Incline head to Bogg Shaft??

It was difficult but passable, with big, slabby, slippy falls of shale ponding lots of water behind

It would be a crying shame if this was blocked or flooded. :(

MARK

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Roy it is an unfortunate fact of life, these are old mines, with no maintenance for over 100 years.
Many of these veins have large throws on them which move, put pressure on the arching and it gives way.
The 'classic illustration'of this is the H.L. on middlecleugh 2nd sun vein, Smallcleugh random.
When I first went down this level, you had to negotiate the fall leading onto 2nd Sun Vein from the Smallcleugh Vein.
This was always a challenge, but recently a stope has opened up on this junction and some of the ginging here is decidedly key-hole shaped, with sumps blocking up and the water level rising. I feel this is going to keep on occurring and all we can do is to post new differences on Aditnow.

Just got back from NAMHO but drove over today and took this photo.
Looking carefully I see what looks like fresh cracks in the roof between arched sections. This new fall is just past the arched sections. Although passable I would stay out. I suspect some movement along the vein, plus off course timbers rotting.

🔗101048[linkphoto]101048[/linkphoto][/link]

Caplecleugh.
Been through three times this NAMHO, Friday recon and rope, Sunday was the fish trip inc a tour round north flats and detour to Caplecleugh Shaft, now a mound, and Tuesday was an extended 8 hour trip round the flats and stopes.

If anyone thought that it could not be too strenuous with a 70 years old leader they found different. Everyone was very happy as it turned out. I had a great bunch on both trips.

Regarding the fresh falls, I have had discussions with various parties and steps are in hand to secure this important level.
It will be kept open.

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Another "be careful"

The flats and stopes on Caplecleugh North Vein reached by James Hills Branch Level, left fork on Caplecleugh Low level going towards Smallcleugh from Lavatory Box Junction.

The final very short section of ladder is dodgy but even more critical is the rails that span the hopper where you emerge. You need to cross these to reach workings the other side. These are NOT rails but iron strips nailed down to timbers and the one nearest the ventilation fan is now well and truly rotten and creaking under weight. The one against the wall was sound on Tuesday but will deteriorate in time.

I will take the DeWalt up later this year and put in a roped traverse and handline for the top ladder section.

Also, I fitted an SRT rope on a good Y hang into the rise to 'loop flats' going right at Lavatory Box , there is also a good bracket for an SRT rope to get down to the slightly lower workings.
This was done primarily for the NAMHO event but is being left in situ for safety reasons with regard to the drop into the hopper if a free climb fails.

Can we have these left alone please?

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The final very short section of ladder is dodgy but even more critical is the rails that span the hopper where you emerge. You need to cross these to reach workings the other side. These are NOT rails but iron strips nailed down to timbers and the one nearest the ventilation fan is now well and truly rotten and creaking under weight. The one against the wall was sound on Tuesday but will deteriorate in time.

As the person under whose weight the beam made a decidedly alarming noise I can vouch for this. The beam looks OK but is in fact a shell full of rotten mush.
Thankfully 8 hours of Caplecleugh leaves me too tired to dream...

I think that putting in a line in to backup the top ladders would be a sensible thing as they aren't exactly in good order at the moment and the surrounding timber is worse.

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Following a few nights of prodding and shovelling, Col (horsemaddad) and I have made some improvements to the falls in Harnisha.

Firstly we addressed the water level behind the first fall at about 500', digging out a channel underneath the big fallen blocks and dropping the water by about a foot, to welly depth.

We then hurled all our might at the second fall, in the arching where a big collapse had come through from the stope above. Much work had already been done by PeteJ et al, so the blockage was not complete, but we felt that more than a squeeze was desirable. Working at both sides, we shifted furniture-sized blocks (with a bit of assistance from Archimedes!) and managed to open up the passage to a walkthrough.

There is still a rather unlovely Teetering Tower of Terror, stacked blocks of shattered Quarry hazle, poised above the end of the arching, this will be addressed in due course with a substantial timber brace.

MARK

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Well done Mark et al, seems as if you might be getting some serious stuff moved to where it should be!
Ie, out of the way of mine explorers.
Keep it up!

Aye, us oldies require our mines to be 'wheelchair friendly'! Nearly there, but still some work to do at this fall. I suspect the material on the left of the level (looking inbye) may start to slip and in any event, we need to secure the aforementioned dangerously hanging blocks as its not safe to work beneath them. A plan is being formulated!

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