I was passing by, so I visited the Threlkeld Mining Museum. Small, but well chosen collection including this

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/grass_stroker/IMG_2862_zpsiyazxjem.jpg 



There is mention of an early OHEL loco at Greenside, which was condemned by HMIM in 1945 (it must have been VERY dangerous!) and converted to battery operation.

Anyone know anything about this loco?

---

Isn't there a photo of said loco emerging from Lucy Tongue somewhere, possibly Ian Tyler's book?

---

There were two OHEL locos at Greenside on the Lucy Level. It was the "new" 1938 replacement loco converted to battery. Another loco was also purchased in 1938, not sure if it was battery or OH powered.

The loco pictured in Ian's book is the old (c. 1890) one. The condemnation by HMI was not of the loco itself but the exposed conductors in the level. The company were told to box them in, the manager said men walked down the other side of the level and there had been no accidents in 50 years and ignored the instruction. 6 months later HMI turns up unannounced and stops the operation -hence the decision to convert to battery.

The dangerous aspect of the locos was not so much the electrics as the gradients on the level - some hairy moments apparently when coming outbye with a full load, inadequate brakes, greasy rails.....:ohmygod:........I know the feeling from bringing clog out at Honister:lol:

If you have a look at the Industrial Railway Society website there is an article on the Greenside loco, issue No.36 in the online archive. It does indeed look like a dodgy piece of kit!

Martin

Found it.... bloody hell!

---