A new event has been added to the Events page.

Event name: NPHT Members Underground Group

Date & time: 19/04/2009 at 10:30

Details: Trench digging to allow for installation of drainage pipe.

Part of a programme of work to make Middlecleugh Level more accessible and to enable transport of materials into more distant sections of the mine.

Event added by: PeteJ

Full event: http://www.aditnow.co.uk/events/?uid=58 

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Pete,
If you don't mind me asking, do the NPHT have an overall objective with Middlecleugh beyond removing some of the clart and water from the back end of the main level?

Richard

Don't mind being asked...its nice to get some feedback.

NPHT objectives are to conserve the mine, maintain its present accessibility, use the mine as a site for the study of underground archaeology, produce an archaeological and geological report on the mine, and to make more workings accessible.

The ancient graffiti, wooden rails, and exposures of fault lines (for example), are all great for introducing new people to the pleasures of exploring old mines.

Potential dig sites are MC 2nd Sun west and LC west. I was involved in a dig on 2nd Sun west about 30 years ago which broke through and then collapsed again (after draughting like a wind tunnel)- so it seems probable that this would be a worthwhile dig. LC west will connect with the "Frog Shaft" workings on CowhillXV and would make that area more accessible. We have already had a go at LC West dig, but now need to provide some support here before we go any further.

A longer term dig is to reopen the east end of LC vein which was accessible and surveyed 30 years back.

An additional benefit would be that ventilation would hopefully be improved in the MC and LC veins accessible from Smallcleugh and that a rescue route would be available in the event of a serious collapse in the LC vein reached via Smallcleugh.

So.....in order to make it easier to get to all these places, we decided to lower the water level in the main crosscut. We have had one dig at the first fall and agreed that we need to dig a deeper water channel and then insert a drain pipe.

Hope that this answers the question?

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It does thanks, comprehensively.
I'd guessed that west along Longcleugh Vein would be the obvious route but a darkly humorous thought occurred that you might be planning to take guided tours through the already accessible parts of the mine. As good a way as any to ensure that nobody visits twice I suppose!

Hope this day went well for you all.

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The day went well. Started a bit slow because we were faced with deepening an 11 metre long trench to lower the water. We had deepened the trench and laid in some field drain pipe when lunch beckoned.

This level contains a steel pipe - assumed to be for compressed air - which is laid on the floor of the level. Peter Chatt suggested finding the down stream end ( where some pipe is missing) and rodding it to drain the water. The NPHT drain rods were brought to the mine over lunch time, the pipe end discovered, rodded for 32 metres and away went the water. This left a dry trench and redundant field drain!

Meanwhile the rest of the team were lowering the next two falls only to have more air pipe rodded and more water drained away underneath their feet!

We are now stuck at a block in the pipe and need to break through the stubborn steel pipe. This proved somewhat difficult as the pipe is under three feet of water and the drill was only two feet long. Next time!

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