From the seam to your fire
Hewing
At the face the coal is hewed with windy picks.
Hewing in the Little Limestone seam at Ayle Colliery.
Shovelling
Shovelling coal at the face. Ayle Colliery.
A pan shovel is used to cast the broken coal towards the barrow way.
Roof support
As the coal is removed wooden props and head trees are erected to hold the top stone.
Putting in a prop at Ayle Colliery.
Filling
Filling tubs in a bord at Ayle Colliery.
The coal is loaded into tubs.
Putting
Full tubs are pushed onto the main heading and empties returned to the face.
Turning a tub on a flatsheet at Ayle Colliery.
The loco road
Tubs coupled to the loco at Ayle Colliery.
Full tubs are joined in a set behind an electric loco.
At Bank
The set is drawn to the surface.
Tubs of coal existing the drift mouth at Ayle Colliery.
The Tippler
Working the tippler at Ayle Colliery.
The coal is tipped from the tubs and lands on the screens.
On the screens at Ayle Colliery.
The screens
On the screens the coal is cleaned of stone and sized.
The Washing Plant
The washing plant at Ayle Colliery.
The small coal goes through a process to remove any remaining stone.
The Hoppers
The processed coal falls into hoppers from where it can be bagged and loaded.
The weighing scale beneath the hopper at Ayle Colliery
Getting the coal to you
The Shepherd's Solid Fuels vehicles
Vehicles for all loads and weathers bring the coal to your door.
Alston Anthracite
It burns hot and smoke-free!
