This section takes a look at mechanical methods used for both cutting and loading  at the coal face.

After the improvement in face output following the replacement of manual loading by various types of mechanical loading, the  next major development in face mechanisation came with the introduction of machines which could both cut and load the coal in the same operation.

At  this time, the demand for lump coal was still high and the machines developed were designed with this objective.  The principle ones used in the UK were the following:

The coal plough

The Huwood Slicer Loader

The Samson Stripper

The Meco-Moore

The AB Trepanner

The Anderton Shearer