Winding ropes

The winding ropes used at both shafts were originally of the stranded variety made from best plough steel. 

When the South shaft was upgraded in 1900, the same type of rope was again used, but due to the tendency of the ropes to twist, problems were soon encountered with the cages coming into contact as they passed each other.  Various alternative types of rope were tried before the (expensive) locked-coil rope eventually eliminated the problem.  There had never been a problem in the North shaft since the solid guides used there prevented the cages from twisting.

After the South shaft was deepened in 1921 rail guides were installed there but by then the use of locked coil rope for winding had become standard.

North  pit winding rope detail circa 1904

    This appears to be a 6 strand right-hand lay rope.   The resolution is inadequate to determine whether it’s Langs or Ordinary lay

North shaft

• 1877-1891
• type of rope:      ?round strand
• 1891-1904
• type of rope:      ?round strand
• type of strand:    ??
• type of lay:       ?Langs
• type of wire:      pliable plough steel
• surface finish:    ??
• size of rope:      1⅝in dia.
• 1904-19??
• type of rope:      ??
• 19??-closure
• type of rope:      locked-coil
• type of strand:    mixed
• type of lay:       mixed
• type of wire:      ?? steel
• surface finish:    ?galvanised?
• size of rope:      48mm dia.

South shaft

• 1879-1888
• type of rope:      ?round? strand
• 1888-1891
• type of rope:      ?round? strand
• type of strand:    ??
• type of lay:       ?Langs?
• type of wire:      pliable plough steel
• surface finish:    ??
• size of rope:      1⅝in dia.
• 1891-1900
• type of rope:      ?round? strand
• 1900-1922
• type of rope:      locked-coil
• 1922-closure
• type of rope:      locked-coil
• type of strand:    n/a
• type of lay:       n/a
• type of wire:      ?? steel
• surface finish:    ?galvanised?
• size of rope:      48mm dia.

Rope capping

Wire ropes used for winding and haulage etc, require some form of termination to provide a means of attaching the load and to prevent them from unwinding. This is known as the “capping”. 

In the late 19th century the winding rope capping at Pleasley utilised the  wedge type capel.  It’s not known how long these remained in use, but they were eventually superceded by white-metal capping

details:

1875-19??

• type:    wedge

19??-closure

• type:    white metal

Detaching hooks

1875-1904

• hook type:  Nth & Sth:  Kings?
• plate type:
• Nth:       ??
• Sth:       ??

1905-19??

• hook type:  Nth & Sth:  Kings
• plate type:
• Nth:   Steel plate, 3in thick, 12in dia
• Sth:   Steel plate,   ??

1979-closure

• hook type:  Nth: Kings,  Sth: Ormerod
• plate type:
• Nth:   Steel plate, 3in thick, 12in dia
• Sth:   Steel bell     ??

Cage suspension gear

Balance ropes

Sorces

• Colliery Guardian 1892
• J.C.B Hendy, Trans. Fed. Inst. Min. Eng.1891
• Lilleshall Co. design drawings 1904 & 1930
• British Coal correspondence file 1976