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Shaft Sinkers in Kibble

Just in case you thought we were over-glamorising the construction of Boulby Potash – here’s an image to change your mind – these boys earned their coppers! Among those identified to date are Tommy Wood, Colin Light foot and the Morgan brothers. Can anybody assist with other names? Seamus Morgan has assisted with: “At front Paddy Doyle, left of him Charlie Johnston, behind him Mick Baker ? One high up I think was a South African; right off him Tony Crawshaw.”

Image courtesy of Alan Franks, thanks to Seamus Morgan for the update.

Product Storage Hopper

The finished product storage unit at Boulby Potash – impressive eh!

Image courtesy of Alan Franks.

Not a Crop Circle

Another image of the shaft construction.
Image courtesy of Alan Franks.

Takes a Lot of Iron

It takes a lot of iron – is certainly true – to space the liner from the shaft. Another lovely industrial image, almost art!

Image courtesy of Alan Franks.

Near Enough for Government Work

Traditional skills, traditional tools, traditional methods. Men setting the shutter ready for concreting. They are measuring from a plumb line (there were 4; 1 at each point of the compass). Acrow Jacks were used to push the shutter into position.

Image and words courtesy of Alan Franks.

Shaftmen at work.

Bet you thought it was all machine work; part of the record-breaking team of shaftmen at work. Showing concrete being poured through a metal pipe from the surface (visible to the right of the 1st man). These were called ’Elephant’s Trunks’ as they were short lengths linked together to make them flexible and they looked like an elephant’s trunk. The concrete was vibrated using a compressed air vibrating poker, to make sure the concrete was mixed properly to stop it honey combing, the man on the left is doing this.
Image  and words courtesy of Alan Franks.

Potash Art

An almost artistic industrial image of one of the shafts and a drilling machine.
Image courtesy of Alan Franks.

Whitby and Moors Excursion

Double-headed by an Ivatt 3MT 2-6-2T number 41265 (a Whitby and Moors Excursion) rounds the reverse curve at Fen Bog, a few miles south of Goathland; the long train from the West Riding requiring assistance up the gradients out of Levisham. The second locomotive is probably a B1. This location is also close to Fylingdales Moor, sitting roughly below the radar station.

Information adapted from comments courtesy of Mark.

Whitby Branch Line at Kettleness

Another local commuter train underway, headed by a BR Standard tank, skirting the cliff edge at Kettleness. The unusual configuration of the first coach can be clearly seen in this image. A beautiful picturesque route, this would make a lovely leisure route today (after re-alignment to avoid the continuously advancing cliff edge!). Russ Pig0tt comments about the first carriage: “There’s nothing unusual about the first coach it is a Brake third, basically a second class coach (when built bizarrely there were only first and third class; second had been phased out) with guard’s accommodation and luggage space. Parcels and mail were still conveyed by trains such as this and continued on local services until the late 1980s.”

Image courtesy Maurice Grayson and thanks to Russell Pigott for the clarification of the Editor’s query.

Whitby, West Cliff Station – 1957

Whitby West Cliff Station – very quiet – only two carriages on the train.  An ex-LMS Fairburn 4MT 2-6-4T, not obviously in steam from this photograph, but crewed up ready for the next leg of the trip. Alan Featonby tells us: ”I think you will find this train is a Whitby Town to Whitby West Cliff shuttle. The train will pull forward to take water prior to the engine running round and going back to Town. The Middlesbrough to Scarborough train or Scarborough to Middlesbrough train; will arrive and depart on the left hand track as it is straight through running. It and the return working did not go into Whitby Town, thus saving time and another reversal. The engine is Whitby allocated 42085. The summer timetable is in effect, likely 1957.”

Thanks to Mark Thompson for the information about the guards van and locomotive; and thanks to Alan Featonby for clarifying the situation.