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Tom "Stiffy" Roberts (1910-) - Mine worker, Abermain Collieries. Recorded 23 August 1983. Part 3/3.

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SummaryTOM ROBERTS
Recorded 23 August 1983
Part 3 of 3

0:02
Talking of near accident on loco, and an accident involving chitter wagons. The chitter wagons was the last job of the night anywhere from 11:30 till 5:30.

4:08
Talk of fatal accident, Abe Hawkins in 1934 - he was run over by the carriages one morning, at Abermain No. 2 yard. He used to take the men out there to No. 2 at about 6:25 of a morning, and then return to take the men out to No. 3.

8:20
Near accident at the S-curve out at Kearsley crossing, near accident on wagons. The biggest load from Abermain was 213 in one train, with two locos. Talk of why they used only two and the rules for doing the job. They had a time limit for getting the coal in, six at night. Dick York was a driver. Talk of having nine locos and not being able to get them out. Mostly 125-135 was the average train, and gravitating from Abermain No. 3 into No. 1.

12:57
The Neath Loop and bringing coal from No. 2 and No. 3 into that loop. “Skip" Teasedale was mad to do some of the things he used to do. Tom, Stan Scorer, “Skip” Teasedale and "Banjo" Patterson worked together. Stan fired for Banjo, and Tom fired for Skip to bring the trains in, with the No. 2 coal. Bringing 213 load of coal, and how long the train was. The whistle as they went along and what it meant.

15:45
The train collision from Weston running into a train pulling out from Abermain in 1925. Jack Hutchinson got the sack for it. Tom remembers himself and Jack Miller and George Grant going to look at the carriages. Abermain locomotives used when Tom was younger and when he first started working. Organising the rail, and the council getting the gravel out, and dropping the road.

18:55
Working with Andy Bull, Gordon Carter and Norman Lucas. Wagons and the gravitating. During the lockout Carter was carting coal in 1930, Tom used to ride the coal and take 12 skips from Millfield, roughly 10 ton with the truck, before the cement was not open, before the road was all in. The path they took.

23:37
Wages were about 15 bob a load for the coal carting, and they would move it with the lorries and get some extra money for beer. Trucks running at the time, too many sometimes and would have to wait a few hours to get a load. Working with Jack Taylor. Pinning brakes on carriages, working Christmas Eve with Ollie Crawley who was the Fireman and Banjo was the driver, near accident when the car got away from them. Used to be a stop sign just below Neath box.

31:18
Harold Blanchard was one of the best drivers, he was fast and looked after his engine, Jack Walls was pretty good too, also Jimmy Watt, Archie Wooten, Billy Pope and young "Cocko" Marsh and old “Cocko” Marsh. Talk of Tom’s father’s knowledge of locos’. Issues with injectors at one point and the water, they kept getting held up due to issues.

36:28
Locomotives were originally imported in parts. "Little Greenie" was an early locomotive, came in assembled on a boat, went out of Newcastle and drove it up. Tom’s father was paired up with a government bloke, and they had to side track to Hexham because it ran hot, and they held up the express. His father said it was because the trimmings were all set up for English conditions.

39:23
Looking at birth certificate, Mrs Henry Nicolls, birth of daughter at Rose Cottage West Maitland 13/02/1852. Tom’s Grandmother Lydia Nicolls, became Lydia Blanchard. Talk of another child born, whom passed away. Henry Nicolls and his many marriages to Mary Malloy and Priscilla Newton. The church hall on Major's Lane and where it was situated.

42:54
End (Tape 235/Side A) Part 3 of 3.
Last edited by: Dave Trimble

SubjectRoberts, Thomas William, 1910- Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Abermain No. 2 Colliery (N.S.W.)South Maitland Railways -- HistoryRailroads -- New South Wales -- Maitland -- HistoryPersonJack Delaney Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

CreatorRoberts, Thomas William, 1910-Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010CollectionVoices of the Hunter Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Date Created23rd August 1983Location^[1]Abermain No. 2 Colliery, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Identifier235A Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

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