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Lyall Allan (1905-1994) - Mineworker, Bellbird Colliery. Recorded 18 October 1990. Part 1/3.
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SummaryLYALL ALLAN
Recorded 18 October 1990
Part 1 of 3
0:38
Job description of winding engine driver.
Worked as main engine driver, Bellbird.
0:56
Born 1905, Sawyer's Gully.
Wilson Barrett.
1:27
? Kerr (mother).
Robert Allan (father).
2:17
Recollection of Bellbird disaster.
Working times for shifts, Bellbird.
4:02
"4 West" (name of section).
Recalls smell of burning underground.
5:20
Father worked as skip repairer.
Recalls bodies of miners from pit.
Stone drive connected tunnels underground.
Recalls sealing of tunnel with bores.
Reason for starting No. 2 tunnel.
8:30
Started working at Bellbird, August 1919.
Worked as skip repairer on pit top.
8:59
Worked as pit top boss, Bellbird No. 2.
Father worked at Bellbird No. 1 tunnel.
Describes driving surface haulage.
9:50
Recalls "sidling" of coal across pit top.
Drove electric winch on pit top.
Recalls building of surface skip tracks.
Dimensions of "cut-throughs", Bellbird.
Description of pit top engine.
Recollection of engine shed.
13:00
Recalls installation of 55 hp. motor.
Recalls extent of "endless rope".
Recalls dimensions of "c-wheel".
14:25
Recollection of concrete engine shed.
Started working at age 13.
Hammond Archer.
16:44
Recalls driving 55 hp. engine.
Engine operated on double track.
17:34
Smaller engine drove "tail rope".
Larger engine drove "endless rope".
18:11
Dimensions of "endless rope".
Retired from Bellbird in 1948.
19:11
Recollection of Bellbird No. 3.
Hammond Archer.
20:55
Recalls stopping work after explosion.
Recalls how felt returning to work.
21:54
Description of coal haulage system.
Recalls installation of 600 hp. motor.
Recalls driving both engines at once.
23:49
Recalls being two different bell signals.
Recalls gauge used to monitor stopping rope.
Depth that smaller motor operated.
25:54
Recalls using wooden skips.
Recalls purchasing steel skips.
26:47
Describes "topping up" of skips.
Describes driving "dip winch".
27:08
Description of how "dip winch" operated
Distance between "dips" (headings).
28:06
Job description of "set drive".
Hauled three skips per/set.
Describes "recovery" of pillars.
29:56
(Stan) Mathieson, manager.
? Colburn, manager.
30:55
Number of motors working at tunnel
Reason for engines hauling coal.
Recalls men walking into tunnel.
Recalls boarding over of turning point.
34:29
Recalls reversing of engine.
Recollection of "salamonia bells".
35:52
LeChancy Cell.
Recalls tension ropes used at Bellbird No. 1.
36:45
Dimensions of tension weights.
Purpose of tension weights.
37:55
Tension ropes were secured to turning wheel.
Recalls electricians working at Bellbird.
38:52
Alan Bowie, George Cousins.
Used water pumps underground.
39:48
Water was pumped to pit top.
Recollection of Bellbird No. 1 dam.
40:46
Reason for regular cleaning of sump.
Joe Davidson.
42:26
Paul Cook
Recalls Bellbird generating own power.
43:48
Recollection of cleaning boilers.
44:54
End (Tape 420/Side A) Part 1 of 3
Allan, Lyall James, 1905-1994PersonJack DelaneyCollectionVoices of the HunterPlaceCessnock, NSWLocation[1] Bellbird CollieryIdentifier420A
Recorded 18 October 1990
Part 1 of 3
0:38
Job description of winding engine driver.
Worked as main engine driver, Bellbird.
0:56
Born 1905, Sawyer's Gully.
Wilson Barrett.
1:27
? Kerr (mother).
Robert Allan (father).
2:17
Recollection of Bellbird disaster.
Working times for shifts, Bellbird.
4:02
"4 West" (name of section).
Recalls smell of burning underground.
5:20
Father worked as skip repairer.
Recalls bodies of miners from pit.
Stone drive connected tunnels underground.
Recalls sealing of tunnel with bores.
Reason for starting No. 2 tunnel.
8:30
Started working at Bellbird, August 1919.
Worked as skip repairer on pit top.
8:59
Worked as pit top boss, Bellbird No. 2.
Father worked at Bellbird No. 1 tunnel.
Describes driving surface haulage.
9:50
Recalls "sidling" of coal across pit top.
Drove electric winch on pit top.
Recalls building of surface skip tracks.
Dimensions of "cut-throughs", Bellbird.
Description of pit top engine.
Recollection of engine shed.
13:00
Recalls installation of 55 hp. motor.
Recalls extent of "endless rope".
Recalls dimensions of "c-wheel".
14:25
Recollection of concrete engine shed.
Started working at age 13.
Hammond Archer.
16:44
Recalls driving 55 hp. engine.
Engine operated on double track.
17:34
Smaller engine drove "tail rope".
Larger engine drove "endless rope".
18:11
Dimensions of "endless rope".
Retired from Bellbird in 1948.
19:11
Recollection of Bellbird No. 3.
Hammond Archer.
20:55
Recalls stopping work after explosion.
Recalls how felt returning to work.
21:54
Description of coal haulage system.
Recalls installation of 600 hp. motor.
Recalls driving both engines at once.
23:49
Recalls being two different bell signals.
Recalls gauge used to monitor stopping rope.
Depth that smaller motor operated.
25:54
Recalls using wooden skips.
Recalls purchasing steel skips.
26:47
Describes "topping up" of skips.
Describes driving "dip winch".
27:08
Description of how "dip winch" operated
Distance between "dips" (headings).
28:06
Job description of "set drive".
Hauled three skips per/set.
Describes "recovery" of pillars.
29:56
(Stan) Mathieson, manager.
? Colburn, manager.
30:55
Number of motors working at tunnel
Reason for engines hauling coal.
Recalls men walking into tunnel.
Recalls boarding over of turning point.
34:29
Recalls reversing of engine.
Recollection of "salamonia bells".
35:52
LeChancy Cell.
Recalls tension ropes used at Bellbird No. 1.
36:45
Dimensions of tension weights.
Purpose of tension weights.
37:55
Tension ropes were secured to turning wheel.
Recalls electricians working at Bellbird.
38:52
Alan Bowie, George Cousins.
Used water pumps underground.
39:48
Water was pumped to pit top.
Recollection of Bellbird No. 1 dam.
40:46
Reason for regular cleaning of sump.
Joe Davidson.
42:26
Paul Cook
Recalls Bellbird generating own power.
43:48
Recollection of cleaning boilers.
44:54
End (Tape 420/Side A) Part 1 of 3
Allan, Lyall James, 1905-1994PersonJack DelaneyCollectionVoices of the HunterPlaceCessnock, NSWLocation[1] Bellbird CollieryIdentifier420Aloading google map....
Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010, Lyall Allan (1905-1994) - Mineworker, Bellbird Colliery. Recorded 18 October 1990. Part 1/3., [420A]. Living Histories, accessed 29/03/2023, https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/56068