Single Record

Full Details

Surname

GRAY

Forename

James Robert

Day

19

Month

04

Year

1904

Age

16

Occupation

Incline attendant

Mine/Quarry Name

Bedlington

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

Bedlington Coal Co. Ltd

Location

Bedlington

County

Northumberland

Details of Event

At a landing between two self-acting inclines there were two sets of rails on the incline below the landing there were three rails to meetings. A chock at the outbye end of the landing between the pairs of rails could be placed in position across either the full or empty way, and was only used on the full way when sets of tubs drawn by horses came into the landing from a side road but was used on the empty side after each empty set arrived. A few yards down the incline was a runaway switch, which crossed the centre rail and this switch was placed in position after each set was run, and had to be set clear before the next was run, the lad waiting until the empty set came up to do this and adjust the chock. A set from the incline above was ready to run and was standing dragged. Deceased told another boy to take the drags out and attend to the brake lever while he went to free the switch. Deceased called to set away, and when the full tubs had run a few yards past the switch they stopped, and deceased was found under the leading tubs badly crushed. It was supposed he had forgotten to move the switch until the tubs began to run. One of the Local Inspectors gave evidence at the inquest and attributed no blame to anyone.