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End of deep coal mining in Britain

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by David R, Aug 19, 2015.

  1. David R

    David R Well-Known Member

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    Not sure where this belongs, but so closely related to steam and heritage railways that it's hard not to feel regret at this

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33959137

    David R
     
  2. nine elms fan

    nine elms fan Part of the furniture

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    You got Arthur Scargill to thank thank for this, but is he sorry sitting in his £million pound house in Chesire or his luxury penthouse on the Costa Del Sol all paid for by the miners, is he b......s. Cheers Arthur.
     
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  3. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    Whilst he was undoubtedly a key figure in the fortunes of the UK coal industry, I doubt that even the most ardent Tory boys on this forum would argue that it was entirely his doing.
     
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  4. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    It is undoubtedly the end of an era, but is that a bad thing? In the 21st century should we be asking people to do this kind of filthy and dangerous work when there alternatives available? The human cost of coal mining was immense, I for one am glad that it has come to an end.
     
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  5. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Interesting post and a good counter to the argument that we should save/reopen deep pits.
     
  6. std tank

    std tank Part of the furniture

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    I wonder what the people who live in the mining towns/villages would say to that?
     
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  7. goldfish

    goldfish Nat Pres stalwart

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    That argument's a bit of a downward spiral… 'let's ask the family of the people killed in a pit collapse' or 'let's talk to the former miner with emphysema'…

    I'd have thought we could agree that it would be better if there were sustainable employment options that didn't include effectively forcing, through lack of viable alternative employment, people down mines any more…?

    Simon
     
  8. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

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    I wonder what the balance is now in relation to our Heritage steam railways? Some were, maybe still are, using imported coal, while others are using opencast coal from within the UK. Some used to come from opencast mines in Scotland, but I think that supply ceased when the operating company went out of business.
    Some line use the Welsh coal from the Ffos-y-Fran opencast site, the SVR being one such railway. The Ffos-y-Fran site is supposed to have many years reserves, and such is the demand for their Welsh coal from the steel industry they are building additional processing facilities, and considering opening a further opencast site at Nant LLesg in the Rhymney valley.

    Where is your local heritage line sourcing its steam loco coal?

    46118
     
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  9. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

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    From the very place you mention. Technically, it's anthracite and it gives huge amounts of heat for little smoke. It does crumble to dust if you so much as look at it which is a problem.
     
  10. OldChap

    OldChap Member

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    Agreed, there is indeed a perfect alternative - we can make some unfortunate foreigner do this filthy and dangerous work and import that cheap coal instead, let them bear the immense human cost eh... sounds a much better than controlling the working/conditions/safety etc of British pits.
     
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  11. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    It's a point of view and admittedly we still have children throughout the world working in sweat shops, sifting through rubbish dumps for stuff to sell etc., so perhaps we should permit the same in the UK to even things up? For my own part, I'd rather we try to set a standard for others to follow upwards rather than downwards.
     
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  12. nine elms fan

    nine elms fan Part of the furniture

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    True but he never helped.
     
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  13. Yorkshire Exile

    Yorkshire Exile Member

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    Oh yes it was. He refused to have meaningful talks with either Labour or Tory governments when they were both attempting to bring the mining industry into the twentieth century.
     
  14. andrewshimmin

    andrewshimmin Well-Known Member

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    To be honest, we just can't afford to use coal on a large scale anyway because of the emissions. Imported or indigenous. The small amounts used for heritage purposes will no doubt become expensive as large volume use (hopefully) decreases.
     
  15. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    I have seen it suggested of a number of people, he is not the only one that intentionally or not they acted in the interests of the opposition.

    Wages for Housework is another campaign with a similar reputation
     
  16. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Technically, it isn't anthracite.
     
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  17. The Dainton Banker

    The Dainton Banker Well-Known Member

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    With the advances in heavy machinery more and more coal is coming from opencast mines rather than shaft mines. Much much safer and cheaper to produce.
     
  18. Standard 4MT

    Standard 4MT Member

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    Well we are importing the coal we need now, far cheaper than we can mine it.
    India and China are opening a lot more coal mines, and their new power stations are coal fired, as well as many other Countries. Not everyone worries about the Green issues,and why should they when they have so much coal to mine and Industry, Power and homes all use it.
     
  19. goldfish

    goldfish Nat Pres stalwart

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    China particularly is growing its use of renewables far quicker than it's growing conventional or nuclear energy use. It produces more renewable energy than any other country in the world. It's wrong to suggest that they're not planning for a future without fossil fuels.

    Simon
     
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  20. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

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