Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
31 December 2010
14:1386964Yes BarryW I do..............
Its a shame you don't....................
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
31 December 2010
14:3486965Open cast is the only viable way it could work.... but I want to keep my house and garden !
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
31 December 2010
14:3586966Coal would not be mined as it was in the past but as it is a fuel that is still in abundance, sooner or later it will be needed and used.
One possible method that is being tested is Coal Gasificaton. I have touched on this before but for those who missed it follow link below.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/mar/04/coal-gasification-ccs
Coal gasification is the process of producing coal gas, a type of syngas-a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) gas-from coal. Carbon monoxide, which is a combustible gas, was traditionally used as a source of energy for municipal lighting and heat before the advent of industrial-scale production of natural gas, while the hydrogen obtained from gasification can be used for various purposes such as making ammonia, powering a hydrogen economy, or upgrading fossil fuels. Alternatively, the coal gas (also known as "town gas") can be converted into transportation fuels such as gasoline and diesel through additional treatment via the Fischer-Tropsch process.
Paul(watty) accused me of being mischievous before when I said St Margaret's would be a suitable location for this. Coal seams in Kent are at their thickest in St Margaret's and if Coal Gasification takes off, St Margaret's would be an obvious choice.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
31 December 2010
16:0386977garyc
you seem(seam) lol to have a lot of information on this subject.
but thankyou for the information so far
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
31 December 2010
16:0886979it seems likely that is tilmanstones coal seams that go under st maggies.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
31 December 2010
17:0986995As my family own a fair amount of propertyat the Bay they might not be happy if they put a coal mine there.
But as for myself if we needed it then ---------
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
31 December 2010
18:2187011Gary -this is very interesting. The locomotive that colleagues and I are restoring at Sellindge was once fitted with the Porta gas producer system. Efficiency,power and emissions were vastly improved and successful tests were carried out at Swindon.Unfortunately the writing was already on the wall for steam. We intend to retro fit it with the system-we have all the components and will make the loco available for use locally. Incidentally the loco is named 'Antwerp' and belongs to the National Coal Mining museum at Overton-we have it on long term loan.
Never give up...
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
31 December 2010
18:3187019Yours sounds interesting as well Richard, and I`ve never heard of this form of power. Should be headline news in the various magazines once up and running I`d have thought? Any news on the `DOVER`ferry project?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
31 December 2010
19:3987060Vic.
It would not be a mine, it would be more like a small refinery
Brian.
Kent's coal seams, stretch under the channel and into France with mines at Pas_ De_ Calais
Richard.
That sounds like a great project, I would like to know more. I have been approached about future cruise passengers visiting the Miners Statue Site and I am trying to put together a number of heritage sites and projects for them to visit?
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
31 December 2010
20:1387065yes garyc,seen the pit heads as far down as loos in france.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
1 January 2011
12:1087122They have a Virtual Mining Museum at an old Colliery over there, the name eludes me at the moment, we are looking into possibilities of having one here in Kent. Giving visitors the chance to see what it was really like to work down the mines, with smells and temp's and all.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
1 January 2011
20:4987181That would be a very good idea Gary and give people a really life-like idea of what coal-mining was all about.
My Dad was down the pit (just outside Wigan) at 14.
Roger
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
1 January 2011
22:2387207Colin
So I don't have to spout, a colleague of mine, Martyn Bane runs several excellent websites -it will tell you all you need to know about,LD Porta,NCB locomotive efficiency mods, modern steam and the coal gas producer system. 'Antwerp is featured in demodified form working on the NYMR (the 'Heartbeat' line) during the 1980's on the 3rd of these.
http://www.martynbane.co.uk/modernsteam/ldp/rfirt/santafes.htm
http://www.martynbane.co.uk/modernsteam/ldp/austerity/portaausterity.htm
http://www.martynbane.co.uk/modernsteam/ldp/austerity/locophotos.htm
The scheme to restore the classic ferry TS DOVER is gathering pace-we now have an interim committee,gathering support from those who count . Had to postpone my visit to the ship owing to the weather-hopefully I will be able to reschedule the trip for the near future. It is our intention to hold a public meeting in Dover,early Feb '11 to initially expose the project and get some troops.
Gary-a coal mining museum in East Kent would be wonderful. Unfortunately a golden opportunity was missed at Tilmanston. Snowdon still just about stands(including the loco shed!)-but I guess that's Canterbury area. Could anything be done at Betteshanger? Where do you have in mind for a location?
Would be pleased to talk to you about Sellindge and visitors -we have 4 other locos under restoration on the site.
Never give up...
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
1 January 2011
22:4387213Thanks for that info Richard, I`ll be looking it all up tomorrow and maybe comment on it. I hope I can help you out in some way when I get a bit fitter, but at the moment I`m running on a 5 watt bulb.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
1 January 2011
23:0387218Cheers Colin -Happy new year to you Colin and all the forumites -hope the new year sees you operating on a 5KW flood light!..and talking about new beginnings,I see the fur is already flying on the policing cuts thread!
Never give up...
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
2 January 2011
13:5687260Richard,
Snowdown Colliery was our preferred site for a Mining Museum in Kent
But due to the usual landowner problems that have engulfed all mining areas since their existence, through greed, I am now opposed to that idea.
There is still an active group who want to pay the landowner a further 9.5 million, I am told, to secure this land.
I would rather put this money into building a new Museum at Fowlmead Country Park (I would also like to change the name of this park, as well) The Park has much to offer and in the right hands could encourage visitors all year round, with the Virtual Mining Ride, being only part of what we would like to see introduced .
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
2 January 2011
20:4187364Gary
Well I think 9.5 million is well spent anywhere in East Kent for a mining museum and your ideas for Fowlmead sound realistic and practical and I applaud your endeavours.
However,I have to admit to being a little biased towards Snowdown as a location. I was involved in the preservation of the 2 Avonside tank engines St Thomas and St Dunstan and have pleasant memories of dealing with the management and staff of the time who were always very friendly and helpful. Apart from this I believe that Snowdown Colliery was the first, the deepest, had the hottest conditions,the most humid conditions and was known by the miners as Dantes Inferno! When production finished in 1987 (I think) the 2 shafts were filled and the the heads together with the boiler house chimney demolished. Most of everything else remains yet in a state of gradual decay.
Never give up...
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
2 January 2011
20:4787367Here are a few pictures of Snowdown - there is still stuff worth preserving there
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doverpast/sets/72157622660094698/with/4042920281/Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
2 January 2011
20:5787373Richard.
I too would like to see the issue with Snowdown resolved, as i do believe it to be the better site, owing it still having original buildings, still intact and for its location in the midst of our mining communities but the campaign has been goung on for around 10 years now and has been costly and not been at all fruitfull. Time is not on our side, so i feel an alternative is the only way forward.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
2 January 2011
20:5887374Cheers Paul-and here's a picture of the Avonsides...those were the days!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ce/Snowdown_Colliery_locomotives.jpg
Gary
appreciate what your saying-10years is a big chunk out of a lifetime...but you never know. I thought one good point is that the site is currently owned by the soon to be abolished SEEDA. Is this correct?
Never give up...
