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Post by John on Nov 23, 2004 11:22:28 GMT -5
Coal and otherwise.
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Post by shropshirebloke on Dec 11, 2011 15:48:27 GMT -5
Just to say thanks for this Daz - it's a fascinating read.
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Post by dazbt on Dec 12, 2011 2:38:46 GMT -5
Just to say thanks for this Daz - it's a fascinating read. Thanks for that, I realise that posting this here is taking a risk of boring members to death, but as long as J is happy with the space it takes up ............... it can presumably be removed as it goes along and no-one has to read it  It was written a good few years ago now, it's bringing back memories that I'd forgotten. I notice the link for The Banjara Hotel doesn't work here's the updated link, not changed a great deal since my times, but I did notice they've changed the bedding in my old room taj.photowebasia.com/banjara/index.htm |
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Post by John on Dec 12, 2011 13:17:48 GMT -5
Just to say thanks for this Daz - it's a fascinating read. Thanks for that, I realise that posting this here is taking a risk of boring members to death, but as long as J is happy with the space it takes up ............... it can presumably be removed as it goes along and no-one has to read it It was written a good few years ago now, it's bringing back memories that I'd forgotten. I notice the link for The Banjara Hotel doesn't work here's the updated link, not changed a great deal since my times, but I did notice they've changed the bedding in my old room taj.photowebasia.com/banjara/index.htm |
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Post by John on Dec 12, 2011 22:19:37 GMT -5
Nothing to do with mining Daz, but in the same vein, India.
We sailed to the states from Oz on a container ship, aboard were a couple who were working their passage across the Pacific aboard the same ship.
They were touring the world on a motorcycle, both were English people, she was a school teacher and he was an electronics engineer specializing in RF engineering. (transmitters).
They set off across Europe and had ended up touring India for many weeks before heading eastwards, they had to make sure they didn't end up in "bandit country".
Like you they said India was one of the most diverse and marvelous, countries they had ever traveled, plus similar comments on the wide difference between those who had it and those who lived in abject poverty.
Closest I have been was when I was migrating to Oz in 79, we landed at Calcutta airport for fuel, as we were carrying a spare engine mounted on one of the wings, which slowed us down a tad and required us to land and refuel in two places on the trip over.
As we were landing we noticed young children playing feet away from the runways, plus a shanty town just outside the perimeter fence, cardboard huts and old corrugated iron roofed huts.
Here I was, English working class, landing in a country with people far poorer than my own class. Made me think how lucky we were to have been born where we were and having the privilege to move on and better ourselves.
Poor is relative though, I've met rich people who were "poorer" than me, they had the money, but were miserable.
I've met people who hadn't two pennies to rub together, but were "rich" beyond belief.
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Post by John on Dec 13, 2011 18:27:20 GMT -5
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Post by dazbt on Dec 14, 2011 3:15:27 GMT -5
Extremely interesting, thanks J. |
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Post by John on Dec 14, 2011 9:11:35 GMT -5
Alex Downey never knew what he'd missed..... ;D He lived and worked in heaven compared to what you had to put up with.
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Post by dazbt on Dec 14, 2011 10:04:58 GMT -5
Alex Downey never knew what he'd missed..... ;D He lived and worked in heaven compared to what you had to put up with. and I only wrote about the good bits, the real heartache, suffering and hard work bits don't make for family reading.  |
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Post by John on Dec 14, 2011 13:02:43 GMT -5
I wonder how the Chinese longwall manufacturers get on with Indian bureaucracy..
And I recall when our new equipment was arriving at Angus Place, Dowty UK won the chocks contract over Dowty Wolleng in the bid. Turned out Dowty UK were cheaper because British Steel's products were cheaper than our AI&S steel in Australia.
The chocks cleared customs as they were unloaded from the ship, loaded straight onto a semi trailer and while the truck driver was chaining them down, a customs officer slit the plastic and let his dog have a sniff for drugs then signed them off.
They were arriving at the pit 24 hrs a day until the whole set, plus about six spares hoses and spare parts had been delivered, about a week from ship arriving to full face of chocks were at the pit.
The same with the AFC drive heads, stage loader/crusher and pan line.
The only things made in Australia were the transformers, GEB's and cables.
Three three throw ram pumps were Japanese Huhenko (sp) and of course the Anderson Strathclyde shearer was assembled at their factory and modified for us.
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Post by dazbt on Dec 14, 2011 13:18:07 GMT -5
I wonder how the Chinese longwall manufacturers get on with Indian bureaucracy..
And I recall when our new equipment was arriving at Angus Place, Dowty UK won the chocks contract over Dowty Wolleng in the bid. Turned out Dowty UK were cheaper because British Steel's products were cheaper than our AI&S steel in Australia.
The chocks cleared customs as they were unloaded from the ship, loaded straight onto a semi trailer and while the truck driver was chaining them down, a customs officer slit the plastic and let his dog have a sniff for drugs then signed them off.
They were arriving at the pit 24 hrs a day until the whole set, plus about six spares hoses and spare parts had been delivered, about a week from ship arriving to full face of chocks were at the pit.
The same with the AFC drive heads, stage loader/crusher and pan line.
The only things made in Australia were the transformers, GEB's and cables.
Three three throw ram pumps were Japanese Huhenko (sp) and of course the Anderson Strathclyde shearer was assembled at their factory and modified for us. Would those three throw ram pumps have been Hauhinco by any chance J, German made and the prefered choice of Dowty? ........... those orientals will copy owt !! Another snippet to the mention of British Steel, what's left of it belongs to the Indian Conglomerate of TATA ......... who coincidentaly own Tetley Tea as well ....... is nothing sacred? |
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Post by John on Dec 14, 2011 13:49:18 GMT -5
I wonder how the Chinese longwall manufacturers get on with Indian bureaucracy..
And I recall when our new equipment was arriving at Angus Place, Dowty UK won the chocks contract over Dowty Wolleng in the bid. Turned out Dowty UK were cheaper because British Steel's products were cheaper than our AI&S steel in Australia.
The chocks cleared customs as they were unloaded from the ship, loaded straight onto a semi trailer and while the truck driver was chaining them down, a customs officer slit the plastic and let his dog have a sniff for drugs then signed them off.
They were arriving at the pit 24 hrs a day until the whole set, plus about six spares hoses and spare parts had been delivered, about a week from ship arriving to full face of chocks were at the pit.
The same with the AFC drive heads, stage loader/crusher and pan line.
The only things made in Australia were the transformers, GEB's and cables.
Three three throw ram pumps were Japanese Huhenko (sp) and of course the Anderson Strathclyde shearer was assembled at their factory and modified for us. Would those three throw ram pumps have been Hauhinco by any chance J, German made and the prefered choice of Dowty? ........... those orientals will copy owt !! Another snippet to the mention of British Steel, what's left of it belongs to the Indian Conglomerate of TATA ......... who coincidentaly own Tetley Tea as well ....... is nothing sacred?
A true story, we had a visit by some Japanese longwall engineers to look at the Dowty/Anderson Strathclyde longwall in production.
Some of the lads were having their crib break when they came off the face, one of the lads asked the Japanese, who all seemed to speak good English, "What did you think of the face"?
" Good!! Not as good as Japanese longwall equipment though"
" Really, then how come we have British made gear then"?
The Japs had no answer to that, plus I think they were a tad embarrassed by everyone laughing.
Back when our order was placed, mid 80's Thatcher hadn't decimated the steel industry... ;D
I used to prefer Typhoo tea myself. |
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Post by dazbt on Dec 14, 2011 14:11:41 GMT -5
"I used to prefer Typhoo tea myself. "
TYPHOO yet another great British product now owned by yet another Indian Steel Manufacturing giant Apejay Surendra (sp?) if I remember correctly ................. no much left anywhere now with a Union Jack on it.
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Post by John on Dec 15, 2011 8:33:01 GMT -5
"I used to prefer Typhoo tea myself. "TYPHOO yet another great British product now owned by yet another Indian Steel Manufacturing giant Apejay Surendra (sp?) if I remember correctly ................. no much left anywhere now with a Union Jack on it. |
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Post by dazbt on Dec 15, 2011 8:52:08 GMT -5
"I used to prefer Typhoo tea myself. "TYPHOO yet another great British product now owned by yet another Indian Steel Manufacturing giant Apejay Surendra (sp?) if I remember correctly ................. no much left anywhere now with a Union Jack on it. One of the few things left with a Union Jack on it is the flag of Australia and I reckon the Chinese already own a goodly lump of that ........... |
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Post by John on Dec 15, 2011 9:14:23 GMT -5
Ironic Indian companies can take over UK companies and own them outright but not the other way around. One of the few things left with a Union Jack on it is the flag of Australia and I reckon the Chinese already own a goodly lump of that ...........
I don't think Oz allows the Chinese to outright own any mining operation, they have several joint ventures, one colliery operating the Top Coal cave in method, although I think the equipment is DBT, or should that be Bucyrus now? Hard to keep up.. |
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Post by dazbt on Dec 15, 2011 10:10:27 GMT -5
One of the few things left with a Union Jack on it is the flag of Australia and I reckon the Chinese already own a goodly lump of that ...........
I don't think Oz allows the Chinese to outright own any mining operation, they have several joint ventures, one colliery operating the Top Coal cave in method, although I think the equipment is DBT, or should that be Bucyrus now? Hard to keep up..There are Chinese owned coal mines in Australia and plenty of projects including coal and metal mining that are in majority Chinese ownership, control or sponsorship. Vast amounts of land have been bought by Chinese companies including high quality agricultural swathes in NSW. Major concerns only recently seem to be perculating through, eg; "the sale of the Collie coal mine to Chinese-owned Yancoal Australia for $296.8 million raised concerns for the security of the state’s power supply." re DBT etc,...................... Caterpillar is the name for the moment, RIP Anderson Boyes. |
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Post by John on Dec 16, 2011 16:25:32 GMT -5
The NZ flag does too and the state of Hawaii also sports the Union Jack.
I don't think Oz allows the Chinese to outright own any mining operation, they have several joint ventures, one colliery operating the Top Coal cave in method, although I think the equipment is DBT, or should that be Bucyrus now? Hard to keep up.. There are Chinese owned coal mines in Australia and plenty of projects including coal and metal mining that are in majority Chinese ownership, control or sponsorship. Vast amounts of land have been bought by Chinese companies including high quality agricultural swathes in NSW. Major concerns only recently seem to be perculating through, eg; "the sale of the Collie coal mine to Chinese-owned Yancoal Australia for $296.8 million raised concerns for the security of the state’s power supply." re DBT etc,...................... Caterpillar is the name for the moment, RIP Anderson Boyes. I may be getting mixed up on mineral rights Daz, they belong, usually to the state. I wasn't aware there was coal in WA, is it lignite or bituminous?? I knew Tasmania, Victoria and of course NSW and Queensland had reserves, although Victoria only has brown coal reserves as far as I'm aware. Who owns Dowty now or are they still Dowty?? And what make of chocks did DBT through to Cat take and improve their designs on?? I was looking at the two Chinese shearers the other day, they look like copies of the Electra series of shearers, did the steal the designs from Andersons? |
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Post by dazbt on Dec 16, 2011 17:17:15 GMT -5
There are Chinese owned coal mines in Australia and plenty of projects including coal and metal mining that are in majority Chinese ownership, control or sponsorship. Vast amounts of land have been bought by Chinese companies including high quality agricultural swathes in NSW. Major concerns only recently seem to be perculating through, eg; "the sale of the Collie coal mine to Chinese-owned Yancoal Australia for $296.8 million raised concerns for the security of the state’s power supply." re DBT etc,...................... Caterpillar is the name for the moment, RIP Anderson Boyes. I may be getting mixed up on mineral rights Daz, they belong, usually to the state. I wasn't aware there was coal in WA, is it lignite or bituminous?? I knew Tasmania, Victoria and of course NSW and Queensland had reserves, although Victoria only has brown coal reserves as far as I'm aware. Who owns Dowty now or are they still Dowty?? And what make of chocks did DBT through to Cat take and improve their designs on?? I was looking at the two Chinese shearers the other day, they look like copies of the Electra series of shearers, did the steal the designs from Andersons? The WA coal is low/medium quality bitumous thermal used primarily as thermal. Re Victoria coal, I have a 20th Anniversary 'schooner glass' on which is written the confusing phrases "State Coal Mine, Wonthaggi 1909 - 1968 on the front and on the rear "Re-opening of East Area 20th Anniversary 1983 -2003". Wonthaggi produced steam coal. Not sure what roof supports that DBT ended up producing, but I do know that they bought out Hemsheidt at some point. Re the Chinese, all I can say is that whilst I worked for AS a 'Technology Transfer deal' for China to manufacture and sell AM500 had been completed and that they did produce some machines but those used AS manufactured hydraulic pumps and valvery. The Chinese AM500 'copies' were offered in overseas tender submissions to a list of countries that did include Australia, even in direct competition to Anderson, it is likely that that the early Electra series were subject of similar 'Technology Transfer arrangements' as well. |
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Post by dazbt on Dec 17, 2011 14:46:21 GMT -5
if anyone is interested the first two parts, these tales can be found by Googling Tales of India daz
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Post by dazbt on Dec 19, 2011 14:13:50 GMT -5
The NZ flag does too and the state of Hawaii also sports the Union Jack.
I don't think Oz allows the Chinese to outright own any mining operation, they have several joint ventures, one colliery operating the Top Coal cave in method, although I think the equipment is DBT, or should that be Bucyrus now? Hard to keep up.. There are Chinese owned coal mines in Australia and plenty of projects including coal and metal mining that are in majority Chinese ownership, control or sponsorship. Vast amounts of land have been bought by Chinese companies including high quality agricultural swathes in NSW. Major concerns only recently seem to be perculating through, eg; "the sale of the Collie coal mine to Chinese-owned Yancoal Australia for $296.8 million raised concerns for the security of the state’s power supply." re DBT etc,...................... Caterpillar is the name for the moment, RIP Anderson Boyes. Good job Uluru is red and not black, perhaps. |
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Post by dazbt on Jan 6, 2012 4:19:46 GMT -5
The NZ flag does too and the state of Hawaii also sports the Union Jack.
I don't think Oz allows the Chinese to outright own any mining operation, they have several joint ventures, one colliery operating the Top Coal cave in method, although I think the equipment is DBT, or should that be Bucyrus now? Hard to keep up.. There are Chinese owned coal mines in Australia and plenty of projects including coal and metal mining that are in majority Chinese ownership, control or sponsorship. Vast amounts of land have been bought by Chinese companies including high quality agricultural swathes in NSW. Major concerns only recently seem to be perculating through, eg; "the sale of the Collie coal mine to Chinese-owned Yancoal Australia for $296.8 million raised concerns for the security of the state’s power supply." re DBT etc,...................... Caterpillar is the name for the moment, RIP Anderson Boyes. China tries to Welsh on Oz coal deal; community.nasdaq.com/News/2012-01/yancoal-seeks-waiver-of-promises-made-at-2009-purchase-of-local-coal-mine.aspx?storyid=112434 |
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Post by John on Jan 6, 2012 8:09:45 GMT -5
There are Chinese owned coal mines in Australia and plenty of projects including coal and metal mining that are in majority Chinese ownership, control or sponsorship. Vast amounts of land have been bought by Chinese companies including high quality agricultural swathes in NSW. Major concerns only recently seem to be perculating through, eg; "the sale of the Collie coal mine to Chinese-owned Yancoal Australia for $296.8 million raised concerns for the security of the state’s power supply." re DBT etc,...................... Caterpillar is the name for the moment, RIP Anderson Boyes. China tries to Welsh on Oz coal deal; community.nasdaq.com/News/2012-01/yancoal-seeks-waiver-of-promises-made-at-2009-purchase-of-local-coal-mine.aspx?storyid=112434They haven't quite got the hang of how capitalism works in the west yet Daz.. ;D |
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Post by dazbt on Jan 6, 2012 9:37:44 GMT -5
They haven't quite got the hang of how capitalism works in the west yet Daz.. ;D I'm fairly sure the Ozzies will soon get the hang of it all with a little Chinese guidance !! |
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Post by dazbt on Jan 10, 2012 2:39:01 GMT -5
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Post by John on Jan 10, 2012 6:57:42 GMT -5
The way they are buying up energy company's, there might just be a chance of a UK coal industry once more. When the UK government cannot secure stocks of coal, it might look to exploiting the vast reserves left under your feet Daz. Could Selby reopened at great cost once more? Who knows.. |
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Post by garryo on Jan 10, 2012 10:07:23 GMT -5
Getting back to the thread "Mining in India", i saw an article about an Indian company (not TATA) who are going to re-open or possibly redevelop the old Champion Reefs goldmine in the Kolar goldfields. This very old mine was worked by the British Raj as the CRGM of India until after independance.
The old mine was very deep, one shaft the Gifford shaft being 6556ft deep yes 6556ft. the winder for the shaft was a Metrovic winder of 2,550hp. The control was via the Ward-Leonard system but owing to the mines remote location and weak power supply the MG set was fitted with two extremely large flywheels and fitted with a hydraulic slip regulator. The winding drum was a bi-cylindroconical drum and wound a load of 10,000lbs or about 5 tons at up to 3,000ft/min.
I have an old photo of the MG set on test at the MV works at Manchester if anyone is interested and maybe a photo or sketch of a BCC drum.
To access the Indian companys website just Google Champion Reefs or Kolar Goldfield.
I also have heaps of info on winders and will post a shot of the Snowdon Koepe winder in the Kent section when I have time John.
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Post by John on Jan 11, 2012 8:54:12 GMT -5
Getting back to the thread "Mining in India", i saw an article about an Indian company (not TATA) who are going to re-open or possibly redevelop the old Champion Reefs goldmine in the Kolar goldfields. This very old mine was worked by the British Raj as the CRGM of India until after independance. The old mine was very deep, one shaft the Gifford shaft being 6556ft deep yes 6556ft. the winder for the shaft was a Metrovic winder of 2,550hp. The control was via the Ward-Leonard system but owing to the mines remote location and weak power supply the MG set was fitted with two extremely large flywheels and fitted with a hydraulic slip regulator. The winding drum was a bi-cylindroconical drum and wound a load of 10,000lbs or about 5 tons at up to 3,000ft/min. I have an old photo of the MG set on test at the MV works at Manchester if anyone is interested and maybe a photo or sketch of a BCC drum. To access the Indian companys website just Google Champion Reefs or Kolar Goldfield. I also have heaps of info on winders and will post a shot of the Snowdon Koepe winder in the Kent section when I have time John. Deep mine Garry!! Be interesting to see Snowdown's winders. |
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Post by garryo on Jan 17, 2012 9:48:17 GMT -5
Here is the Champion reefs winder & MG set.
Note the size of the two flywheels
When installed in 1939 it was the largest winder in India and operated on a 6,600ft deep shaft. The mine went to 10,300ft below the collar via internal shafts.
After many years closed an ASX listed Australian Company with Indian partner are looking at opening the mine again.
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Post by garryo on Jan 17, 2012 9:51:08 GMT -5
Here is the Champion reefs winder & MG set.
Note the size of the two flywheels
When installed in 1939 it was the largest winder in India and operated on a 6,600ft deep shaft. The mine went to 10,300ft below the collar via internal shafts.
After many years closed an ASX listed Australian Company with Indian partner are looking at opening the mine again.
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