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61 years ago, 48 miners boarded the bogie to take them to the coalface in the Auchengeich Colliery No. 2 pit.
Only one of those men survived what became one of the worst mining accidents of the century in Scotland.
A short thread follows: please read and share.
Only one of those men survived what became one of the worst mining accidents of the century in Scotland.
A short thread follows: please read and share.
The public inquiry notes exact times are difficult to pin down as so few people around the colliery were wearing a watch that day.
By this time on 18 Sept 1959, the night shift engineman (who was in charge of the bogies taking miners to and from the coalface) noticed a haze.
By this time on 18 Sept 1959, the night shift engineman (who was in charge of the bogies taking miners to and from the coalface) noticed a haze.
He wasn’t concerned but highlighted this to the day shift asst overman, Dickson, who rode the first bogie with 17 other miners to investigate. For safety reasons Dickson instructed the miners to accompany him to the intake airway which likely saved their lives.
At approx 7am, he found that a fan belt for a fan in the engine house - which had been causing issues for a few days - was on fire. Messages were relayed to cut the electricity supply, and to stop anyone else from entering the mine.
The bogie which transported Dickson & colleagues had returned to the terminus at approx 6.55am, when 48 miners boarded to be taken to work. It’s estimated that the miners arrived at their stop at around 7.05am & finding thick smoke, reboarded the train to return to the surface.
The public inquiry makes for very difficult reading as the scale of the disaster unfolds in text.
It is preserved on the Scottish Mining Website and can be read here:
http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/250.html
It is preserved on the Scottish Mining Website and can be read here:
http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/250.html
Only one miner, Tom Green, made it off the train alive. He provided his account to the public inquiry, sharing that the smoke in the tunnel was very thick. The train stopped before it reached the terminus & Tom Green managed to get off and stumble towards the gate.
Despite extensive rescue efforts, the fire could not be brought under control. Families & loved ones of the miners waited at the pit all day for news. It was late that night when the decision was made - in light of worsening conditions - to flood the pit and extinguish the fire.
47 men died in Auchengeich Colliery on 18 September 1959. They ranged in age from the youngest, George McEwan who was 20, to the oldest, Henry Clayton the train guard, who was 62.
41 women were widowed by the disaster. 76 children lost their father that day.
41 women were widowed by the disaster. 76 children lost their father that day.
It was another four days before the miners could be recovered from the pit and returned to their loved ones to be laid to rest.
The public inquiry found that the men were overcome where they sat on the train, and that they had all died within minutes.
The public inquiry found that the men were overcome where they sat on the train, and that they had all died within minutes.
Every year there is a service of remembrance at the Auchengeich Memorial which is in Moodiesburn. A committee of wonderful volunteers ensures these men remain in living memory.
Sadly this year the service had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/Organization/Auchengeich-Miners-Memorial-916368968418660/?locale2=en_GB
Sadly this year the service had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/Organization/Auchengeich-Miners-Memorial-916368968418660/?locale2=en_GB
I’m really heartened to see that the miners have been remembered this year in both the Scottish and UK Parliaments with motions submitted by the constituency representatives. I was very grateful for this act by members of each of these parliaments.
The Early Day Motion submitted to @HouseofCommons by @StevenBonnarSNP can be found here. My grateful thanks to all who signed it:
https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/57424/auchengeich-mining-disaster
https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/57424/auchengeich-mining-disaster
The motion submitted to @ScotParl by @FultonSNP can be found here. My grateful thanks to all who signed it:
https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S5M-22677&ResultsPerPage=10
https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S5M-22677&ResultsPerPage=10
I am embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know about Auchengeich until I met my mother-in-law. Her Dad, Alexander Sharp, was 34 when he died in Auchengeich.
I feel very strongly that we must do better in remembering Auchengeich and its painful legacy for so many people.
I feel very strongly that we must do better in remembering Auchengeich and its painful legacy for so many people.
So today I ask this: if you see this tweet thread please share it. And please take a moment to remember the families and loved ones of the 47 men who died.
For them, Auchengeich is not a historical event but a regular reminder of their loss.
For them, Auchengeich is not a historical event but a regular reminder of their loss.
@EuropaImages has shared this amazing photograph of the Auchengeich memorial statue with the names of the 47 miners who died on the walk behind: https://twitter.com/EuropaImages/status/1306864769195012096
