Projects
The trust are actively engaged in “saving” and restoring mine machinery and equipment etc and here are our projects that have been completed.
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Rebuilding a Snailbeach Railway Wagon
When the Snailbeach District Railway closed in 1959 most of the rolling stock was sold off for scrap but the remains of two of the hopper wagons ended up at the Talyllyn Railway. In 1997 the railway contacted our member Peter Sheldrake and asked if we wanted the remains of these wagons. Arrangements were made to collect them and bring them back home but all that remained were the bases and axles. During the winter of 2008, member Barry Ellis lovingly restored one of them to its original condition. It was delivered back to the Loco Shed on Good Friday 2009 and is pushed out for visitors to see when the Visitor Centre is open.
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Casting a pig of lead
On Saturday 15th November 2003, eight members of the Shropshire Mines Trust did something that has not been done for nearly 2,000 years. They produced a 190lb pig of lead that was an exact replica of Roman ones dug up in Shropshire. They relied heavily on the patternmaking skills of Barry Ellis, without whom it would not have been possible. The pig can now be seen in the Visitor’s Centre at Snailbeach Mine.
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Replica Tipping truck
This replica of a tipping wagon used to transport ore and waste rock underground at Snailbeach mine was completed in 2015. The orginal wagon is deep underground on the 40yd level but is in too delicate condition to move or display. This truck was carefully measured and a replica was built by Barry Ellis with help and guidance from members of Shropshire Mines Trust and Shropshire Caving and Mining Club and has been put in the barytes stope where it can be seen by visitors.
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Rebuilding the Spiral Classifier
The Spiral Classifier, which is a machine for separating galena (lead ore) from ground up ore extracted from the mine was located near Black Tom Shaft. It had stood there since the mine was closed and by the 1990’s had deteriorated with much of the woodwork rotted away. Shropshire County Council decided that it should be saved and removed the bits and pieces and stored them away.
In 2014 the Trust decided to repair the classifier and Barry Ellis, using existing drawings, took on this project and the restored classifier was returned to Snailbeach where an open shed was constructed to house the machine.
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Artefact Collection
- The Trust has built up a unique collection of 19-20th century mining artifacts and we display these at various sites throughout Shropshire. Some of the items are currently stored in the yard of T.O.Tomlins Ltd of Halfway House, who have kindly offered us facilities to store and work on them. Other items have been taken to Snailbeach Mine, Tankerville Mine, Bersham Colliery and Severn Valley Country Park.
The pictures below are an example of a few of the items we possess.
Anyone who would like to help in preserving these artifacts and getting them running again will be very welcome at working meets. Arrangements can also be made for access at other times.
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Displays
- The Trust owns a big collection of mining machinery and equipment. Through the activities of its members, many of these are now in a working condition. With the assistance of T O Tomlins Ltd, we take a unique working display to steam rallies, etc. We have been to every Onslow Steam Rally since 1998 and a few others as well.
Hiring the Display
We are able to offer the organisers of steam fairs, shows, etc a unique set of working mining artifacts which can only enhance their event. Obviously being a Trust we will need to cover our costs, so detailed below are the possibilities you may wish to consider before you decide if you wish to book us. Note that there is no charge for Trust members' time, only the actual transportation costs. The permanent display is kept on a lorry trailer and consists of :-
• Eimco compressed air loading shovel
• Length of rail track with Hudson side tipper truck
• Compressed air winch
• Jaw crusher
• Length of track with another Hudson side tipper truck
• BEV electric loco
The basic charge is 50p/mile for the round trip from Halfway House, Shropshire which pays for the lorry diesel.
The display can be static but looks even better if it is working with the rails laid. The Eimco will load stone into one truck which is winched onto the lorry platform. It is emptied and the stone passed through the jaw crusher. The stone is then loaded into the other truck which is drawn away by the BEV loco and tipped.
If you want the working display you will need to supply :-
To book the Trust display or discuss alternatives, ring Stuart Tomlins on T. 01743-884433