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Home > Mine Exploration Forum > UK Mine Exploration Forums > South Wales > Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
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| Author | Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine |
royfellows Joined: 13/06/2007 Location: Great Wyrley near Walsall View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 11/02/2017 19:51:56 Reply | Quote Hi People I have started this new thread for news about the mine as the old one which dealt with access (now resolved, smug me) is outdated. John Hine, AKA "Mole" has kindly drawn my attention to the work of a Mike Stokes. 1992 photographs of the mine taken by him here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/opobs/sets/72157636747245343 Also, scan of the full description of the 1963 visit by an AD Semmens here https://opobs.wordpress.com/2015/01/23/a-missed-opportunity/ This page also has copy of a 1908 photograph of Bwamaen incorrectly captioned as Dinas Rock, but showing part of the tramway. His "missed opportunity" certainly strikes a cord with me, it appears that there is something which is more rare than the proverbial hens teeth, a photograph of the Dinas incline ramp! -- "How people get on with these things as a mobile device I cannot begin to imagine, but it certainly explains a lot about peoples behaviour." IP: 92.24.18.83 |
Morlock Joined: 31/07/2008 View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 11/02/2017 22:14:31 Reply | Quote I've rummaged through loads of slides/family snaps etc, without success! One thing I did notice whilst searching were a good few slides people had loaned me to copy, wonder if I've loaned it out, (many years ago). Will consult with some old friends from 70s-90s. IP: 86.183.233.174 |
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royfellows Joined: 13/06/2007 Location: Great Wyrley near Walsall View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 12/02/2017 09:40:55 Reply | Quote Reading the Semmens report there are a couple of things that dont make sense to me. One is the description: "The present modus operandi is cable operation to an adit top immediately above the one which now forms the mine entrance, where a very small gantry line leads to the top of the aerial ropeway." From this I am wondering if produce was raised up the internal incline and then a tramway led to the point one reaches going toward the mine by the 'long route' immediately before one descends to the mine, and then further as being elevated. I have often thought about rummaging around in the trees below this point, wonder if anything to find? The entrance we all use emerges at a high point so the tramway from the portal must have been elevated. The other is this: "the manager said it was the longest aerial ropeway span in the country." Obviously never visited Silverband -- "How people get on with these things as a mobile device I cannot begin to imagine, but it certainly explains a lot about peoples behaviour." IP: 92.24.18.83 Edited: 12/02/2017 09:42:19 by royfellows |
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Morlock Joined: 31/07/2008 View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 12/02/2017 11:00:48 Reply | Quote yes, a little confusing! Can you photograph your better copy of the plan at the ropeway loading point and the top entrances if possible? Perhaps the report actually refers to the two entrances here? (click image to open full size image in new window) IP: 86.183.233.174 Edited: 12/02/2017 11:09:18 by Morlock |
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royfellows Joined: 13/06/2007 Location: Great Wyrley near Walsall View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 12/02/2017 11:30:48 Reply | Quote I have done a nice scan, squared up in Photoshop. Will get the whole plan scanned and uploaded eventually. Its come out nice, the plan is in near perfect condition. (click image to open full size image in new window) -- "How people get on with these things as a mobile device I cannot begin to imagine, but it certainly explains a lot about peoples behaviour." IP: 92.24.18.83 |
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Morlock Joined: 31/07/2008 View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 12/02/2017 12:54:11 Reply | Quote Thanks for the image Roy. Post edited as it did not make any sense! IP: 86.183.233.174 Edited: 13/02/2017 12:33:24 by Morlock |
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Morlock Joined: 31/07/2008 View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 13/02/2017 12:23:32 Reply | Quote Looking at Mr Stokes 1992 plan of the tramways the 2 foot gauge tramway only closed as late as 1964. All that track must have been lifted prior to my first visit. A great pity I was not really into photography in those days. IP: 86.183.233.174 Edited: 13/02/2017 12:26:28 by Morlock |
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royfellows Joined: 13/06/2007 Location: Great Wyrley near Walsall View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 13/02/2017 13:12:14 Reply | Quote Morlock wrote: Looking at Mr Stokes 1992 plan of the tramways Wheres that John? -- "How people get on with these things as a mobile device I cannot begin to imagine, but it certainly explains a lot about peoples behaviour." IP: 92.24.18.83 |
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Morlock Joined: 31/07/2008 View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 13/02/2017 13:39:24 Reply | Quote royfellows wrote: Morlock wrote: Looking at Mr Stokes 1992 plan of the tramways Wheres that John? Probably in your inbox.  Edit: Also in my personal album, 6th row down. IP: 86.183.233.174 Edited: 13/02/2017 13:54:38 by Morlock |
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royfellows Joined: 13/06/2007 Location: Great Wyrley near Walsall View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 13/02/2017 14:48:43 Reply | Quote Thanks, got it. -- "How people get on with these things as a mobile device I cannot begin to imagine, but it certainly explains a lot about peoples behaviour." IP: 92.24.18.83 |
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royfellows Joined: 13/06/2007 Location: Great Wyrley near Walsall View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 19/04/2017 12:26:49 Reply | Quote Old Photos galore, everything we want! Thanks to Paul Dann, NRW local manager for drawing my attention to these recent uploads. Many old local photos plus many of the mine when working, ropeway, walkway, the lot. http://www.flickriver.com/photos/125139274@N05/popular-interesting/ -- "How people get on with these things as a mobile device I cannot begin to imagine, but it certainly explains a lot about peoples behaviour." IP: 46.231.14.250 |
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Morlock Joined: 31/07/2008 View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 19/04/2017 12:45:56 Reply | Quote Roy, link leads to a mail address, can't remember which part needs altering to make it work? IP: 86.181.106.36 |
SimonRL Joined: 27/11/2005 Location: North Wales View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 19/04/2017 12:47:54 Reply | Quote Easiest is to copy and paste the link into your browser. -- my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by IP: 217.9.203.181 |
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Morlock Joined: 31/07/2008 View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 19/04/2017 13:02:48 Reply | Quote SimonRL wrote: Easiest is to copy and paste the link into your browser. I think I've reached the limit of my PC competence with Windows7.
IP: 86.181.106.36
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SimonRL Joined: 27/11/2005 Location: North Wales View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 19/04/2017 13:04:03 Reply | Quote [web link] -- my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by IP: 217.9.203.181 |
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Morlock Joined: 31/07/2008 View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 19/04/2017 13:08:16 Reply | Quote Thanks Simon. 
IP: 86.181.106.36
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Morlock Joined: 31/07/2008 View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 19/04/2017 13:51:18 Reply | Quote Thanks Roy. Excellent historic images, Sun House Mine, (high passages with cows) will need a bit of research. IP: 86.181.106.36 |
ttxela Joined: 04/09/2007 Location: Cambs View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 19/04/2017 13:53:34 Reply | Quote Some cracking pictures there if you scroll through the other stuff (although some of that is quite interesting too) 
IP: 188.39.178.242
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Morlock Joined: 31/07/2008 View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 19/04/2017 14:00:47 Reply | Quote The image from the far side of the river which includes the compressor house and grid feeder needs flipping horizontally, strata dip and incoming power lines are misplaced.. IP: 86.181.106.36 Edited: 19/04/2017 14:31:47 by Morlock |
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royfellows Joined: 13/06/2007 Location: Great Wyrley near Walsall View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message |
Craig -y -Dinas Upper Silica Mine
Posted: 19/04/2017 18:58:47 Reply | Quote I am up at Nenthead at the moment but will attempt to contact the copyright holder to see if the mine pictures can be provided for use on the NAL website when back at home. The pieces of the jigsaw are slowly coming together -- "How people get on with these things as a mobile device I cannot begin to imagine, but it certainly explains a lot about peoples behaviour." IP: 46.231.14.250 |
