Hand drilling

Similar type of driller to an "Elliot" machine,whereby the "stand" is ratcheted to the roof,and the drill is wound into the seam by sheer hard work!

Note his "Centre - line" on the roof.

Note also the rail-ends,which were referred to as "the plate-ends",in the days long before rolled-steel rails came along,they were flat "plates",four feet long,with a raised section running the length of the plate,where the tub wheels ran on.

Hence the old pitmatic saying...." A hevn't been nae fartha thin the plate-ends owa the weekend..."!!

Meaning "I haven't been anywhere over the weekend.."

As an afterthought,I must add that these are "proper" rails,and not the "Plates " that I described above!