Thanks to everyone who replied to my original query. I begin to wonder if
IWJ's description of using the pumping rods to work the incline was an error
and in fact the incline was worked indirectly by ropes down the shaft from
the surface, much as many 19th century colliery underground haulages were
worked in this manner from surface engines. This might suggest that "Olwyn
Goch" was rather like the Cwm Ciprwth wheel, providing continuous pumping
and intermittent winding, allbeit on a larger scale.
Although I have quite a bit of information on various rope haulage engines,
I can't find an illustration of an underground rope haulage worked from the
surface (!) Could the more knowledgable list members tell me if the rope
that was worked by the surface engine was the actual rope used for the
underground haulage - or did the rope from the surface drive the undergound
haulage drum via a transfer shaft, gears and clutch? That way the surface
engine could run continuously, the underground haulage being stopped,
reversed and started without recourse to signalling to the surface engine.
Again any reference to an illustration would be helpful.
Cheers
Graham Isherwood
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