THE WINDING ENGINES AND ENGINE MEN OF CHATTERLEY WHITFIELD
THE WINDING ENGINES AND ENGINE MEN OF CHATTERLEY WHITFIELD No greater collection of steam driven winding engines could be found in the land. Five shafts, all in a row and all on one site was unusual and formed a huge deep pit mining colliery. From the smaller engines of Middle Pit, Winstanley and Platt Pit to the gigantic monoliths of Hesketh and Institute. They were a magnificent spectacle to see and hear operating, lowering and drawing coal, men and materials with speed and efficiency. The Royal Navy called them 'grease monkeys' but that job description at Whitfield was 'oiler and cleaner'. At the age of 15 in 1949 I was just called an 'oil lad' and in my teen years it was my job to clean, oil and grease those engines under the watchful eye of the winding engine men (operators). They had cause to be wary. Shortly before my arrival one such 'oil lad' had been killed instantly in the crank race at the Middle Pit. I ev
