Incline exhibition

Job Role / Function illustrated / Associated objects / Queries
Hanger-on /
  • Attaching and detaching trucks to the cable
  • Moving signal to indicate to the engine shed to standby, go, stop
  • Potentially the goods transported?
  • Spragging- to brake the wheel
/
  • Tapered cables
  • Trucks
  • Leather leggings
    (Middleton Top)
/ Were the brake vans used on the flat stretches of trail? Presumably they weren’t taken up and down the incline with every load
Pointsman /
  • Points had to be moved to enable the descending coaches to bypass the catch pit
  • The gong triggered as a warning of speed of travel
  • A new post! After accidents the catch pit was installed. Runaway 1888- chains broke 120mph estimated when it crashed
  • Up track left, down track right
  • Number of trucks moving up and down each day
/ If the catch pit is needed because the cable breaks, do both ascending and descending trucks end up in catch pit? Or does the mechanism at the top hold one lot somehow?
Lengthsman /
  • The chain 1830s-50s (how it was inefficient using lots of coal) then hemp rope and cable once incline was combined in1850s. How these needed to be checked for wear. 2640 yards
  • The need to lever the original track together
  • 600 bits of track replaced every month
  • Potentially repair the trucks
/
  • Fish bellied track sections
  • Stone sleepers in building wall
  • Jack (Middleton Top)
/ Were the bits of track replaced from the fish bellied section? Did it diminish later
Engine Man /
  • Counterbalancing trucks to minimise strain on engine. Ideally used engine more as brake than power
  • maximum two full and five empty
  • Keeping the moving parts greased
/ What did they have to do to operate machinery?
Fire Man /
  • To keep fires lit in the boilers

Possible extras:
  • Filling up water tanks (converted tenders) to take up to the engine house pond, and Middleton Top and Longcliffe to isolated farms (100 deliveries a month)
/ Who did this?
Cleaner /
  • Removing ash from the boilers
  • Repairs needed to engine

Person at Dingle /
  • Levering cable with a ‘donkey’ back over guide wheels when it pinged off

Draymen?
Fireman shunter? /
  • Only position of its sort in the country.
  • Hubert Doxey was reprimanded by management from London who thought he was acting above his station moving train after seeing him firing engine.
  • The need to transfer the goods from canal boat to truck. Extension of the canal network

Draw to Middelton Top. Encourage use of audio tour