Thanks to all replying about the engine keeper. I had no idea this is what it was. Regards Jackie Dickson [email protected] wrote: > Subject: > > SCOTTISH-MINING-D Digest Volume 01 : Issue 58 > > Today's Topics: > #1 Re: [McPitz] Engine Keeper in SCT [Paul North <[email protected]>] > #2 [McPitz] Mining Lamp [Valerie Montgomery-Bull <aaamasona] > #3 Re: [McPitz] Engine Keeper -- the [Jill Smith <[email protected]>] > #4 Re: [McPitz] Engine keeper ["John McLinden" <[email protected]] > > Administrivia: > Tae unsubscribe frae SCOTTISH-MINING-D, send a message tae > > [email protected] > > that contains in the body o' the message the command > > unsubscribe > > and nae ither text. Nae subject line is necessary, but if yer software > requires wan, jist use unsubscribe in the subject, too. > > Tae contact the SCOTTISH-MINING-D list administrator, send mail tae > [email protected] > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Re: [McPitz] Engine Keeper in SCT colliery > Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 18:58:14 +0100 > From: Paul North <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > > Hello List, > I'm the one who posted directly to the original person asking the question > about what an engine keeper was. I had misplaced the directions for posting > to the list. Apologies to all. Here was my response: > > I found the following on the Scots Origins message board: > >From: "william Findlay" <[email protected]> > >Date: Sat Sep 23, 2000 8:48 pm > >Subject: Re - Colliery Engine Keeper > > A Colliery Engine Keeper was the man who worked the winding-engine which > >raised and lowered the cage in the mine shaft. Steam engines were used > >originally for this task. > > > >William Findlay > >Ayrshire > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scots-origins/message/10400 > > Regards, > > Paul North <[email protected]> > > >Hi List, > > > >In 1891 Census in a Fife colliery area the occupation of several men is > >shown as "Engine Keeper". Can anyone tell me please what such a person > >did? I cannot find it in any list of old occupations. > > > > It is obviously different to an Engine Driver, Engine Man or Engine > >Stoker, as those terms are used for other men. > >-- > >Jill Smith on the beautiful North Coast of NSW Australia > > > > > >==== SCOTTISH-MINING Mailing List ==== > >Visit the GENUKI Fife website > >http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/FIF/ > ><================================================> > > > >============================== > >Search over 1 Billion names at Ancestry.com! > >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist1.asp > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: [McPitz] Mining Lamp > Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 21:56:48 -0600 > From: Valerie Montgomery-Bull <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > > I would love to have a picture of the lamp. > Valerie in Saskatchewan > [email protected] > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Re: [McPitz] Engine Keeper -- the answer > Date: Tue, 15 May 2001 16:38:50 +0930 > From: Jill Smith <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > > Hi List, > > Thanks to all those who replied to me directly. As I've had some others > asking me for the answer, this is it ... > > It seems he was the man in charge of the engine above ground that > controlled the winding gear to bring up/down miners and coal waggons. > -- > Jill Smith on the beautiful North Coast of NSW Australia > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Re: [McPitz] Engine keeper > Date: Tue, 15 May 2001 12:35:10 +0100 > From: "John McLinden" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > > As far as I'm aware, an engine keeper was the man responsible for lifting > and lowering the cages into the mine. > > The engine didn't have to be mechanical but might also be a horse-gin - a > windlass like mechanism in which a horse or mule would walk in endless > circles round a winch to raise or lower the pit-cage to raise the coal > (usually). > > Often as not, the miners had to make their own way into and out of the mine > at the beginning and end of their shifts as the mine owners considered it an > expensive waste to have to use their equipment to get them in and out! > > J. > > Have a look at my webpage for all my connections: > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jmcl483136/ > > > > When I saw the question posted on the list about a colliery engine > keeper, I awaited an answer with interest as I also had a reletive listed as > an engine keeper on the 1891 census. It seems thst someone answered the > question privately so could someone please post the reply on the list. > > > > Thanks > > > Jackie Dickson