News on Screen

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 6th Year

Issue

Issue No.

3

Date Released

Nov 1952

Stories in this Issue:

• 1. MILLIONS TO COME
• 2. INTERCOM
• 3. TESTING TIME
• 4. NEW SCHOOL

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 4

Summary

NoS Summary - the opening of Calverton Colliery and a new branch railway.
BFI synopsis: The colliery is the first big new colliery to come into production since nationalisation; the new railway (built for the colliery) is British Rail’s first new branch line since nationalisation.
NCB Commentary - Calverton, Nottinghamshire, is the site of the first big new colliery to come into production since the mines were nationalised. 1800 men will soon be working at the pit, together with its coal preparation plant and rail sidings for nearly 2,000 wagons.
In late September a special train left London with distinguished railway and coal industry guests for the opening ceremony. Aboard were Lord Leathers, Secretary of State for Transport, Fuel and Power coordination, and Sir Hubert Houldsworth, NCB chairman. The train ran over a brand new 7-mile branch line, British Railways’ first since nationalisation, connecting the colliery to the railway system, and pulled into the sidings near the new coal preparation plant. Soon, Diesel locos in radio contact with the control centre will be operating over these lines.
Inside the washery, which has been designed to handle 450 tons of coal an hour, there was a brief inspection before the speeches. Lord Leathers paid a tribute to the Coal Board, and to the British Transport Commission for their part in the project. Sir Hubert Houldsworth wished the new pit God-speed.
Then, as Lord Leathers pressed the button, the coal preparation plant sprang into life, signalling the official baptism of the new mine.
Then back to the train, after an inspection of the rest of the colliery buildings.
A brief exchange of views with colliery apprentices who will be working at Calverton, and then the visitors were off again, leaving behind them, as the train pulled out, a colliery that has been 15 years in the making but which should turn out a million tons of coal a year for the next hundred years.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 3 October 1952.

Keywords

Education and training; Buildings and structures; Railways; Transport; Mining; Ceremonies; Engineering; Youth

Locations

England; Nottinghamshire; Calverton Colliery

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for Synopsis
National Film Archive Catalogue
Film User   Vol.8 No.87 January 1954, p32.
The National Archives COAL 32   /3 Scripts for Mining Review, 1949-1956

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board