mountisa

Miners exiting Man and Supply Shaft at the end of shift.

Mineside looking West. In the foreground the two story buildings were called "Tradesmen's Dormitories", on left were barracks for single men. The next building was also single men's quarters. Centre right was the kitchen and dining hall. The houses were for married men. The following is an extract from the Daily Mercury, Mackay, 10th December 1929. "Permanent quarters are being built on a very large scale. The buildings will have forty bedrooms, each nicely furnished and containing a duchess, a wire stretcher, and wash stand. The buildings are enclosed all round with wire gauze netting to make them fly proof. I believe the Company intends to charge five shillings a week rent for these rooms."

Miners on an electric locomotive. This is not a shuttle train. Shuttle train is a different beast. This particular operated from a trolley wire, covered by wooden planks to prevent accidental touching by personnel. This can be seen in the photograph. The trolley arm collector makes contact with the overhead wire just like a tram. This would not be allowed in coal mine. MIM also had battery powered locomotives these were commonly called Mules. An American company supplied "Mancha Mules". This is a production crew from the Rio Grande Mine.