A Diesel Locomotive Underground at a Bituminous Mine in Alberta

Introduction The West Canadian Collieries, Limited, operate three bituminous coal mines in the Crowsnest Pass district of Alberta. Two seams are worked; their thickness varies from 10 to 20 feet and their pitch from 10 to 45 degrees. The Bellevue mine was opened in 1903, the Greenhill in 1914; both are gassy and dusty, and at both the haulage is a problem, as the workings are spread over distances of several miles. Compressed-air locomotives are used at Bellevue, rope-haulage at Greenhill, both of which solutions of the haulage problem are costly in installation an operation, and lack flexibility. In 1943, the Adanac mine was opened; and the question soon arose as to which system of haulage should be selected. Compressed-air locomotives and ropes were rejected on the ground of high cost. Since, under the Alberta Mines Act, the use of trolley locomotives underground in coal-seams is not permitted, the choice lay between storage battery locomotives and Diesel locomotives. The preference of the author, who had had experience with both in French gassy coal mines prior to 1930, was for Diesel locomotives, due to lower cost of installation and greater flexibility and reliability. However, Regulation No. 13 of the Mines Act of Alberta reads: 'No gasoline-driven engines shall be used underground in any mine, and no internal combustion engine shall be used underground in any coal mine, except only when authorized by the Chief Inspector in writing, and on such terms as he may prescribe"