Railway Herald
NCB West Ayr Area 0-6-0T No. 17 storms past the disused Minnevey Colliery and climbs the loop with a loaded coal train from Pennyvenie Colliery near Dalmellington to Dunaskin Washery in Ayrshire on Friday 25th February 1977. This was the last train of the week and is very well loaded especially as the only braking available is the engine steam brake. The train will need to descend a 1 in 66 bank as it nears the washery so several wagon brakes will need to be pinned down to keep it under control. The eigth to tenth wagons are standard 16 ton unfitted steel BR coal wagons which will be shunted straight into the BR exchange sidings upon arrival at Dunaskin while the other 21 are all NCB wooden bodied vehicles which will be shunted up to the washery for grading. In July 1978 peace descended on the valley when the colliery closed down. No. 17 survived and can be found in store at the Llangollen Railway in Wales. Towards the top right hand side of the image the top of the pit head winding gear at Pennyvenie Colliery can just be made out.
Bob Woolnough
