It all seems impossible until it is done – Diesel engines underground in the coal mines
I will always feel that Witbank Diesel Services were instrumental in introducing diesel mechanics (personnel carriers, material transporters and tractors) into underground workings in the early 1970’s onto the coal mines the Witbank and Northern Natal Areas.
It all started with Coms Mines near Ogies with mine manager, LeeBrereton and engineer Les Wilson.
They had built a Ferret by converting a Ford diesel super motor tractor into a general work horse.
Because of the excess diesel smoke it was called in to debate the fuel delivery without taking away the power of the vehicle.
I’d like to tell the story of the day I went underground at the Witcoms Mine with three diesel pumps with various fuel settings and the mine manager Lee Brereton. We had taken off the front wheel of the tractor for easier access to the diesel pump.
Lee was sitting on the turned over wheel passing me the spanners to fit each pump for the tests. We eventually got the setting we wanted that satisfied the chief mining inspector Bill Dalling.
This was my first introduction to Bill, we later had many encounters through our lives.
Bill took no prisoners.
At this time a company ‘Elgin Flame Proofing’ in Johannesburg had developed a flame proof parking engine with a scrubber box and flame proof cylinder head.
These engines were fitted with ZAV diesel fuel pumps. Witbank Diesel Services was the approved supplier and repairer of these pumps.
The directors of Elgin Flame Proofing were Chris Fitzpatrick and Gwyn Wiliams. Gwyn was married to the daughter of the well known Witbank doctor Martin Cox, who was a good friend of mine.
Witbank Diesel Services linked up with Elgin and recalibrated and repaired their diesel pumps. Witbank Diesel Services supplied the ‘Beta Tech’ flame proof alternator which was developed by my foreman Eric du Toit who was a brilliant electrician, using the rotor and stator windings of the Kawasaki motorcycle. This supplied the lighting for the vehicle.
The starting of the vehicle was by either the ‘Simms Spring Starter’ which had a limited use and was replaced with an American Bosch hydraulic starter with a accumulator and recharge pump.
The impossible had been done.
