Photo - underground diesel locomotive
code: LVSAV2019.140
Description
B&W negative copied in 1990 from official albums then held at Grangemouth refinery.
Immediately prior to World War II several shale pits were sunk or modernised. Many innovations were introduced such as underground diesel locomotives. This underground scene is possibly at Philpstoun No.6 and shows an 18 or 20 hp diesel locomotive built by Ruston & Hornsby of Lincoln. (supplied to Philpstoun in 1940). Similar 2'0" gauge Ruston diesels were supplied for underground use at Roman Camps, Burngrange, Fraser and other mines. Unlike in coal mining, there was not the need to equip shale mine locomotives with cumbersome flameproofing apparatus.
