LEVANT MINE, Pendeen, Cornwall - June 03, 2004
Levant Mine - The Man Engine Shaft - June 03, 2004. The View down the shaft - the upper section of which has recently been conserved. The Man Engine - the last working example in the UK was a reciprocating rod, similar to a mine pump rod, which continuously moved up and down within the shaft. Miners could move between levels in the mine by stepping on and off platforms fixed to the rod.
Unfortunately the metal linkage at the top of the timber rod failed on October 29, 1919. Causing the rod to drop at almost the top of the 12 foot stroke. What is worse the disaster happened during a shift change with the rod heavily loaded.
Unfortunately the rod was not completely restrained by the safety catch wings and snapped in places. 31 miners were thrown from the Man Engine and killed and many others injured.