March 5, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 493 switches. This type of switchgear is now displaced by pillars of rigid metal containing the isolating switch, oil switch, overload relays, series transformers, c and ammeter, the isolating switch being interlocked with the cover which gives access to the switchgear. All motors are controlled by overload relays actuating the oil switches. This gives definite protection and enables the supply to be renewed with a minimum of interrup- tion; it also avoids the risk of fuses of the enclosed type being replaced with unprotected metal. Substation Equipment. The two 3,000 kw. generators at Penallta are run at 10,000 volts, the neutral being earthed through a resist- ance, and they supply the transmission system direct. The generators in the other stations run at 3,000 volts, and their neutrals are earthed through resistances. The first 10,000-volt substation equipment, which is now being increased, consisted of :— . Penallta.—Two mesh to star transformers, 10,000- 3,000 volts, rating 1,000 k.v.a., the transformers being of the oil-insulated, water-cooled type. Britannia.—Three ditto. Bargoed.—Twro ditto. CROSS-SECTION THROUGH GENERATOR PANEL Generator panel Dmgrant OF CONNECTIONS Fig. 18.—Bargoed Switchgear, t t r Jj X X 7 Ip'p’1 ra__ +++& S Ia] For earthing the neutral point of the 10,000-volt side of the mesh connected transformers at Bargoed, when the supply is maintained from Bargoed alone, neutral point transformers are used. Each colliery has duplicate 3,000/500-volt oil- insulated mesh-star transformers for supplying the smaller motors. The 110-volt single-phase system for lighting is supplied by small transformers connected across one of the phases. (To be continued.) At the last meeting of the South Staffordshire Institute a half-size working model of a mechanical visual shaft signalling apparatus was exhibited by Mr. T. H. Lund, of Brereton Collieries, which he had patented. The apparatus consisted of a revolving dial and a bell worked by a lever. The Railway Gazette says:—“We have been under the impression all along that when the war broke out and the Government assumed control of the railways there became a common user among the companies of railway-owned wagons, and this impression has been confirmed by our personal observation of wagons belonging to one company being loaded from one station to another of a different company. In addition to which there was the statement by Mr. Asquith in the House on the 4th inst. that f goods wagons were now pooled? Sir George Armytage, answering the question of a shareholder at the Lancashire and j. ork- shire meeting on the 17th inst., said that the pooling of wagons would not suit that company seeing that the average capacity of its wagons was 10 tons, while that of other companies’ wagons was 6 tons. We think that the explanation for this apparent difference is that there has been a confusion of terms. The pooling that has been in our mind and that mentioned by Mr. Asquith lies in common user, whilst the pooling Sir George referred to was common ownership. As to the objection raised by that gentleman, we find, on referring to the details in the annual reports for 1913, that the London and North-Western had 20,008 open wagons and 8,745 covered wagons under 8 tons capacity and 24,119 open and 5,478 covered wagons over 8 tons and under 12 tons. The Lancashire and Yorkshire had practically none of the lesser capacity and 22,767 open and 6,780 covered of the greater capacity.” SCHEMES OF TRAINING AND The Home Secretary has just issued, under date February 10, 1915, a memorandum on schemes of train- ing and practice for those engaged in rescue work. With this are published particulars of the schemes, and the necessary abstracts from the General Regulations of May 19, 1914, and July 10, 1913. In the memorandum it is explained that under the amending Rescue and Aid Regulations of May 19, 1914, the scheme of training for the Central Rescue Corps and the scheme of training and practice for the persons to be trained at each mine for the purpose of acting with the corps, require to be approved by the Secretary of State. Schemes have now been drawn up, after consultation with representatives of the industry who have taken a leading part in the organisation of rescue work, and have been approved by the Secretary of State. At the same time, the scheme of training for rescue brigades under the earlier Regulation of July 10, 1913, has been revised to meet certain suggestions. The schemes have been made as elastic as possible, and it is hoped that they will be found to meet all Cross-section through busbar t/e 'panel requirements. Should any variation be desired in any particular case, it will be necessary to submit it to the Secretary of State for his approval. There are three points arising in connection with the new Regulations of May 19, 1914, and not covered by the schemes, to which it is desired to draw attention :— (1) It seems very desirable 'that some of the periodical practices (after training) of the Central Rescue Corps should take place at the mines, so as to familiarise the corps with actual mining conditions. This is required by the earlier Regulations in the case of rescue brigades, and would seem to be equally important in respect of the Central Corps. (2) "When men from the mines are being trained (under the scheme in Part I. (5) of the Order), it would be desirable that one or more trained members of the Central Rescue Corps should work with them during the first few practices (under, of course, the direction of the instructor) : the presence and guidance of a fully trained man will give them confidence and help their training, and the association of the men from the Central Corps with the men from the mines is in itself an advantage to both. (3) It will be of great importance that breathing apparatus provided in pursuance of paragraph (d) of No. 1 of the new Regulations should be the same at all the mines served by the same rescue station. The Regulations contain no express provision to this effect, but the need for uniformity in the matter is obvious, and it can n> doubt be secured by arrangement between the parties concerned in the central station. Where oxygen breathing apparatus is used, care must be taken to ensure a high standard of purity in the oxygen used, and supplies, unless guaranteed by the manufacturers, should be tested by analysis. The Secretary of State is advised that it is not practicable entirely to exclude the presence of nitrogen, and that provided the nitrogen present does not exceed 2 per cent., the safety of the users of the apparatus will not be endangered. Oxygen containing a greater amount of nitrogen than 2 per cent., or any other impurity, would become a source of danger, and could not be regarded as complying with the requirements of the Regulations. The following are the schemes of training and practice referred to :— PRACTICE IN RESCUE WORK. Part I. Scheme under General Regulations of May 19, 1914. (a) Central Rescue Corps.—The course of training shall consist of instruction and practices as hereinafter set out, and shall be continued until all the individuals comprising the corps are reported by the instructor to be efficient :— (A) Instruction as to (i) the construction, use, repair, and maintenance of the type or types of breathing apparatus provided for the corps, and of smoke helmers; (ii) the use of methods and apparatus for reviving men; (iii) the reading of mine plans; and (iv) the properties and detection of noxious and inflammable gases which may be found in coal mines. (B) Practices — not less than 12 in number for each member — with breathing apparatus under conditions so devised as to represent those likely to be encountered in underground operations requiring the use of breathing apparatus. In respect of these practices the following rules shall apply :— (1) The practices shall be carried out by at least five members of the corps at one and the same time. (2) The training shall commence with practices . carried out in ordinary air, and shall progress gradually to practices carried out in a hot or irrespirable atmosphere. (3) Each practice shall last at least two hours (unless in the opinion of the instructor it is desirable, in the interests of safety, to curtail the practice in respect of any member of the corps, or of the corps as a whole), and at some of the practices the breathing apparatus shall be- worn continuously during the practice. (4) The practices shall comprise the following operations : (a) Raising, by means of a rope and pulley, a weight of 561b. to a height of 6 ft. (b) Walking continuously at a fair pace for half-an- hour. (c) Building and removing temporary stoppings of stone, brick, sandbags, brattice cloth, or other materials, and carrying the materials required for the same over a distance of at least 10 yds. (d) Removing debris in confined spaces as representing the clearing of a fall of roof. (e) Setting timber or other roof supports. (/) Carrying, pushing, or pulling on a stretcher a live person or dummy body weighing 1501b. along the length of the gallery, and through an opening 2 ft. high by 3 ft. wide and 4 yds. long. (g) The rapid establishment of telephonic communica- tion. (5) A record shall be kept of the date and character of each practice attended by a member of the corps, and the condition of each man after the practice, and, if anything abnormal is observed, it should be stated whether it is due to a defect of the apparatus or to the man himself. (b) Men from Individual Mines.—The course of training shall consist of instruction and practices as hereinafter set out, and shall be continued until the individual is reported by the instructor to be efficient :— (a) The same instruction as in the scheme for the Central Corps. (6) Practices with breathing apparatus under conditions so devised as to represent those likely to be encountered in underground operations requiring the use of breathing apparatus. In respect of these practices the following rules shall apply. (1) Each man shall undergo at least 12 practices in the first year. The training shall commence with practices carried out in ordinary air, and shall progress gradually to practices carried out in a hot or irrespirable atmosphere. Not more than eight nor less than five men shall take part in any practice, but if five men do not attend on any occasion the number may be made up by members of the Central Corps. (2) Each practice shall last at least two hours (unless in the opinion of the instructor it is desirable, in the interests of safety, to curtail the practice in respect of any member of the set, or of the set as a whole), and at some of the practices the breathing apparatus shall be worn continuously during the practice. (3) In the case of men coming from mines where smoke helmets are kept, two additional practices with, smoke helmets shall be given. (4) The practices shall comprise the same operations as are specified above for the Central Corps. (5) After being reported to be efficient each man shall undergo at least one practice with breathing apparatus each quarter, which shall be carried out in a hot or irrespirable atmosphere. (6) A record shall be kept of each person undergoing training or practice, the date and character of each practice attended, and the condition of each man after the practice, and, if anything abnormal is observed, it should be stated whether it is due to a defect of the apparatus or to the man himself. Part II. Scheme under the General Regulations of July 10, 1913. The course of training shall consist of instruction and practices as hereinafter set out, and shall be continued until all the members of the brigade are reported by the instructor to be efficient :— (A) Instruction in the subjects mentioned in Regulation 140 (d) (iii). (B) Practices — not less than 12 in number for each member — with breathing apparatus under conditions so devised as to represent those likely to be encountered . in underground operations requiring the use of breathing apparatus. In respect of these practices the following rules shall apply :— (1) The practices shall, as far as possible, be carried out by each brigade as such, i.e., by all members of the brigade at one and the same time. (2) The training shall commence with practices carried out in ordinary air, and shall progress gradually to practices carried out in a hot or irrespirable atmosphere. Each practice shall last at least two hours (unless in the opinion of the instructor it is desirable, in the interests of safety, to curtail the practice in respect of any member of the brigade, or the brigade as a whole), and. at some of the practices breathing apparatus shall be worn continuously during the practice. (3) The practices shall comprise the same operations as are specified in Part I. for a Central Rescue Corps. (4) A record shall be kept of each person . undergoing training, the date, and character of each practice attended and the condition of each man after the practice, and, if anything abnormal is observed, it should be stated whether it is due to a defect of the apparatus or to the man himself.