Trains.com

Railroad Gauge and Horses Asses

19268 views
36 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 2:19 PM

Cotton Belt MP104
This “story” (Roman chariot to Thiokol boosters) I had seen before, but like the tomikawaTT explanation. What concerned me was, what is a colliery? As the “mine cart gauge” would HINT at what a colliery is ……I had to look it up to see: a coal mine and the buildings and equipment associated with it……why “don’t da word got an “A” in it”????....is coal called COLL in England?
 

 
According to Webster's, coal was spelled "col" in Middle English (English between the Norman Conquest and Shakespeare). If you know someone with the family name "Collier", one or more of their ancestors were British coal miners.
Stix
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 9,610 posts
Posted by schlimm on Thursday, May 19, 2016 7:42 AM

wjstix

 

 
Cotton Belt MP104
This “story” (Roman chariot to Thiokol boosters) I had seen before, but like the tomikawaTT explanation. What concerned me was, what is a colliery? As the “mine cart gauge” would HINT at what a colliery is ……I had to look it up to see: a coal mine and the buildings and equipment associated with it……why “don’t da word got an “A” in it”????....is coal called COLL in England?
 

 

 
According to Webster's, coal was spelled "col" in Middle English (English between the Norman Conquest and Shakespeare). If you know someone with the family name "Collier", one or more of their ancestors were British coal miners.
 

Right.  When coal was still mined in the UK, the mines and facilities were called "collieries."

C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, May 19, 2016 7:57 AM

And, a collier is also a ship that is used to carry coal.

Johnny

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • 4,190 posts
Posted by wanswheel on Thursday, May 19, 2016 1:23 PM

Also there was a famous Collyer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAod169FADM&t=20m50s

 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Thursday, May 19, 2016 3:23 PM

And another set of Collyer Brothers.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, May 19, 2016 3:37 PM

And, there was Collier's Magazine, which was NOT published for the coal-mining industry.

Johnny

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, May 20, 2016 7:16 AM

And of course we must include the the United States Navy's first aircraft carrier, USS Langley (CV-1, AV-3), which was rebuilt from the collier USS Jupiter (AC-3).

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy