Man Cars
1958 - 1963

Jinsha
[Man Cars]
21.2 x 30.3 cm Ink Painting

Text at the Top Left
The rarest accident among disasters in coal pits occurred in Tadakuma Coal Pit on April 15, 1936. More than 80 pit workers were tragically killed (instantly) in the accident caused by the reverse run of runaway man cars. The cause was the breakage of a hole in the triangular iron, connecting the leading man car and the wire rope socket.

Text at the Bottom Right
Miners went up and down by man car through slopes used as manways about 1,000 to 2,000 meters long. The leading man car had emergency stoppers (safeguards) which operated automatically when the wire rope socket or metal fittings connected to it broke. Additionally, the connecting chain and drawbar of the leading man car were also doubled for safety's sake. About 12 people could ride on a man car. Some coal mines used man cars without any steel plates covering their tops. Normally five cars were connected together but sometimes more than 7 small-sized ones were.

Text at the Top Right
If the wire rope socket came loose, the weight fell down and two sharp steel bars stuck into the roadbed between the ties (sleepers) at the same time. Additionally, the leading mine car was fitted with another device to pinch both rails in order to prevent the car from rising up when the former device worked. No fishplates were used on the track joints.

Words in the Inset at the Top Left
kosu: wire rope socket
jinsha: man car
Kono ana o hikiwatta.: This hole was torn.


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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