Coal Pits (Yama) in the Old Days: Underground Carpenter
1958 - 1963

Mukashi no Yama: Konai Daiku
[Coal Pits (Yama) in the Old Days: Underground Carpenter]
21.1 x 30.4 cm Ink Painting

Main Text
Though he was called a carpenter, he only used timber in laying ties (sleepers) or planking air gates, and mainly laid or repaired tracks. He was what they call a track layer (sharo daiku) and the chief of underground workers except miners, and was required to be quick. The normal spike for fixing rails on ties was rarely used in the Meiji era (1868-1912) and a crude handmade iron spike with a bent head was usually used. However, it was hard to hammer the spike into ties. The spike was made of 8-millimeter-square iron bars with one end bent and the other sharpened.

Text below the Main Body
In most pits, 1-and-3/4-inch square iron bars were used for finger switches for the tracks in main slopes etc.

Text at the Top Left
The rail bender is called a jinkuro. No other name is used in the pits even today.


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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