Coal Basket

Witness the incredible efforts of the "Lumpers," workers who played a crucial role in the coal industry. These industrious individuals manually shovelled coal into large baskets within the hold of a hulk, a type of ship used for storage.

Once filled, the baskets were hoisted up and placed onto a trolley running along a narrow tramline above the deck. The trolley man had the challenging task of pushing these heavily loaded trolleys down the track to a steamer waiting alongside.

At the perfect moment, the basket was tipped to ensure the coal fell precisely into the steamer’s bunkering hatches, leading to the boiler room below. This precise operation was crucial for the ship's functioning but was not without risks. Accidents were common and, tragically, sometimes fatal.