Bevin Boys with pit pony.

system · August 3, 2021, 8:55pm

Posed 'photo of Bevin Boys training to work with a pit pony. It is some illustration of the conditions in coal mines of the day that little equines such as this were the usual means of non-human traction in deep underground mines. The ponies had it even worse than the Boys; they rarely saw the light of day at all. Best regards, JR.

This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://ww2incolor.com/gallery/homefront/45208/bevin-boys-with-pit-pony.

leccy · August 24, 2012, 4:46pm

Pit pony’s were still in use in the UK into the 1990’s in dwindling numbers.

Pony’s had better treatment than the men in many mines as the pony’s were an investment and owned by the mine, healthy pony’s worked better and lived longer.

system · August 3, 2021, 8:55pm

Frank · August 24, 2012, 3:28pm

Coal mine in the U.S. used mules, donkeys and at time horses. 5 of the men in my family worked as miners in Alabama.