I had wondered what was left of the now closed Dalgig Road that runs from Dalleagles to Dalgig and joins the back road from New Cumnock to Cumnock. All of these changes due to the opening of the House of Water opencast mine. The following photos were taken over two days of which I was aided and abetted on the second day by Mr Peter Forster. The final photos of the chasm were taken near Dalricket Mill.
The Schoolhouse at Dalleagles from the Dalgig road.
The former Dalleagles School from the Dalgig road
The natives seem friendly
The road has been closed off to make way for the Opencast mine at House of Water
Coal wagon on display at the work entrance to House of Water
The old road is closed off but what is at the end of it?
The turning point is the last chance to turn around
This gate is almost the end of the road
This photo from the gate shows the end of the road that disappears into a cliff face
Giant machinery works to move the earth
Other trucks being filled
The coal face?
The different size of machinery can be compared in this photo
Another photo of the truck being filled with coal
Looking beyond the previous photos to where the coal is being collected
In the background is the old brickworks. The House of Water Farm no longer exists.
The road back to Dalleagles
This old telephone exchange? is still standing
The sign threatens thieves with a biological tracing agent
Not quite the Nith but this burn runs roughly on a parallel course
The view towards New Cumnock
The view from the other side of Dalgig looking towards Dalgig Farm
The opencast road for vehicles runs under the main road
The other side
Coal collection point
The Opencast Headquarters
Earth moving to get access to the coal
Parked earth/coal moving vehicles
Another photo with the old brickworks in the background
Redundant Scottish Coal trucks in the distance
This side road near Dalricket Mill has a lot of activity going on in the distance
There are hills of shale and earth that has been moved aside to access the coal
The hills also contain huge sandstone boulders
A refurbished bridge near the end of the road
The end is nigh!
Note the drilling equipment to the right of the photo
Another photo of the drilling equipment
The scene to the left of the gate
Looking back from near the gate
A small group of trees
The trees have some interesting items attached. The big box looks like it is for owls
Sorry for the poor quality of this photo as the sun was blinding and I could not see the camera screen
The smaller boxes are for bats
I could hear the sound of heavy machinery but see nothing
A closer look shows the sheer scale of opencast mining
Not many people get this close
You can see the route these giant trucks take in getting in and out of this chasm
The diggers scrape at the coal seam.
The scale is breathtaking. Note the trees in the background and the dry stane dyke that runs in front of it.