Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coal Trimmers
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Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coal Trimmers
@coaltrimmers.bsky.social
Coal Trimmers at Cardiff, Penarth and Barry docks worked in the holds of ships levelling coal by shovel. This would ensure the coal would not move in transit and cause the ship to list or roll to one side.
Built in 1897, the Grade I listed Pier head building was originally the headquarters of the Cardiff Railway Company, replacing the original Bute Dock Company offices which burnt down in 1892. Workers in Cardiff Docks, 1900s © unknown
January 4, 2026 at 10:45 PM
The Pier Head building was where the British Transport Docks Board were. Back in the day it was called the BTDB building. The docks police were also there. 😊
January 4, 2026 at 6:08 PM
January 1, 2026 at 7:03 PM
December 29, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Happy Christmas from the Coal Trimmers.

Thanks for all your information, stories and photos this year, it’s been amazing to keep alive the memories.

#coaltrimmersunion #penarthdocks #penarthtrimmers #Coaltrimmers #coaltrimmersunion #penarthdocks #penarthtrimmers #barrytrimmers #grangetrimmers
December 24, 2025 at 11:12 AM
First it was sail boats and then steam ships that transported coal all around the world.
December 22, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Historical Patent from 1895
Anyone know how to find an old Patent. Have search the patent office online but no luck.
December 17, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Reposted by Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coal Trimmers
#OnThisDay 1917 at 13:15, Cardiff Railway tipper W Smith was injured at No. 3 tip, Roath Dock, #Cardiff, #Wales.

Whilst uncoupling a tip, the spanner he was using slipped & bruised his left shin.

Railway work took in an amazing range of roles.

📷 National Railway Museum

#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD2025
April 28, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Reposted by Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coal Trimmers
#OnThisDay 1920 Cardiff Railway night watchman Samuel Davey was injured at Barry graving dock, #Glamorgan, #Wales.

He suffered 'injury to inside & left hand' when he fell on the dockside - but the Company denied it was liable.

#Railway200

📷Britain from Above
May 3, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Reposted by Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coal Trimmers
It was great to welcome our first school group of the new school year today, Yr 6 from St Paul’s Church in Wales Primary, Grangetown.

They visited for our workshop on Coal & the Docks, with a focus on migration stories, and had a peek behind the scenes into our strongrooms. Thanks for visiting!
September 18, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Reposted by Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coal Trimmers
#OnThisDay 1917 Cardiff Railway tipper ML Boyd was injured at #Cardiff docks, #Wales.

His right ribs were bruised when he slipped & fell against the tip mechanism - hitting with an old wound sustained on war service.

An interesting insight into the return from war.

#Railway200
July 11, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Reposted by Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coal Trimmers
#OnThisDay 1919, at 18:20, Cardiff Railway hydraulic repairer James Payne, was injured.

He was at 20/23 hydraulic engine house, at the docks, #Cardiff, #Wales.

Shovelling coal underneath the wagon, he hit his left thumb against the wagon, cutting it.

#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD2025
April 28, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Reposted by Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coal Trimmers
#OnThisDay 1919, at 16:45, Cardiff Railway coal tipper Ernest Scourfield was injured at No.3 tip, Queen Alexandra Dock, #Cardiff, #Wales.

While taking off a chute point piece before it was raised, his left hand was crushed.

He was off work for 15 days.

#IWMDHourByHour #IWMD2025
April 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Coal Trimmer George Travers at the back - maybe a few others in the team?
On this day, 120 years ago, a notorious rugby match was played. Nicknamed the ‘Match of the Century’, the Welsh rugby team faced New Zealand at Cardiff Arms Park in front of nearly 50,000 spectators.
December 17, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Coal Trimmers
What the earliest record you have of a dock based Coal Trimmer?

We see census records from 1871 showing occupation as Coal Trimmer - anyone see any earlier?
December 14, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Cardiff Bute Docks.
August 17, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Barry Docks showing coal hoists
August 1, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Have Tiny Rebel developed a beer about Coal Tips?

#coaltrimmers #tinyrebel
July 10, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Photo from another post. We have numerous statues in Cardiff and quite a few around the docks. This one is of a Coal Miner and symbolises the exportation of coal from the valleys to the world. Wouldn’t it have been good to have had a statue of a Coal Trimmer at the docks.
#coaltrimmers
July 6, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Reposted by Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coal Trimmers
200 for #Railway200 - a new thread!

We're 200 days out from the 200th anniversary of the 1st passenger journey on the Stockton & Darlington Railway, on 27 September 1825.

To mark it, we'll post a person a day from the Railway Work, Life & Death project's research.
March 11, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Not Coal Trimmer related but the beautiful Tintern Abbey.
June 18, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Reposted by Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coal Trimmers
We've blogged about Keates' 1910 accident and its aftermath.

We look at what it says about occupational disability and post-accident support, and the multiple accidents incurred by 1 employee over his working lifetime.

#Railway200

Read more here:

www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/safe-practic...
June 1, 2025 at 9:35 PM
On this day in 1910 Captain Scott sets out for his Antarctic expedition. Coal Trimmers were involved in loading the Terra Nova with coal at the East Docks.

Image copyright and courtesy of Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales.

#coaltrimmers #cardiffdocks #cardifftrimmers
May 15, 2025 at 3:31 PM