A RELIC of the North-East's coal-mining era will power back into action for the first time in 35 years this weekend.

Visitors to Washington F Pit Museum, which opens for the season today, can see its winding engine working.

The winding house and head-gear were presented by the former National Coal Board to the people of Washington, Wearside, after the pit's closure in June 1968.

It opens each summer as an industrial monument to remind people of the coal-mining heritage of the region.

Following restoration, the winding engine is now working.

Visitors can discover what life was like for miners in the region and listen to pitmen's tales.

Staff will operate the large engine, which once took miners to the pit face and brought the coal to the surface.

The pit, in what is now the Albany district of Washington, was one of a number of mines in the area identified by the letters A to I.

It was sunk in 1777, and by 1870, was the largest coal-producing pit in the area.

Like the rest of the Durham Coalfield, it was taken over by the National Coal Board after nationalisation of the industry in 1947.

But, by the late 1960s, it was perceived as old and far from the NCB's vision of a modern pit, leading to its closure.

The Washington F Pit site, in Albany Way, is open every Saturday until September 25, from 11am to 1.30pm and 2pm to 5pm.

Admission is free

Published: 01/05/2004