 The new owners embarked on a programme of expansion and installed one of the earliest electrical plants at any colliery in 1900 . A sirocco @-@ type ventilation fan made by Hick , Hargreaves , which could be powered by either electricity or steam , was provided . <unk> the downcast shaft to access the Deep mine at 902 yards ( 825 m ) started in 1903 and coal was reached in 1906 . A massive timber headgear was built over the downcast shaft and a twin @-@ cylinder vertical winding engine , built by Robert <unk> of St Helens , installed in the engine house . Coal tubs holding 10 cwt of coal were wound , six at a time in double @-@ deck cages . The upcast shaft was used for winding men and had a smaller horizontal winding engine . An earlier shaft at the Forge pit was 155 yards ( 142 m ) deep and used for pumping water from the workings . A windlass was used for winding at this shaft . 
