soam

A soam is a relatively short length of rope, typically made from hemp or wire, used to pull loaded trams along underground coal-mine tracks. The tram, a low cart on rails carrying coal from the working face, requires constant movement between the coalface and the surface haulage system, and the soam provides the mechanical connection between the stationary pulling mechanism and the moving load.

In practice, a soam runs from an anchored pit prop or fixed point to the front of the tram, and is attached at both ends using knots or metal fittings. A surface-mounted winch or, in older pits, a stationary engine would wind the rope, drawing the tram steadily toward the main shaft or loading point. The length of the soam varies depending on the distance between the coalface and the intermediate hauling station, typically ranging from ten to fifty feet, though no universal standard governed exact dimensions across different pits.

Wear and failure

Soams wear quickly under constant tension and abrasion against the pit rails, coal dust, and rough handling during loading. The rope frays, kinks, and loses strength, requiring regular replacement. A broken soam mid-haul could leave a loaded tram stranded in the tunnel, blocking the flow of coal and risking the safety of workers below ground. Pit records show that worn soams were among the most frequent maintenance issues in collieries, and their failure sometimes contributed to minor accidents.

The term soam is thought to derive from an obsolete or dialect word meaning to pull or draw, though its exact etymology is uncertain. It remained in common use in British coal mining through the twentieth century, particularly in older mines where short-haul systems persisted even after larger pits adopted continuous conveyor belts. The soam represents a simple but essential link in the mechanical chain that moved coal from underground to daylight.