EAT-OUT. — This expression is applied when a level coal drift is turned to the dip, in order to take advantage of (or "eat out") a rise hitch.

ENDLESS CHAIN OR ROPE. — (See Engine Plane.)

ENGINE BANK. — (See Incline.)

ENGINE PIT. — Pumping pit. A pit the whole or a part of which is used for pumping, and on which a pumping engine is placed. At present the word engine is applied indiscriminately, but in its earlier days it was applied only to the pumping-engine, then called a "fire-engine." The subsequently invented machine for winding was called a steam whimsie and afterwards a winding machine, and now generally a winding-engine.

ENGINE PLANE. — Formerly all level main roads or rolleyways underground were worked by horses, but engine power was introduced about the year 1841 and is now largely used where the planes are long and the traffic considerable. The full tubs are drawn to the shaft, and the empty tubs returned by either the Tail rope or the Endless chain system.

The Tail rope system is that in which the engine has two drums with a sheave at the far end of the plane. If the line is single, the load is drawn to the shaft by one of the drums, and being also attached to the rope of the other drum (which passes round the sheave) it draws that end also to the shaft, where it is ready on the reversal of the engine to draw the empty train or sct of tubs towards the face. The rope which hauls out the full t.ubs is called the main rope and that which hauls back the empties is called the tail rope. The tail rope is thus twice the length of the main rope. Under this system the trains are long and moved quickly, say 8 or 10 miles an hour.

The Endless rope or chain is moved at a slow rate, say about 2 miles an hour. It is worked in the case of the rope by a clip pulley, and in the case of the chain, with a pulley in which there are webs, with nicks in them to hold the chain as it passes round the pulley. This system requires a double-way. As the full tubs come out, the empties go in at intervals of 10 or 12 yards or more apart, being attached to the rope or chain by a self-acting clip. Where worked as above described, the comparative "costs per ton per mile are for the tail rope 1.879d.; for the endless rope 2.061d.; and for the endless chain 1.379d." (Trans. N. of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers, vol. 17.)

ETTLE. — To intend, appoint, arrange.