Forced labor during the Industrial Revolution was a dark period in British history, where people were coerced into working in mines like Derwentwater Colliery without fair compensation or safe conditions.
This photograph shows a locomotive of NCB Derby (Derwentwater) Loco 0-4-0ST "Washington", also known as Washington. The image is dated August 1916 and was taken by photographer Fred Underwood for the Manchester Evening News.
Derwentwater Colliery was one of many mining communities in Nottinghamshire that were affected by the coal mining industry during this time. The company's locomotives played a vital role in transporting workers to and from the mine, but they also suffered their own share of tragedies. Despite its grim history, Washington is now preserved as part of the National Industrial Heritage Centre.
Today, this photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by those who worked in these mines during World War I. It is a testament to the bravery and resilience of those who risked their lives for the sake of work.
