OK that makes no sense at all. CL Best used the tracks to move men into the mine which was a 1 hour trip each way. Now they realize that it is quite dangerous and they are not allowed to do that which means they are walking in.
How is that only 30 min slower?
Maybe 30 min slower per man, per trip. That is only 1 man hour per day per person. With a crew of 8 you get the work of 7 men a day
Unless you saw that PL bought a passenger car for team transport to the mine?