A method and apparatus for forming and mounting a sleeve and a thrust member in a bore in a motorgear drive housing shaft to support the motorgear drive shaft against radial and axial movement. Discharge of a capacitor through the inductor and lamp is controlled by a high-speed semiconductor switch which is turned on and off by a suitable control, current flowing from the inductor through a one-way path including the lamp when the switch is off. Extending along the road 13 is a conveyor 15 having a forward end 20 to which the mined material from the continuous miner 12 is delivered.