plough guide 4 has a lower rail 6 on which a plough body 7 is supported on both of its two front side ends by means of sliding skids of which only one namely the sliding skid 8 is visible in fig1 above the rail 6 the plough guide has a lower chain channel 9 and an upper chain channel 10 through which an endless plough chain 11 extends to drive the plough body 7 along the plough guide 4 fig1 shows a journal 12 formed on the plough body 7 to receive a cutting bar not illustrated here on which tools are disposed to dislodge the coal the plough guide 4 has an upwardly directed guide rail 13 at its apex an upper guide pawl 14 of the plough body engages around the guide rail 13 like a hook between the guide pawl 14 and the guide rail 13 a u shaped guide piece 15 is provided that is exposed to increased wear and is therefore releasably and exchangeably attached to the guide pawl 14 crane lugs 16 are disposed on an upper side of the plough body 7 via which it can be lifted with suitable lifting means the sliding skid 8 slides with its underside 17 on the rail 6 it has a lateral guide shoe 18 into which a downward facing foot piece covered not illustrated disposed on the plough body 7 engages the weight pressure of the plough 7 and the forces that act upon the plough when it is in.