Eggborough Power Station – Coal Handling

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The 345 acre coal storage yard at Eggborough power station had a capacity of 1.75 million tons of coal, which is equivalent to 15 weeks supply. Fuel was originally drawn from the Yorkshire coalfields and consisted of small coals unsuitable for domestic use. The coal was delivered by rail, with a complete loop from the mainline enabling the coal trains to discharge while in motion, commonly know as a merry-go-round system. Each train carried about 1,000 tons of coal and could be unloaded and returned to the mainline in around 45 minutes.

A giant boom stacker was used to deliver coal to the stock yard at a rate of 3,000 tons per hour, and reclaimed using a bucket-wheel at 1,500 tons per hour. This was the first such system to be used in the UK.

Coal Handling Pictures

Documents and Schematics

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