The last coal train?

[trainswitheddy]

The working to March was only one HTA.

They must be piling the load quite high then.

 

[Adrian Barr]

There must have been another rake at Barnetby. The train to March ran last night with the loco that worked yesterday's Ratcliffe.

There's another half-dozen HTAs (spares or cripples) at Barnetby that are not currently in the set, I think they've been doing some of the maintenance swap-outs there. A single wagon all the way to March is a bit unexpected though!

 

[Amlag]

The 20 or so empty bogie coal hoppers (HTAs) stored at Exeter Riverside yard for several years now
were noted yesterday morning 25/6/24 receiving visual inspection checks by two DBS staff, no doubt from afar, whose large DB branded road van was parked close by.
A tail lamp was noted on the furthest west hopper.
Possibly the hoppers are to be moved away to somewhere ?

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

exactly - the UK has a wide mix of electricity producing sources, including solar, wind, nuclear, hydro, and gas, as well as the option to import (and export) electricity, combined with an increasing range of energy storage options. With the new facilities coming online between last winter and next winter, coal isn't necessary anymore. And that's why this final coal power station is closing this year.

The only dispatchable big power station thats been commissioned over last 12mths is Keadby 2 (893MW) so will cover 50% of Ratcliffe. There has been plenty of new solar and some wind but bigger uplifts come this year. The Viking interconnector also gives us access to 1.4GW from Denmark if they can spare it. Anyhow im surmising Uniper the owners of Ratcliffe had a load of coal in storage down at Immingham so have shipped it up to Ratcliffe and will just either try and sell into the balancing mechanism when wind is low or just nominate the units to use up the coal for its own supply contracts.

 

[Class 317]

The only dispatchable big power station thats been commissioned over last 12mths is Keadby 2 (893MW) so will cover 50% of Ratcliffe. There has been plenty of new solar and some wind but bigger uplifts come this year. The Viking interconnector also gives us access to 1.4GW from Denmark if they can spare it. Anyhow im surmising Uniper the owners of Ratcliffe had a load of coal in storage down at Immingham so have shipped it up to Ratcliffe and will just either try and sell into the balancing mechanism when wind is low or just nominate the units to use up the coal for its own supply contracts.

For the last 12 months or so Radcliffe has been predominantly used for load balancing purposes.

Battery storage that has and is coming on the grid this year will remove that need.

As an enthusiast I will miss seeing the heavy coal trains.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

For the last 12 months or so Radcliffe has been predominantly used for load balancing purposes.

Battery storage that has and is coming on the grid this year will remove that need.

As an enthusiast I will miss seeing the heavy coal trains.

There is c4GWh of batt storage currently - Ratcliffe could have supplied that in 2hrs when running at full capacity.

 

[Class 317]

There is c4GWh of batt storage currently - Ratcliffe could have supplied that in 2hrs when running at full capacity.

Radcliffe was balancing the load to keep grid frequency correct.

The battery capacity which will be available next winter will cover that demand.

 

[Bald Rick]

There is c4GWh of batt storage currently - Ratcliffe could have supplied that in 2hrs when running at full capacity.

When did Ratcliffe last run at full capacity? Must be more than a year ago.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

When did Ratcliffe last run at full capacity? Must be more than a year ago.

It hasn't run at full capacity for many years but its max output this year was just under 1.5GW. They've had one unit mothballed for sometime and looks like a 2nd unit is now mothballed as well. Anyhow Unit 2 was run upto 400MW during this evening and the ESO instructed it to stay online beyond its planned use but now being ramped down.

 

[crosscity]

The final train is booked to run next Friday (June 28th) as an STP working from Doncaster, I'm told.



MARK

This morning 66784 picked up the rake from Barnetby and took it to Immingham HIT. After a while (enough time to load the train with coal) 6M63 took the train to Doncaster Decoy, ready for haulage to Ratcliffe tomorrow (Fri).

 

[DBS92042]

A now un-named 66781 is allocated to work today's 6M61 to Ratcliffe (it's previous nameplates are now on 66770)

 

[Teaboy1]

Watched it through Conisborough, bit of a non-event and 'business as usual' with no external indication of its rather ordinary journey being far from ordinary imho. No headboard to mark its significance, almost 'nothing to see here'. LHS name plate covered over with a black bin liner.

The End !

 

[40C]

Any bets on the covered nameplate being something along the lines of ''Ratcliffe Power Station 1968 to 2024'' ?

 

[trainswitheddy]

Just left Ratcliffe now, seems to be running a little late?

 

[Liam L]

Any bets on the covered nameplate being something along the lines of ''Ratcliffe Power Station 1968 to 2024'' ?

Been named Ratcliffe Power Station

x.com

x.com

 

[Sun Chariot]

Been named Ratcliffe Power Station

x.com

x.com

Crumbs, I can remember when 58041 was named that. Still in Railfreight grey, when named. What goes around, etc...

 

[chessie]

ITV Central News East have just run a short news story re this being the last coal train and the naming of the train to Ratcliffe Power Station.

 

[trainswitheddy]

Interesting that it's being spoken as the last, I assume the cement and steel coal workings are still here?

Realtime Trains | 4R61 0348 Doncaster Down Decoy Gbrf to Immingham H.I.T. (Gbrf) | 29/06/2024

Real-time train running information for 4R61 0348 departure from Doncaster Down Decoy Gbrf to Immingham H.I.T. (Gbrf) on 29/06/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 4R79 1038 Doncaster Down Decoy Gbrf to Immingham H.I.T. (Gbrf) | 29/06/2024

Real-time train running information for 4R79 1038 departure from Doncaster Down Decoy Gbrf to Immingham H.I.T. (Gbrf) on 29/06/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Going to assume these schedules, as well as all Doncaster Decoy based coal trains are now redundant? Do GBRf have anymore coal contracts or is it just DB who do the steel and cement workings? Many thanks

 

[Adrian Barr]

Going to assume these schedules, as well as all Doncaster Decoy based coal trains are now redundant? Do GBRf have anymore coal contracts or is it just DB who do the steel and cement workings?

Yes, there are numerous WTT schedules to and from Immingham H.I.T. (GBRF) which are now redundant, but will remain in the working timetable as part of the track access & access rights process, until they are declared not needed, or parts of the paths reused for other GBRF services / relinquished to other operators or whatever.

I saw the final Ratcliffe working while it was stabled in Down Decoy yard at Doncaster, but it was the first coal working I'd seen there for a while. The Ratcliffe workings had settled into a pattern using a single set based at Barnetby which worked 4E63 to Immingham / 6M61 Ratcliffe / 4E87 Barnetby, generally using the Doncaster avoider in both directions via Bentley and Hexthorpe junctions. The HTA set (with a few other HTAs) has been left at Barnetby for now.

I think the only coal trains left on the network are the DB services from Immingham Bulk Terminal to Scunthorpe steelworks, and Immingham HIT (Humber International Terminal) to Earles for Hope cement works. As mentioned previously, the coal trains to the steelworks are not currently running due to lack of product to load, but coke trains using HTAs are running on the Immingham / Scunthorpe circuit.

Crumbs, I can remember when 58041 was named that. Still in Railfreight grey, when named. What goes around, etc...

For some nostalgia...

In volume 10 of the old Railscene "video magazine" from the days of VHS, there's a 15-minute sequence of edited cab ride highlights from a Bentinck - Ratcliffe service behind 58041 that was filmed in 1986. Railscene 10 is still available on DVD - https://strathwood.co.uk/products/dvd-railscene-no-10-winter-1986-87 or alternatively the same 15-minute cab ride segment is included as part of "Cab Ride Highlights 1" in the Railscene series of archive cab rides: https://railwayrecollections.com/pr...gfisher-productions-cab-ride-collection-dvds/
It has some nice footage of Railfreight grey 58s on MGR sets coming the other way, passing the imposing buildings of Bennerley Colliery, the view through Toton "New Bank" sidings (now mostly lifted except for those lines of class 60s) and onto the high level goods into Ratcliffe Power Station. The full unedited journey was never released as a video or DVD, unfortunately (probably too short a journey for a standalone release).

There's some old-school footage of MGR trains being offloaded at Ratcliffe on YouTube from 1992 (with a 58, a 56 and a pair of 20s...)
Bogglesham | Merry Go Round - trains discharge coal at power station

Some recent drone views of Ratcliffe here (shows the area for rail unloading, but no trains present):
Martina looks at things | Britain's last coal power - Ratcliffe on Soar power station

For more coal train offload footage, search "Class 58 unloading coal at Ironbridge Power Station June 1998" and "Coal unloading at Aberthaw Power Station ( now closed) with 70809. 21st Aug.2017"
The first is more footage of traditional HAAs, the second shows the offload process for modern bogie hoppers.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Oh now you're just spoiling us, @Adrian Barr

 

[DBS92042]

The consists for the final two coal trains into Ratcliffe Power Station are listed below. Hopefully this is of interest/use to someone

Penultimate 6M61 on 25/06/24:
66784 + 310537 310245 310156 310116 310843 310492 310162 310487 310339 310677 310316 310651 310099 310001 310058 310307 310012 310416 310087 310186 310042 310513 310132 330191

Final 6M61 on 28/06/24:
66781 + 310537 310012 310416 310206 310156 310162 310099 310001 310058 310307 310087 310186 310042 310513 310245 310116 310843 310492 310487 310339 310677 310316 310651 310148

 

[AndyPJG]

Been named Ratcliffe Power Station

x.com

x.com

BBC News Nottingham

Power station's last coal delivery arrives by rail
A power station's final order of coal has arrived by rail, marking the end of an era for the site, and bringing a new name to the locomotive pulling the load.
Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire is home to the UK's last remaining coal-fired power station, which is set to shut at the end of September.
The 1,650 tonnes of coal delivered on Friday is expected to be the last ever fuel shipment sent there.
To mark the occasion, the rail operator GB Railfreight (GBRf) has named one of its locomotives "Ratcliffe Power Station".
The site, operated by international energy firm Uniper, has produced electricity for 57 years.
Its final delivery of fuel is enough to generate power for approximately 500,000 homes over eight hours.
Mike Lockett, of Uniper, said: "[This] is a significant moment and one that heralds the end of the story for the power station.
"However, it's not the end for the site as we look towards a future where it could become a zero-carbon technology and energy hub for the East Midlands."
Uniper says it is exploring the potential for hydrogen production.
Mr Lockett added: "We're really proud GBRf has chosen to name a locomotive after Ratcliffe power station."
John Smith, of GBRf, said: "Coal and rail have been pivotal in driving British prosperity for centuries. GBRf has been transporting coal to the station for many years."
During its lifetime, Ratcliffe - commissioned in 1967 - has generated enough power to make more than a billion cups of tea every day.
At the end of the last century, coal was used to generate more than 95% of the UK's energy, but last year it had fallen to 1%.

 

[crosscity]

28Jun2024. Ratcliffe Jct. 'Shed' Class 66 66781 (Ex 66016) arrives with the last coal train.[P1190503] by Ray Honke, on Flickr


28Jun2024. Ratcliffe Power Station. 'Shed' Class 66 66781 (Ex 66016) just before the naming ceremony. [P1190642] by Ray Honke, on Flickr


28Jun2024. Ratcliffe Power Station. 'Shed' Class 66 66781 (Ex 66016) after the naming ceremony. [P1190712PAN] by Ray Honke, on Flickr

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Ratcliffe burning through the last of that coal tonight by offering the ESO reasonable priced power going into the evening peak on the two remaining operational units and they are still on line.

 

[43066]

Ratcliffe burning through the last of that coal tonight by offering the ESO reasonable priced power going into the evening peak on the two remaining operational units and they are still on line.

The steam from the cooling towers did look quite spectacular against the blue sky earlier…

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

The steam from the cooling towers did look quite spectacular against the blue sky earlier…

After decades of travel up from KX or STP going to be weird not seeing all those cooling towers throwing their steam up into the atmosphere especially on a cold morning.

I know they are a lot bigger than railway traction but they were a huge enabler to social change in the 20th century so a shame they can't keep one cooling tower as a symbol of our past heritage.

 

[Brush 4]

I agree that at least 1 cooling tower ought to be preserved somewhere. How many are still standing? With a little imagination and a lot of money, the interior could be fitted out with floors and a cafe on the top, with the best view for miles around.
Battersea Power Station, Bankside, and the Baltic Flour Mill on the Tyne have all been rejuvenated in bold and innovative ways.

 

[Meerkat]

I agree that at least 1 cooling tower ought to be preserved somewhere. How many are still standing? With a little imagination and a lot of money, the interior could be fitted out with floors and a cafe on the top, with the best view for miles around.
Battersea Power Station, Bankside, and the Baltic Flour Mill on the Tyne have all been rejuvenated in bold and innovative ways.

Use it to conceal a gravity storage unit - winch a big weight up when power is cheap and drop it when there is a tricky peak. Should be a decent power connection nearby!

 

[Sun Chariot]

After decades of travel up from KX or STP going to be weird not seeing all those cooling towers throwing their steam up into the atmosphere especially on a cold morning.

I know they are a lot bigger than railway traction but they were a huge enabler to social change in the 20th century so a shame they can't keep one cooling tower as a symbol of our past heritage.

I know what you mean. Two jobs ago, I'd made weekly jaunts to Nottingham and it included the A453 past Ratcliffe.
1991-1993, I lived near Oxford and I'd often drive to Didcot to photograph MGRs arrive and leave the power station's loop. I have one shot, in azure blue sky, with 60 hauled train framed by the belching cooling towers.

 

[lyndhurst25]

After decades of travel up from KX or STP going to be weird not seeing all those cooling towers throwing their steam up into the atmosphere especially on a cold morning.

I know they are a lot bigger than railway traction but they were a huge enabler to social change in the 20th century so a shame they can't keep one cooling tower as a symbol of our past heritage.

If a cooling tower, or towers, were to be preserved then Ironbridge would have been the place. What with it being a World Heritage site, saving a tower would have documented the industrial carbon age from the very beginning to the end. Unfortunately, and shortsightedly they got demolished.