Old King Coal... the end of an era
Discussion
It appears that we have seen the last delivery of coal made to Ratcliffe Power Station, this one snuck past me, As the power station itself will come off line on 30th September and we will not have any coal fired power stations in the UK.
end of an era indeed. And to see this happen, the coal industry totally finished in the UK.
end of an era indeed. And to see this happen, the coal industry totally finished in the UK.
ruggedscotty said:
It appears that we have seen the last delivery of coal made to Ratcliffe Power Station, this one snuck past me, As the power station itself will come off line on 30th September and we will not have any coal fired power stations in the UK.
end of an era indeed. And to see this happen, the coal industry totally finished in the UK.
I guess a big thank you to coal and to all those who worked in the industry. As for no more coal fired power stations, about time.end of an era indeed. And to see this happen, the coal industry totally finished in the UK.
There's an odd irony in all of this - My Bro is a massive 'socialist' (or professes to be between sips of champagne whilst warming his arse on his gas fired Aga) and I still recall him wandering around in the middle of the miners strike with his 'coal not dole' badge citizen Smith style.
He's now a fully paid up member of the Milliband/net zero cult and the working class can now kiss his ass.
He's now a fully paid up member of the Milliband/net zero cult and the working class can now kiss his ass.
Lotobear said:
There's an odd irony in all of this - My Bro is a massive 'socialist' (or professes to be between sips of champagne whilst warming his arse on his gas fired Aga) and I still recall him wandering around in the middle of the miners strike with his 'coal not dole' badge citizen Smith style.
He's now a fully paid up member of the Milliband/net zero cult and the working class can now kiss his ass.
How astonishing that your brother's attitude might evolve over a mere 40 years, in line with cultural, scientific and technological evolution.He's now a fully paid up member of the Milliband/net zero cult and the working class can now kiss his ass.
Lotobear said:
There's an odd irony in all of this - My Bro is a massive 'socialist' (or professes to be between sips of champagne whilst warming his arse on his gas fired Aga) and I still recall him wandering around in the middle of the miners strike with his 'coal not dole' badge citizen Smith style.
He's now a fully paid up member of the Milliband/net zero cult and the working class can now kiss his ass.
buy him 'Not Zero' by Ross Clark for Christmas.He's now a fully paid up member of the Milliband/net zero cult and the working class can now kiss his ass.
Mining was and still is one of the most dangerous industries in terms of fatalities killing tens of thousands in work related accidents the UK alone. Many more had very poor health and an unpleasant death through diseases like Pneumoconiosis.
People also forget the blight on the landscape of the areas surrounding coal mines with huge slag heaps one of which caused a massive tragedy many years ago.
Thank goodness we are replacing coal with better alternatives.
People also forget the blight on the landscape of the areas surrounding coal mines with huge slag heaps one of which caused a massive tragedy many years ago.
Thank goodness we are replacing coal with better alternatives.
Biker 1 said:
mac96 said:
I hope so, but steam boilers can run on oil. Probably no less polluting, but will be available for the foreseeable future Festiniog Railway for example.
I doubt Fred Dibnah would consider swapping his coal traction engine for a diesel conversion!I was surprised to hear that.
It made me think about Energy production in the UK. Here in Wales, we have a long history with Coal of course, but our last Coal Power Station closed in 2020, we still 'export' energy to the rest of the UK, about 50% of what is produced here. Wind Farms seem to be the future, the hills and valleys that have been too steep to farm for centuries, are perfect for wind farms.
It made me think about Energy production in the UK. Here in Wales, we have a long history with Coal of course, but our last Coal Power Station closed in 2020, we still 'export' energy to the rest of the UK, about 50% of what is produced here. Wind Farms seem to be the future, the hills and valleys that have been too steep to farm for centuries, are perfect for wind farms.
braddo said:
Lotobear said:
There's an odd irony in all of this - My Bro is a massive 'socialist' (or professes to be between sips of champagne whilst warming his arse on his gas fired Aga) and I still recall him wandering around in the middle of the miners strike with his 'coal not dole' badge citizen Smith style.
He's now a fully paid up member of the Milliband/net zero cult and the working class can now kiss his ass.
How astonishing that your brother's attitude might evolve over a mere 40 years, in line with political dogma.He's now a fully paid up member of the Milliband/net zero cult and the working class can now kiss his ass.
P-Jay said:
I was surprised to hear that.
It made me think about Energy production in the UK. Here in Wales, we have a long history with Coal of course, but our last Coal Power Station closed in 2020, we still 'export' energy to the rest of the UK, about 50% of what is produced here. Wind Farms seem to be the future, the hills and valleys that have been too steep to farm for centuries, are perfect for wind farms.
There are quite a few Wind turbines in Cornwall now and assume West Wales will be equally as suitable with the prevailing SW winds and exposed coastline.It made me think about Energy production in the UK. Here in Wales, we have a long history with Coal of course, but our last Coal Power Station closed in 2020, we still 'export' energy to the rest of the UK, about 50% of what is produced here. Wind Farms seem to be the future, the hills and valleys that have been too steep to farm for centuries, are perfect for wind farms.
I lived in West Wales back in the 70s and early 80s and the areas surrounding mines were seriously ugly as reinstatement of landscape was not considered a priority then although it did gradually change.
I drove past the power station yesterday, it does look a bit weird to see the previously huge coal piled reduced to almost nothing.
Some controversy locally as there were plans for an incinerator, there might still be but it's now called "Low carbon energy generation and energy hub". Makes sense to do something with it, with good road and rail access to it. Hope to get to see the cooling towers come down, as a kid I watched them blow up Mexborough power stations towers and it's stuck with me (spent the rest of my day at my mates house recreating the event with polystyrene cups).
Some controversy locally as there were plans for an incinerator, there might still be but it's now called "Low carbon energy generation and energy hub". Makes sense to do something with it, with good road and rail access to it. Hope to get to see the cooling towers come down, as a kid I watched them blow up Mexborough power stations towers and it's stuck with me (spent the rest of my day at my mates house recreating the event with polystyrene cups).
Biker 1 said:
Coal will be around for a while yet as all those preserved steam railways & traction engines will need feeding....
Which is a tiny amount.
Coal is used for a variety of other purposes such as making dyes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and other agrochemicals. So it's still used just not in massive quantities.
It's a bloody good thing that we're not burning it for power any more.
Silvanus said:
I guess a big thank you to coal and to all those who worked in the industry. As for no more coal fired power stations, about time.
This!Both granddads and most of my lineage before then were miners, I grew up in a (working) mining village. Both grandads died well before I was born due to diseases related to their working environment.
So yes, it powered the Industrial Revolution and we should remember that, but not exactly something we should be lamenting seeing the back of.
toastyhamster said:
I drove past the power station yesterday, it does look a bit weird to see the previously huge coal piled reduced to almost nothing.
Some controversy locally as there were plans for an incinerator, there might still be but it's now called "Low carbon energy generation and energy hub". Makes sense to do something with it, with good road and rail access to it. Hope to get to see the cooling towers come down, as a kid I watched them blow up Mexborough power stations towers and it's stuck with me (spent the rest of my day at my mates house recreating the event with polystyrene cups).
Yeah it has been quite sad to watch it kind of fizzle out. We used to travel between Stoke-on-Trent and Nottingham quite a bit growing up and the towers were always the first marker that made us feel like we were nearly home. Because of that I always get that sense of nostalgic comfort whenever I drive past.Some controversy locally as there were plans for an incinerator, there might still be but it's now called "Low carbon energy generation and energy hub". Makes sense to do something with it, with good road and rail access to it. Hope to get to see the cooling towers come down, as a kid I watched them blow up Mexborough power stations towers and it's stuck with me (spent the rest of my day at my mates house recreating the event with polystyrene cups).
It is in a great location though so they should be able to make good use of the site, and hopefully keep as many people employed as possible.
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