Coal unloading at Aberthaw Power Station ( now closed) with 70809. 21st Aug.2017

21st August 2017 I was invited to record the arrival, unloading and departure of the Colas delivery from Avonmouth with Russian coal. Due to problems at Cardiff the train had to run to Margam Yard, run round and back to Aberthaw, run round again to gain access to the power station.Planned arrival was 7.40, actual arrival was 10.42.Departure passing Aberthaw Box was 12.47

[@martianhamtin5840]

Mike I have just found this excellent video. I was part of an engineering team from Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company that installed in the early eighties a complete set of Line-side machines which were responsible for operating the catches and doors on the old HAA wagons. In the good old days the Locos were travelling at 4 mph which was walking pace. Admittedly the wagons are much bigger now but we could still unload a huge amount of coal very quickly. The hopper shed is exactly the same as I remember it. We installed similar systems at other Power stations and cement works some of which were fully automatic. Thank you for the chance to see the Station again.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

If you would like a DVD of the day, let me know on [e-mail]

[@cyberleaderandy1]

I saw on of locos "sisters" go past our village yesterday. 70816, on its own with no wagons but in a real hurry. Possibly heading towards Crewe.

[@Welshman2008]

thank you for this video, My father worked the coal plant and drove scrapers for over 40 years at aberthaw and he enjoyed watching this with me. Also the brick building at 20:09 was the sample room where my Grandfather worked.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

So pleased your father enjoyed my morning at Aberthaw. All the staff were very helpful and made sure I had the good shots of the workings................Mike in the Vale

[@futtocksend8832]

I worked in the Coal plant 1988-1993. Great bunch of lads.

[@darryldyke1264]

@@futtocksend8832 I worked on coal plant during that period too. This brings back so many memories.

[@ianforfun1]

Great to watch, a great view from all angles I really liked watching the coal drop from the hoppers into the coal pit from above. Thank you!

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Thanks for your support Ian. Aberthaw closed a couple of years ago so all is quiet now. Only 1 coal a day along the Vale line, Cwmbargoed-Port Talbot. At least "I was there"

[@rahmathullahmondal5176]

Kkkoooooooiiooo0ppjllpogx qo

[@johnkeepin7527]

Interesting to see that it was using coal from Russia via Avonmouth docks. At least it keeps Avonmouth busy with coal, after Didcot A power station closed. Didcot A used to use coal imported by ship from Columbia via Avonmouth (after the 1984/5 miners strike, before which it used Nottinghamshire coal). Historically, the switch to imported coal via Avonmouth at Didcot A triggered the quadrupling of the Main Line between Challow and Wantage Road. Although I didn't have much to do with it, I knew quite a few of those who worked on that upgrade in the late 1980s.

[@johnkeepin7527]

Hi Edward. I understand that the Swindon & Cricklade Railway has recovered a certain amount of redundant track etc from the old 'Didcot A' power station lines, with it being moved over to assist the extension to Cricklade etc.

[@robmasterman]

A fascinating insight into the working of a Merry Go Round Train at Aberthaw Mike....Nice work....Regards...Bob

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

Exceptionally well captured. So informative. Thanks a lot

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Took me quite a while to make the necessary contacts; who responded well and gave me the conducted tour throughout the morning despite the 3 hour delay

[@Simonwebberpastpresentrailways]

Loved the process on how the system worked and the unloading of the hoppers was very good too thanks for sharing

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Took me a while to gain permission, once inside all the staff were very helpful

[@Colin21454]

Very informative of works at Aberthaw, and guided tour, of merry go round trains, well done great video Mike

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Glad you enjoyed the clip. Took me quite a while to gain permission ( knowing who to speak to ) but they made me very welcome and took me to the best viewing locations too.

[@robtrow6041]

I like the class 70 weird looking front end but from side looks great love the walkway also very powerful machine. Great video Mike cheers

[@dominichetherington2287]

The front end looks like that for a reason ! its actually crash protection got a feeling it was freightliner who collaborated with g.e. in america when their 70s were being designed & built think this was because of the tragic death of driver steve dunn who was killed in the crash at "great heck" when his class 66 got sideswiped by the other train that got derailed by that bastard who's landrover landed on the track so thats why they look like they do personally i love em!!!!

[@cyberleaderandy1]

​@@dominichetherington2287 i remember the Landy crash. I was all over the news back then. He ended up in prison if i remember rightly

[@panther590]

Truly amazing footage

[@captainboing]

Nice to see the whole process and not just the train. Nice crew at aberthaw showing you round.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Once they know I'm interested in their business, most companies/organisations are pleased to help me with my videos

[@geoffisaac3511]

Excellent video greens win again all good paid jobs gone I worked on outages on the station over the years just as well I am retired what a sad end for Aberthaw

[@EMuksteam]

Very interesting video Mike. Brilliantly captured. Kind regards C&A

[@peterscandlyn]

That was interesting! Thanks for sharing.

[@philipbirks5468]

Love these videos 👍

[@alfredjohnwiggin4390]

Very interesting. It answers a lot of questions about how it all comes together.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Please you enjoyed these clips from a long morning. I always try to " tell a story " if I can. Thanks to the boys in Aberthaw too.

[@GarethJonesPilipala]

A really excellent video and highly unusual content. I've often wondered how the coal was discharged.

[@Henrik227]

Hey Fantastic video. Loved to watch it. Thanks for sharing. Greetings from Denmark 🇩🇰

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

The power station has now stopped coal deliveries for the rest of 2018. Their stockpile is sufficient. Thanks for your comment and watching in Denmark....................Mike in Wales

[@DamiensTrainsandTravels]

Nice video, day before my birthday! Have yet to film a colas diesel. Saw one pass wellingborough as went past the railway station in car.

[@jamiekelsall5221]

I've scrapped a lot of those hopper wagons up

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

You have ?? where did this happen.?

[@letrainavapeur]

Another very interesting video Mike, It's a scene that I have watched many times before, it always seemed to be dark and raining, but this is the first time I've seen a class 70 doing the job. Nice to see Glyn showing you around, you can't mistake his accent, think he may have a comment for me on that!

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

They did a good job showing me around. Such a pity it's all history now. Even trains have stopped running into the cement works

[@Vonzack]

Fantastic video Mike, had a few tours around Power Plants, but never been close to the Coal Discharge area. I didn't realise the hopper doors were manually operated, unless they were just doing that for the video as they had the problem that day

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

I think it's the norm

[@simonrichardson5077]

Interesting video,thanks

[@darryldyke1264]

I used to work in that room. It's changed a bit.

[@mccoy79productions66]

Nice

[@brianburns7211]

Do the locomotives have slow speed “pace setters?” In North America, most coal train locomotives have a speed control, which keeps the train moving at a steady speed, for example 2 mph.

[@dieseldave3879]

🚂👍

[@robbielawson4828]

The coal trains used to run past me going to Drax power station, they've been replaced by 'biomass', which is allegedly "saving the planet". I'm not quite sure how destroying forests in North America, shipping them to Seaforth docks in big diesel freighters and burning them is an environmentally friendly endeavour?

[@saltleywsc]

are the two diesels still there Mike along with the preserved peckett diesel?

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

I only noticed the Peckett by the entrance; I'll investigate on my next visit

[@saltleywsc]

There were? two small 04 type Locos parked toward the seaward side of the site when I used to shunt at Aberthaw they looked as if they hadn't moved in ages!

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Confirmation this morning that there are no shunters on site

[@saltleywsc]

Thanks Mike probably went for razor blades!

[@zuiderzee9141]

Very cool video. I like getting a look behind the scenes; see what’s going on behind the stark industrial facade. Also, as an American I would like to make a quick apology for the visual horror that is the GE PowerHaul. It could certainly look better.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

A functional design so they say ! Thanks for watching movements here in Wales

[@blameusa7082]

1/2mph....ZZzzzz....

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

It is unloading the coal; or didn't you notice?

[@blameusa7082]

Oh i noticed, I noticed the entire way threw your great piece of cinematography! Just 1/2mph... imagine being told that, just getting back on to the 25 mph restricted track must be a relief!

[@bobbymaesteg]

Russian coal. Disgrace. Great video though.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Welsh coal doesn't meet the new regulations/emissions for 2017

[@bobbymaesteg]

More EU lunacy in action, costing jobs.

[@chriswalford4161]

Wanting us to breath cleaner air........ absolutely disgraceful.

[@Fcutdlady]

Myrna Loy I've seen the other side of your argument. Here I Dublin in the 80's we would get very bad smog. I ended up having to get cortisone injections 3 times for heavy chest infections. Even now in my 40's 30 years later I have to be cautious of getting chest infections. Why not make your coal smoke free to curb imports. . I also thought Thatcher had done away with most of the coal. Mines in Britain in the 10 years after the Miners strike of 1984. This will tell you more about the Dublin smog. In the context of this article Coal snobs are urbanites who. Look down thier noses at rural pepole burning turf. It's not referring to anything you said. www.independent.ie/irish-news/the-smog-factor-how-coals-snob-appeal-led-to-peasoupers-36388879.html

[@GWRProductions-kg9pt]

Russian coal is utter crap

[@Soupdragon1964]

Very clever stuff, but what an ugly loco! Looking at our network now, and what runs on it, it's hard to believe that we invented the railway.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Now they're designed for easy access during maintenance.Also these are built in Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

[@Screwy9758]

Just watched this vid', Said to my daughter, that the Engine looks American built, due to the walkway & Shuttered engine compartments. (Seems it is then.) Great video Mike! Many thanks to you & the Aberthaw power station crew, for allowing you to film.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

All to do with costs; easy access to the engine etc is so important with so many complex systems, eg note the very slow running with over 1300 tones behind her as she unloads the coal

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

They were very obliging, giving 3 hours of their time to show me around

[@baking1472]

Must have been pissed when they designed the Class 70. But ugly locomotive!.

[@clonSanG]

What a mislabel place

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Why is it mislabeled? Maybe miserable?.. Coal isn't exactly clean nor is the waiste and smoke

[@baking1472]

Cannot get used to the Class 70 loco- it looks damm ugly!. Probably a good loco. Also why was virtually every single hopper wagon defaced by graffiti!!. Proves that nobody has got respect for anything anymore!.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

No doubt it would cost too much to have security staff to stop graffiti, and the instigators like to know their work travels the country

[@stnicholas54]

They call it 'art'. It isn't art or anything close. Just a bunch of hoods with spray cans.

[@jenniferwhite6089]

itis ok for Great Britain to still have coal power - powerplants but in Canada, we have to shut them down for the environment the mother earth said we had to what about Great Britain watching a train of coal being unloaded they have a double standard in Great Britain shut down other coal power plants and they can keep their plants their

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

That plant stopped using coal in February this year, so don't worry on our part.............Mike in Wales