LOCAL Widnes railway enthusiasts recently enjoyed a special tour of SSE's Fiddler's Ferry power station in Cheshire where they saw the coal-fired plant in operation and learned how fuel is delivered to the 2,000MW generation giant.
14 members of the local Widnes 8D Association witnessed the delivery process from arrival of cargo at the power station's discharge facility via rail, to unloading and handling of communications between the Fiddler's Ferry team and the freight train driver.
Terry Callaghan, Website Editor of the Widnes 8D Association said:
“The 6.16am train from Liverpool Bulk Terminal was luckily running a bit late which gave us the chance to observe the whole coal delivery process from arrival at Fiddler’s Ferry to offloading and departure. The loco and its train pass through the discharge facility at a steady ½ mph using the Slow Speed Control with an operative inside the facility inserting a key into each hopper wagon and then, using the controls, opening the hopper doors at the appropriate moment. The coal then drops into the large hopper beneath the track and is carried away, by conveyor, to the external coal store. It is a truly fascinating and slick procedure that requires precision and careful management.”
The 8D Association would perhaps normally be seen walking disused railway lines or observing trains on the main rail network – so this visit gave a rare insight into a specialised function of rail freight for industry. While regular transfer of fuel to and from Fiddler’s Ferry is a standardised process for those who work at the station, for visitors it is a new and interesting experience. Terry continued:
“The SSE team on site is obviously very familiar with this work and it is routine, but for us as a local interested group it was marvellous to have this sort of access. Staff were very welcoming and we’re glad to have had a glimpse of what is - for them at least - ‘business as usual’".
Fiddler’s Ferry Station Manager Jack Turner said:
“We’re very pleased to have hosted the Widnes 8D Association for a visit to the power station which was made possible because some of the members had previously worked here. As Fiddler’s Ferry is a working power station generating energy to supply the National Grid, safety and performance are our main priorities. As a responsible operator we accommodate tours like this only where there is team capacity and a specific interest area – in this case the quite intricate process of train cargo discharge”.