The Heritage Rail Association has released a statement after Newcastle City Council refused the planning permission application for a new coal mine at Dewley Hill, near Newcastle.
The decision means that coal production in the UK has come to an end and has slashed the hopes of Britain’s heritage railways, who need affordable coal to continue running steam trains.
Heritage railways in Britain will now have to find ways to import, store and handle the coal it needs.
The HRA has said that English steam coal supplies will run out in 2021, whilst coal supplies in Wales will run out in 2022.
We reported earlier this week that the HRA had said this coal mine was a last shout for heritage railways.
Steve Oates, Chief Executive of the Heritage Railway Association said ‘The decision is a huge disappointment. We spoke at the planning committee meeting and we had argued a strong case. UK-produced coal generates a fraction of the CO2 emissions created by extracting and then shipping coal half-way round the world to the UK. And it costs less in money terms, too. Keeping Britain’s heritage railways running with affordable locally-produced coal would secure the future of a sector which sits at the heart of the country’s industrial and cultural heritage, and generates millions for the leisure and travel sector.’
Steam railways from around the UK made representations to Newcastle City Council along with other trusts and groups. Strong support was provided by Sir Peter Hendy, Chairman of Network Rail, who said, ‘Steam on the main line attracts tens of thousands of spectators, warming the market for our railway in general, and the two Science Museum Group museums in the North East, Locomotion at Shildon and the National Railway Museum at York attracts 750,000 visitors per year lured by the romance and operation of steam locomotives. With the remaining stocks of English coal, this should supply UK steam locomotives until early 2021. The financial burden loco operators and heritage railways would face in adapting their steam locomotive fleet to burn alternative fuels would be impossible to overcome. Approval of the Dewley Hill mine scheme would bring a reprieve to the nation’s heritage steam locomotive operators, currently dependent on the dwindling availability of home-produced coal.’
Credit: RailAdvent
‘Maintaining consistent and reliable supplies of coal is difficult and expensive’, said Oates. ‘That burden will now fall on our members, whose finances have already been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.’ He added, ‘The inevitable increase in the cost of coal may well be too much for some of our members to bear.’
Looking to the future, Steve Oates said, ‘Naturally we will watch carefully whether the applicants choose to lodge an appeal. We’re also awaiting the outcome of the Welsh Government’s consultation on their draft coal policy. Meanwhile we now have no alternative but to press ahead with our work on developing a coal importing operation, while also supporting US research and development work on biocoal.’
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Responses
Well I hope to travel on North Wales heritage lines after the covid-19 crisis. but this news is typical of UK mishandling of needs. I have written today to the Transport Minister and also to Business& Energy Minister at respective ministries. heck, only one small letter from a single voter, but if more do it, the better. Save a seat at Porthmadog for me in 2021.
This is good news. The burning of coal is not some thing the planet can afford any longer.
And let be frank we don’t need coal to make a steam engine work. steam engines are not fussy on what they burn the fuel just needs a high enough energy density and there are plenty of other options.
For instance it would be relatively simple job to make a steam engine burn vegetable oil and a quick comparison suggests that you would get around 40% more energy in typical steam engine tender or bunker than you would with coal. Given the other benefits of easier handling, less soot, no sparks (less line side fire risk) lower CO2 emissions of approx 45% less per kJ it seams a very easy win to me. Yes the hard core enthusiasts would be upset but I’d wager the general public would not even notice.
As supporters of steam trains we only have two options carry on as we are and end up with a lot of scrap or static museum pieces in a few years time or embrace changes like the one I suggest now.
My cousins husband worked on the North Yorkshire Moors RR they used coal from Poland also had a accident on the RR that took his life in 2012
Opening an opencast coalmine on 250 acres of pristine greenbelt is never going to pass muster with local planners or people.
But housing just might!
I have never read such a crazy statement with reference to global warming and having to import coal with a much a bigger carbon footprint in toe. The Muppets running Newcastle council still think there living in the 60’s but no matter what their actions there pockets are always linned with 💸 and a good pension. Tourism will be hit hard if these train’s don’t run but typically councils heads in the clouds with not a clue about the real world.
Plus: they’re (the Council) are apparently eyeing up Dewley Hill for housing ‘development’. “Concrete Not Coal!”.
What about Ayle Colliery Co Ltd at Alston, Cumbria? Not sure about quality but mine is still operating.
typical narrow minded england as usual..just like this government .wHAT ABOUT THE NEW BUILD steam locos then and all the smaller narrow gauge likes such as in norfolk,Wales etc
That is a complete ‘no brainer’ we have coal, so why buy it from other countries. Just think of how many people that could employ and also save transporting it from around the world. What is wrong with these people.
Anyone who cares about our heritage should care about the generations yet to come. Tackling the climate crisis is everyone’s responsibility. No one gets a free ride at others expense. Lets move on the alternative fuels
unless you’re a politician in a Chauffeur driven gas guzzler of a car, or Elton john who’s last electric bill was 40 grand
Sensible decision.This proposal was for 3.5 years extraction and would do nothing for long-term heritage use of coal. Heritage accounts for less than 1% of UK coal use excluding household and power station use. The HRA is barking up the wrong tree in trying to influence planners to despoil green belt on the basis of marginal heritage use.
Welsh steam coal is still coming out of Ffos-y-Fran and with the closure of Aberthaw is looking for new markets. Sadly the Dean Forest coal (Hopewell) is only good for household use . Insufficient calorific value.
Do not forget there were numerous pits (yes underground mines, not opencasts) that were closed not so many years ago with plenty of coal reserves and plenty of miners who did not want to be made redundant
This is what happens when greenies are in charge…
Can’t keep history running with these alarmists fearmongering with exaggerated claims to the entire bloody world!
I’ve got many more greenie snowflakes to trigger with facts…and truth.
Once again, the lunatic fringe of the environmental lobby cause more problems than they solve.
No, the science is clear; coal has to stay in the ground- no exceptions, even for your favourite hobby. The future for hobbyists will be to retrofit an electric motor inside and make it look realistic. That isn’t the end of the world but everyone from the Bank of England to this government to every other government on the planet accepts the science is real and what it means for humans. If you’re a torygraph reader who denies climate science then there’s no point talking with lunatic climate science deniers either.
Would you pay to go watch a steam locomotive pushed by an electric motor with fake steam weakly pouring out with no pressure? Its not about climate change since the UK doesnt even contribute 1% to that globally. Ideas like this have no place in the heritage movement.
Coal to stay in the ground? Tell that to Australia, China, Colombia, India, Russia – and many more coal-producing countries & continents. We’ll still get our coal – except the ‘carbon footprint’ of bringing it to the UK is (and will be) much greater than if mined ‘locally’.
Head in sand – coal out of ground!
WHAT A LOAD OF TOSH YOU ARE TALKING, if WE START BANNING EVERTHING THAT SCIENTIST TELL US WE MAY JUST AS WELL BAN LIFE AS WE NO IT. STEAM ENGINES SHOULD BE ABLE TO RUN THERE CLEANER THAN YOU THINK. WHAT WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT ARE ELECTRIC CARS AND THE EXTRACTION OF LITHIUM. COUNTRYS LIKE CHILLI AND PORTUGAL ARE ALREADY FEELING THE BRUNT OF LITHIUM POLLUTION .
My heart goes to each & every fellow Heritage Railway across the Beautifully Historic British Isles,
Especially on this Huge Blow of A Unexpected Setback… I wouldn’t mind, If that Council changed its minds… Someday!
In the meantiem (within the foreseeabel future) I’m pretty sure most Heritage Railways will (and shall) find ways in potentially import Coal from somewhere Abroad.
can you use organic coal for steam trains thay sell it in shop 1kg £3.99p thay sell it inn asda iceland tesco only
In a word…….no!
I take it your using steam coal ? Going back 2 years ago when I stayed on a farm and the old Glaims station masters cottage I googled coal merchant and they sold Steam coal until I look it up, also my local merchant a mile from Kirriemuir was getting his coal from Poland I believe.