News on Screen

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 17th Year

Issue

Issue No.

6

Date Released

Feb 1964

Length of issue (in feet)

894

Stories in this Issue:

• 1. CITY LIGHTS
• 2. THE PLACE WITH THE COAL
• 3. HORSE SHIFT

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 3

Summary

BFI synopsis: A look at Lea Hall, a big new pit in the West Midlands supplying coal to Rugeley Power Station nest door. Also, how coal delivery to the householder in Staffordshire is being streamlined by the establishment of Coal Depots with larger stocks and mechanised loading facilities such as at West Drayton.
NCB Commentary - To make a new coal mine today needs ten or more million pounds - usually nearer fifteen.
In 1952 the mining engineers predicted that if they dug here they might strike coal between 700 and 2000 feet down.
Over the next 7 years the necessary surface buildings mushroom into reality - little by little coal becomes a possibility - the coal-diviners hunch looks like paying-off.
And so a new pit is born - Lea Hall with Rugeley Power Station next door.
A million and a half tons of coal a year for the next 70 years.
Coal for power stations - and for our own coal bunkers ...
... The new West Drayton Coal Depot near London was opened by Mr. Richard Wood, with Lord Robens and Dr. Beeching. West Drayton is the first of several large mechanised depots for house coal to be sited near man centres of population.
The depots will be supplied by block trains consisting only of coal wagons.
A full wagon is emptied and the coal carried by conveyor to 60-ton hoppers.
Coal is also unloaded by boom stacker into separate stocking piles - neatly laid-out and accesible for easy handling.
In the 69-ton hoppers the coal passes over a screen onto a shuttle conveyor - and so into the familiar sacks.
Such coal depots will lead to a marked improvement in retail distribution. With larger stocks and mechanised loading facilities, coal merchants will be able to provide the householder with coal of consistent quality, as and when she needs it.

Keywords

Transport; Mining; Fuels; Energy resources

Locations

England; Staffordshire

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
The National Archives COAL 32   /13 Scripts for Mining Review, 1960-1963

Credits:

Sponsor

National Coal Board

Production Co.

National Coal Board Film Unit