In this post we highlight the end of an era for coal by rail through Chesterfield which occurred in late June 2024.
In a September 2023 post we highlighted the probable end of the transportation of coal for power generation along the Midland Mainline. Now that has actually occurred, with a journey from Doncaster to Radcliffe-on-Soar power station on 28 June 2024. This was formerly a regular ‘booked’ journey which normally started with imported coal via Immingham. Perhaps mirroring the decline of the UK coal industry the Immingham Docks facility had once been a major coal exporting site.
![](http://www.cadlhs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_8408_Coal-low-res.jpg)
Coal travelled down the Midland Mainline, by ‘block’ train to the last UK main-land coal fired power station – the 1967-1970 opened Radcliffe-on-Soar unit. Owned by Uniper, the 2,000 MW station had originally been scheduled to close earlier than the current 30 September 2024 date, but now stockpiles of coal at the facility are believed to be enough to keep it going until its closure date this autumn.
Coal was once a staple of railway freight traffic and there are many old images of the traffic through Chesterfield. It was once used for a variety of purposes ranging from domestic open fires, gas production, electrical generation, steel production and industry of all kinds. Most if not all factories would have a coal fired boiler house, raising steam for use in power houses equipped with stationary steam engines, pumps and the like. The Chesterfield area also once had a not insignificant industry in the making of and repair of coal wagons, particularly when these were wooden bodied.
![](http://www.cadlhs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/geograph-2772166-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg)
Local coal merchants, generally based at railway sidings would also sell to households by the bag, or load, delivered if required.
![](http://www.cadlhs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Gas-Work-com-ches_1931002.jpg)
As is to be expected, the decline of the coal industry is mirrored by its decline as a rail freight. It is well-known the UK coal industry had an accelerated decline in the 1980s. The last large-scale deep mine – Kellingley in North Yorkshire – closed in December 2015. Even then, primarily as an import, in that year coal was still a dominant commodity by rail. But by the year 2023-24 it had the smallest share.
Whilst there is still a remaining coal flow from Immingham by rail to the Hope cement works, this does not normally pass through Chesterfield. (Hope is scheduled to close in 2042).
Unless there is a last minute reprieve for Radcliffe, the last coal flow through Chesterfield, by rail has almost certainly ended. This brings to a close regular coal by rail through the town – the most dominant reason for the actual construction of the railway on which it formerly travelled.
![](http://www.cadlhs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Coal-low-res.jpg)
There’s more from GB Railfreight on the last train to Radcliffe in a press release here.
We have used the following sources on this blog:
Ratcliffe-on-Soar | Uniper summary facts webpage
Ratcliffe-on-Soar: Final fuel delivery is end of the line for coal – BBC News
Hope Cement Works 2042 Public Consultation
Modern Railways, July 2024.
Read more about the history of Immingham Docks here- Immingham Dock – Immingham Heritage