Operations
The power station was well situated for coal deliveries as it was only 200 yd (180 m) from Lemington Staithes. The staithes marked the end of the Wylam Waggonway, which brough coal from a number of nearby collieries to the staithes for export. Coal was hauled from the staithes to the power station, before being dumped directly into overhead hoppers in the boiler house. From there it was burned in the boilers to provide steam for the turbo generators. This steam was then cooled after use, using condensers, the water for which was taken from the Lemington Gut. This was a backwater of the River Tyne, created when a new channel was cut in 1876.
As well as providing power for the tram system, the station was a source of electricity for local homes. The building of a power station brought major environmental improvements to what was a highly polluted area, because electricity represented a much cleaner source of household energy than coal, which was used at the time. Local households gradually switched to the new power source. A partner in the enterprise of the Lemington power station was Sir Matthew White Ridley, who had considerable interests in coal and banking.
Read more about this topic: Lemington Power Station
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