In the past, locomotive coaling on Peak Rail has been carried out at the Darley Dale yard. For some years, an electric coal elevator was employed. This required the coal to be shovelled by hand from the coal pile to the hopper at the bottom of the conveyor. Even on a tank locomotive, this was a gruelling task at the end of a shift.
Latterly, matters have been much improved by the use of a bucket loading shovel which a number of locomotive crew are trained to use.
As part of the development of the new Rowsley Shed, smart coal stillages have been provided, shown in my picture below taken in December 2008.
In August 2009, the first consignment of coal was delivered to Rowsley. On the 9th August, I was the rostered driver when 'Royal Pioneer' was coaled for the first time at Rowsley by Rob using a 'JCB', as shown in the pictures below.
