 The stations burned a mix of bituminous and anthracite coal . They consumed 51 @,@ 000 tonnes ( 50 @,@ 190 long tons ; 56 @,@ 220 short tons ) of coal per week and had a peak consumption of 70 @,@ 000 tonnes ( 68 @,@ 890 long tons ; 77 @,@ 160 short tons ) per week during the winter . They were well positioned to use coal from the Northumberland and County Durham coal fields . All of the coal used in the stations was brought to them via rail transport from UK coal stocks . Trains delivered coal to the station using the North Blyth Branch of the Blyth and Tyne Railway . The stations ' coal handling facility was fitted with a Merry go Round ( MGR ) coal delivery system in 1981 , after high capacity rapid discharge waggons became the British Rail standard . This system involved the trains slowly passing over a hopper and automatically discharging their cargo through doors underneath the train . Because of site space restrictions , a balloon loop track layout could not be constructed , so instead of being able to move continuously , trains arriving on site had to pull onto a reception track ; the locomotive would then uncouple and <unk> at the opposite end , before slowly moving over the unloading track hopper and discharging the coal and eventually leaving site . Towards the end of the station 's operation , coal was more frequently brought in by road . All coal was delivered to and stored in a large open area to the north of the power stations . This had a tarmac barrier underneath it to prevent downward contamination . The coal was brought from the storage area to the station using a system of conveyor belts , which travelled over the Bedlington @-@ Cambois Road separating the two sites , before being integrated to feed both stations as necessary . 
