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Description

This was a major coal fired power station commissioned in 1967. It was built on the foreshore, just east of where waste from Prestonlinks Colliery was deposited on the shore.

Three coal sources particularly associated with the power station are Bilston Glen Colliery, Monktonhall Colliery and Blindwells Opencast Disposal Site. But the sources of coal varied over the years and had also included Westfield Opencast and Seafield Colliery.

Westfield Opencast had started about 1960. Bilston Glen Colliery opened in 1963. Monktonhall Colliery opened in 1965. Seafield Colliery opened in 1966. Blindwells Opencast Disposal Site opened in 1979.

By the 1980s five trains ran from Bilston Glen Colliery, three from Blindwells Opencast Disposal Site and also from the opencast at Rough Castle Sidings to the power station daily.

Bilston Glen Colliery closed in 1989, Monktonhall Colliery closed in 1989, and re-opened between 1992 and 1997, and Blindwells Opencast Disposal Site was extended in 1997. Further extension was not allowed and it closed in 2000. In the mid 2000s coal from Westfield Opencast, which was re-opened, was also used. In 2003 coal came from Ravenstruther, Millerhill, Chalmerston Loading Pad and Knockshinnoch Washery.

Latterly, from 2004/5, low sulphur coal from Russia was imported through Imperial Dock [Leith]. Coal was also imported through the former Hunterston Ore Terminal.

Closure was in 2013.

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