The plant now in operation at Wallsend for the shipment of coal from the newly re-opened Wallsend colliery is at the present date quite unique.

The staithe is connected direct to the colliery-yard by a double line of railway, one full and one empty way. The full way falls from the colliery to the staithe-head with a gradient of about 1 in 70, the waggons gravitating to the staithe-head in sets. The empty way also falls from the colliery for a considerable distance with a steeper gradient than the full way, and it also falls back from the staithe-head, to form a bay for the empty waggons to gather in sets, to be taken back to the colliery-yard by locomotives.

The staithe-head is approximately triangular, the base of the triangle forming the river-frontage. The full and empty ways run one on either side of the staithe-head, and terminate in turntables which are connected by a cross-way falling from the full to the empty way, running parallel to the river-frontage, and carrying the waggons immediately under the hydraulic crane. The turntables swing back automatically to the direction from which the waggons approach, after a waggon has been turned and despatched. The staithe-head is constructed of pitch-pine timber and is carried on piling out to the River Tyne Commissioners' quay-line.

The level of the rails at the river-front is about 42 feet above high-water mark.

The coal is conveyed from the colliery-yard to the staithe-head in steel-plate boxes, each holding 5 tons, resting, without any connexion, on low trucks with light steel frames. These steel boxes are provided with sprocketed trunnions rivetted to their sides. The trunnions engage with pitch-chains passing over sprocket-wheels on a cross shaft, on which are two other sprocket-wheels, from which the box is suspended by loops of pitch-chain attached to the wire ropes of the hydraulic crane, by which the boxes are lifted clear of the waggon-frames, swung out, and lowered into the hatchways of the vessel at the staithe.

These tipping-boxes and the method of tipping were invented by the late Mr. F. G. M. Stoney, and a considerable number of them were in use on the Manchester ship-canal works for the carriage and disposal of dredged material. They appeared so thoroughly well fitted for use as anti-breakage boxes in the shipment of coal, that Messrs. Sandeman & Moncrieff had no hesitation in recommending their adoption for the first time for this purpose, and these gentlemen were instructed to prepare a scheme of coal-shipment suitable to the local conditions and requirements of the colliery, with special attention to the question of saving of breakage. Under their superintendence, the shipping arrangements, which have now been in operation for a short time, have been carried out. The crane, waggons, and boxes were designed and constructed by Messrs. Ransomes & Rapier, of Ipswich.

High speed of shipment, although of great importance, has in this arrangement been made subservient to handling the coal with the minimum amount of breakage, and in this respect the plant will probably compare favourably with any existing method. At the same time, the question of speed necessarily entered into the requirements under which the crane was constructed, and it was guaranteed to lift the full box off the truck, swing it out to the full range of the jib, lower it through a vertical distance of 74 feet below rail-level, and tip the coal out in 1 minute. The reverse operations were also specified to be completed in 1 minute.

As regards the actual speed of shipment, it is somewhat premature to give figures, as the capacity of the staithe is dependent to a large degree upon the dexterity of the staithemen and craneman and upon the type of vessel. The writer hopes, however, to be able to give some figures at a future date which will enable comparisons to be made with other systems.