The high banks of the rivers of North East England have led to the shipment of coal from staiths by the simple process of shooting it down gravity spouts from bottom-door wagons.

The coal staiths of the North-East coast—for example at Blyth (Northumberland) and at Dunston-on-Tyne—are impressive installations. The staiths are in fact jetties or piers built up to a high level above the rivers. Loaded wagons are propelled on to them and the contents are then quickly discharged through chutes down to the waiting colliers below.

[…] gravity had earlier been harnessed to provide part of the pull for trains of coal wagons heading for staiths for loading on schooners […]

Staith

Meaning

Noun

Origin

Synonyms