Volume Ten - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Even more aspects - 1911 - The Penarth Dock of the Taff Vale Railway - Railway News Article . . .

The undermentioned, amongst other large light steamers, have been bunkered in Penarth Dock : -

By means of powerful centrifugal pumps the water in the dock and basin is maintained at any required level. The dock gates are opened and closed by hydraulic power, and hydraulic capstans are available at the outer and inner gates to assist vessels passing in and out. The dock is exceptionally handy and convenient for mooring vessels, and the costs for moving vessels, and the cost for hauling is very low as compared with other docks in the channel.

Coal Tipping Appliances.

For the shipment of coal, the appliances at Penarth are of the latest and most approved description. There are fifteen high-level tips (thirteen on the dock and two? [four] on the basin), and five have moveable shutes, rising to a maximum height of 55 to 60 ft. above the water level, whereby steamers of the largest class can be bunkered light and take their cargo without interruption, whatever the level of water may be. All the tips are worked by hydraulic power, and are fitted with double screens ; and every provision has been made for shipping coal with the minimum of breakage. Four moveable tips have been constructed on the north side of the basin and two on the north side of the dock. Of these tips a detailed description is given below. Each tip is fitted with two anti-breakage cranes and patent " Dispatch " anti-breakage boxes, which are not in use anywhere else. No bolts or other attachments are required for the working of these boxes.