At the opening he said: We have seen at work what many have not seen before – a system realised in which a central station generates power by steam engines and delivers electricity to consumers at distances varying, I think, from a quarter of a mile to over three and a half miles... A larger station is in prospect, larger work is contemplated.

This admirable but comparatively small station at Neptune Bank makes a splendid beginning... What I am seeing today is the dream of my life realised.

The company changed their system of supply, from 2,000 volt (V) single phase alternating current which had been used to distribute power from their Pandon Dene Power Station, to three phase current at 5,500 V.[2] This made NESCo the first statutory authority to supply in such a way.

[5][6] The station's buildings were built from corrugated iron, and the boiler house adjoined the engine room on its south facing side.

This cooling system was adopted as it was cheaper than pumping water up from the nearby River Tyne which was 60 ft (18 m) below the level of the station.

[1][6] At the time, these were the largest three-phase steam turbine driven alternators in the world, as well as being the first of the barrel type rotary design.

[6] The turbines drove 6,000 V three-phase alternators, supplying current to motor-generators and transformers in the substations attached to the distribution network.

[9] Coal was delivered to Neptune Bank from the Riverside Branch of the North Eastern Railway at Tyne Pontoons signal box, about halfway between Walker and Carville stations.

It was taken to the station's railway sidings using a small electric locomotive and unloaded in front of the boiler house.

The station was badly located for sources of cooling and boiler water – it was some 60 ft (18 m) above the level of the nearby River Tyne, which was also 200 feet away.

Fitted entirely with steam turbine generating equipment, Carville quickly superseded Neptune Bank.

[10] The building was later acquired by the company Thermal Syndicate who used it as a glass blowing factory known as the Vitreosil Works.