Pant yr Afon Power Station at Llechwedd Slate Quarry, North Wales. This picture shows one of a pair of Hydro Electric Generators installed in 1906 to supply the quarry with d.c. electricity. This 1994 photograph is slightly blurred as the set was running at the time, under load. Problems with the quarry means that the future of this site is uncertain, although the generators here can feed into the National Grid bringing extra income to the owners.
Much of the water that powers this plant has already flowed through a second power station half way up the mountain, and owned by the same company.
A d.c. system was used as the electricity was needed for driving haulage engines as well as pumps and the processing mills. There were also three small electric locomotives for shunting wagons through some of the tunnels.
The a.c./d.c. converter can run in either direction allowing power to be taken from or fed into the Grid. (July 1994)
Fron Bowydd Slate Quarry, North Wales. Getting this Cornish boiler halfway up a hillside at the end of a remote valley must have been a major project for the quarry company. As with many sites, the remoteness of the site can be judged by the amount of materials left. At many other sites, a boiler would be cut up and taken out by lorry, but there is no road access to the site and no easy route to make one.
It is not known if this boiler was used in its current location. (July 1994)
More Photographs of this area are on www.Penmorfa.com
Magpie Lead Mine, Derbyshire. There is a fascinating mix of equipment here, or at least its remains. The site is leased by the Peak District Mines Historical Society who also have museums and exhibits at Matlock Bath and the National Tramway Museum (both also in Derbyshire).
Evident here are, from the left; the 1950s winder house and steel head gear, the pumping engine house and the chimney for the pumping engine.
Rhosydd Slate Quarry. Deep inside this slate mine is a the remains of an ingenious way of moving wagons from high levels to the mill lower down. Since these photographs were taken in May 1996, rock falls have made access to this point very much more difficult and Dangerous.
Loaded wagons were pushed onto the 4 tracks on the wooden transporter seen in the lower photograph. This ran on the outer pair of rails while a balance weight ran on the inner rails and passed easily beneath the transported. The balance weight was of such a weight that it was heavier than the transporter when it was loaded with empty wagons but was not as heavy as the transporter plus loaded wagons. Thus the loaded wagons were brought down under control and the empties taken up for free.
The upper photograph shows the return wheels for the rope and the brake gear and wheel for controlling the speed in both directions. (May 1996)
Box Stone Mine, Nr Bath. Having been operated for many years and provided much of the building stone for Bath and surrounding towns, the quarry are partially used as a military base. This area is in part of the labyrinth that was left alone. Several cranes of this style remain although this is probably the best (and easiest to photograph. (May 1996)
Please remember that many interesting sites are privately owned and do not have public access. Additionally, some of the photographs were taken underground. Never enter underground workings without the correct safety equipment and an experienced leader who knows the site.
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