Another early morning start with @Dangle_Angle and @GK_WAX this was a real good place loads to see and a large site. We had a few close calls with security.
Here's a few photos and history.
Work started on the construction of Rugeley 'A' Power Station in 1956. The complex itself was opened in 1963. Rugeley was chosen as the site because of the availability of land, water, coal and the excellent transport links nearby.
It was the first joint venture between the Central Electricity Generating Board and the National Coal Board. The power station shared the site with Lea Hall Colliery, which fed coal direct to the station by conveyor belt.
In 1960, the shell of the dry cooling tower was completed - the cooling towers are the large concave towers. The cooling towers built at Rugeley were the world's first big dry cooling tower and the first large-scale experiment with a design aimed at eliminating water loss.
In 1970, Rugeley 'B' Power Station was commissioned to work alongside Rugeley 'A'. This new complex was completed and opened in 1972.
October 1990 saw the closure of the Lea Hall Colliery which meant all future coal stocks for the power station would be delivered by rail. Five years later, Rugeley 'A' Power Station was closed and later demolished - during its life, it had burned nearly 42 million tonnes of coal!
Here's a few photos and history.
Work started on the construction of Rugeley 'A' Power Station in 1956. The complex itself was opened in 1963. Rugeley was chosen as the site because of the availability of land, water, coal and the excellent transport links nearby.
It was the first joint venture between the Central Electricity Generating Board and the National Coal Board. The power station shared the site with Lea Hall Colliery, which fed coal direct to the station by conveyor belt.
In 1960, the shell of the dry cooling tower was completed - the cooling towers are the large concave towers. The cooling towers built at Rugeley were the world's first big dry cooling tower and the first large-scale experiment with a design aimed at eliminating water loss.
In 1970, Rugeley 'B' Power Station was commissioned to work alongside Rugeley 'A'. This new complex was completed and opened in 1972.
October 1990 saw the closure of the Lea Hall Colliery which meant all future coal stocks for the power station would be delivered by rail. Five years later, Rugeley 'A' Power Station was closed and later demolished - during its life, it had burned nearly 42 million tonnes of coal!