210MW of pure power
One of the most interesting features on the route of the train from Bicaz to Piatra Neamț is the Stejaru power station, named after Dimitrie Leonida, a Romanian electrical engineer. Even though the project seems miniscule in comparrisson with România's largest hydro electric power plant, with a max power output of only 210MW, it is a technical feat and very much an interesting complex, due to its uniqe construction.
The power plant started operations in 1960 and consists of six turbines. It is a part of one complex of hydrological installations, together with the Izvoru Muntelui dam, located 6km to the west as the crow flies, or 16km upstream of the river Bistrița. How come?
It is due to the fact that, in order to get water for power production, a 4,5km long tunnel has been drilled, connecting the Bicaz Lake with the power station. The tunnel holds huge water pipes, which deliver water directly from the artificial lake to the power station, right under the local mountain at 874m above sea level.
The pipes emerge on the upper level of the power station (visible right above the train!) and then rapidly slope down towards the main building, hidden right behind the trees to the left.
The train is of course the very photogenic morning regio 5472, Bicaz to Piatra Neamț, worked by the CFR 60-1017. The train usually consisted of two coaches. Thanks to the the fact that one had been removed from the trainset a day before, we could fit the entire "enormous" train into the small window between the two banks of the canal flowing from the power plant back into Bistrița.
Photo by Piotrek/Toprus
210MW of pure power
One of the most interesting features on the route of the train from Bicaz to Piatra Neamț is the Stejaru power station, named after Dimitrie Leonida, a Romanian electrical engineer. Even though the project seems miniscule in comparrisson with România's largest hydro electric power plant, with a max power output of only 210MW, it is a technical feat and very much an interesting complex, due to its uniqe construction.
The power plant started operations in 1960 and consists of six turbines. It is a part of one complex of hydrological installations, together with the Izvoru Muntelui dam, located 6km to the west as the crow flies, or 16km upstream of the river Bistrița. How come?
It is due to the fact that, in order to get water for power production, a 4,5km long tunnel has been drilled, connecting the Bicaz Lake with the power station. The tunnel holds huge water pipes, which deliver water directly from the artificial lake to the power station, right under the local mountain at 874m above sea level.
The pipes emerge on the upper level of the power station (visible right above the train!) and then rapidly slope down towards the main building, hidden right behind the trees to the left.
The train is of course the very photogenic morning regio 5472, Bicaz to Piatra Neamț, worked by the CFR 60-1017. The train usually consisted of two coaches. Thanks to the the fact that one had been removed from the trainset a day before, we could fit the entire "enormous" train into the small window between the two banks of the canal flowing from the power plant back into Bistrița.
Photo by Piotrek/Toprus