London Underground - Greenwich Generating Station, River Thames, London.
A photo taken some years ago from the north side of the Thames and showing the London Underground 'stand-by' generating station at Greenwich. It was originally constructed by the London County Council Tramways Department, to facilitate the electrification of their tram system in the move from horse traction, in two phases in 1902 and 1910. The first section of the station had reciprocating engine generators, whereas the second phase had steam turbines. In 1922 the latter replaced the former. The station was not wiyhout its detractors; scientific complaints due to its proximity to the Greenwich Observatory and aesthetically due to its position almost adjacent to the Greenwich Palace. Indeed the station's four chimneys were shortened. The structure in the river is the remains of the coal jetty, where coal for the boilers was unloaded. Oil replaced this as a fuel source before the use of gas.
The station passed to London Transport in 1933 and with the final withdrawal of the trams, in 1952, and later the trolleybuses that should have wholly replaced them, in 1962, the station was reconstructed as part of the modernisation of the Underground's power supply. This saw Neasden generating station closed, all major demand being supplied from Lots Road generating station in Chelsea, and Greenwich re-equipped with a series of Rolls-Royce gas turbine powered generators for peak hour demand and 'stand-by' supplies should the main supply fail.
This function has survived the closure of Lots Road and the supply of the Underground's power requirements from the National Grid. There are currently plans to modernise Greenwich - remarkable that the last one standing should be the Tramways power station!
London Underground - Greenwich Generating Station, River Thames, London.
A photo taken some years ago from the north side of the Thames and showing the London Underground 'stand-by' generating station at Greenwich. It was originally constructed by the London County Council Tramways Department, to facilitate the electrification of their tram system in the move from horse traction, in two phases in 1902 and 1910. The first section of the station had reciprocating engine generators, whereas the second phase had steam turbines. In 1922 the latter replaced the former. The station was not wiyhout its detractors; scientific complaints due to its proximity to the Greenwich Observatory and aesthetically due to its position almost adjacent to the Greenwich Palace. Indeed the station's four chimneys were shortened. The structure in the river is the remains of the coal jetty, where coal for the boilers was unloaded. Oil replaced this as a fuel source before the use of gas.
The station passed to London Transport in 1933 and with the final withdrawal of the trams, in 1952, and later the trolleybuses that should have wholly replaced them, in 1962, the station was reconstructed as part of the modernisation of the Underground's power supply. This saw Neasden generating station closed, all major demand being supplied from Lots Road generating station in Chelsea, and Greenwich re-equipped with a series of Rolls-Royce gas turbine powered generators for peak hour demand and 'stand-by' supplies should the main supply fail.
This function has survived the closure of Lots Road and the supply of the Underground's power requirements from the National Grid. There are currently plans to modernise Greenwich - remarkable that the last one standing should be the Tramways power station!