IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Whitehall Quay, LEEDS, LS1 4BW

With Number 1 Whitehall Riverside on the left, and looking towards the bridge where the river disappears underneath Leeds Station. See it by night Image]

In 1899 and 1900 these two Belliss & Morcom triple expansion steam engines were installed in the power station to direct drive 2 phase alternators (yes 2 phase). When the power station was upgraded with turbo-alternators the redundant reciprocating engines were coupled to centrifugal pumps and used to circulate water from the Aire through the condensers of the T/A sets. They were maintained in standby condition until 1974 and were removed for preservation in 1992. Unfortunately they were ultimately scrapped along with other important engines, having never been reassembled or put on display. Their fate is typical of that befalling the early days of electricity generation in the UK. Nearly all the older items were long since scrapped and more modern plant is just too big to be preserved. Thus one of our important industries has little to show for its earlier prime movers. It's one thing to save meters and switch gear but something else to save larger engines or turbines. The best representation of an earlier power station is to be found at Claymills Victorian pumping Station in Burton upon Trent - Image Image

In 1899 and 1900 two Belliss & Morcom triple expansion steam engines were installed in the power station to direct drive 2 phase alternators (yes 2 phase). When the power station was upgraded with turbo-alternators the redundant reciprocating engines were coupled to centrifugal pumps and used to circulate water from the Aire through the condensers of the T/A sets. They were maintained in standby condition until 1974 and were removed for preservation in 1992. Unfortunately they were ultimately scrapped along with other important engines, having never been reassembled or put on display. Their fate is typical of that befalling the early days of electricity generation in the UK. Nearly all the older items were long since scrapped and more modern plant is just too big to be preserved. Thus one of our important industries has little to show for its earlier prime movers. It's one thing to save meters and switch gear but something else to save larger engines or turbines. The best representation of an earlier power station is to be found at Claymills Victorian pumping Station in Burton upon Trent. This is the younger engine, No. 1388. The cylinders were 19", 28" & 43" bores by 16" stroke. As relocated they were rated at 750 horsepower at 320 rpm on steam at 200 pounds per square inch. They exhausted through large oil separators to surface condensers in the pit to the left. Vacuum was maintained by steam jet air extractors.

In 1899 and 1900 two Belliss & Morcom triple expansion steam engines were installed in the power station to direct drive 2 phase alternators (yes 2 phase). When the power station was upgraded with turbo-alternators the redundant reciprocating engines were coupled to centrifugal pumps and used to circulate water from the Aire through the condensers of the T/A sets. They were maintained in standby condition until 1974 and were removed for preservation in 1992. Unfortunately they were ultimately scrapped along with other important engines, having never been reassembled or put on display. Their fate is typical of that befalling the early days of electricity generation in the UK. Nearly all the older items were long since scrapped and more modern plant is just too big to be preserved. Thus one of our important industries has little to show for its earlier prime movers. It's one thing to save meters and switch gear but something else to save larger engines or turbines. The best representation of an earlier power station is to be found at Claymills Victorian pumping Station in Burton upon Trent. This shows both engines in the background. The cylinders were 19", 28" & 43" bores by 16" stroke. As relocated they were rated at 750 horsepower at 320 rpm on steam at 200 pounds per square inch. They exhausted through large oil separators to surface condensers in the pit to the left. Vacuum was maintained by steam jet air extractors. In the foreground is some plumbing fed by more modern motor driven centrifugal pumps. The motor is white and the pumps are red.

In 1899 and 1900 two Belliss & Morcom triple expansion steam engines were installed in the power station to direct drive 2 phase alternators (yes 2 phase). When the power station was upgraded with turbo-alternators the redundant reciprocating engines were coupled to centrifugal pumps and used to circulate water from the Aire through the condensers of the T/A sets. They were maintained in standby condition until 1974 and were removed for preservation in 1992. Unfortunately they were ultimately scrapped along with other important engines, having never been reassembled or put on display. Their fate is typical of that befalling the early days of electricity generation in the UK. Nearly all the older items were long since scrapped and more modern plant is just too big to be preserved. Thus one of our important industries has little to show for its earlier prime movers. It's one thing to save meters and switch gear but something else to save larger engines or turbines. The best representation of an earlier power station is to be found at Claymills Victorian pumping Station in Burton upon Trent. This view, however, is of one of the two motor driven air compressors by F W Brackett & Co Ltd of Colchester. These too were removed for preservation but were ultimately scrapped.

In 1899 and 1900 two Belliss & Morcom triple expansion steam engines were installed in the power station to direct drive 2 phase alternators (yes 2 phase). When the power station was upgraded with turbo-alternators the redundant reciprocating engines were coupled to centrifugal pumps and used to circulate water from the Aire through the condensers of the T/A sets. They were maintained in standby condition until 1974 and were removed for preservation in 1992. Unfortunately they were ultimately scrapped along with other important engines, having never been reassembled or put on display. Their fate is typical of that befalling the early days of electricity generation in the UK. Nearly all the older items were long since scrapped and more modern plant is just too big to be preserved. Thus one of our important industries has little to show for its earlier prime movers. It's one thing to save meters and switch gear but something else to save larger engines or turbines. The best representation of an earlier power station is to be found at Claymills Victorian pumping Station in Burton upon Trent. This is the older engine, No. 1287. The cylinders were 19", 28" & 43" bores by 16" stroke. As relocated they were rated at 750 horsepower at 320 rpm on steam at 200 pounds per square inch. In the left foreground is the large double suction Rees Roturbo centrifugal pump. To its left is a large sluice valve. On top of the pump casing is the steam ejector for priming the pump. On the right the exhaust pipe from the engine enters a black drum that is the oil separator. The surface condenser is hidden deep in the pit.

In 1899 and 1900 two Belliss & Morcom triple expansion steam engines were installed in the power station to direct drive 2 phase alternators (yes 2 phase). When the power station was upgraded with turbo-alternators the redundant reciprocating engines were coupled to centrifugal pumps and used to circulate water from the Aire through the condensers of the T/A sets. They were maintained in standby condition until 1974 and were removed for preservation in 1992. Unfortunately they were ultimately scrapped along with other important engines, having never been reassembled or put on display. Their fate is typical of that befalling the early days of electricity generation in the UK. Nearly all the older items were long since scrapped and more modern plant is just too big to be preserved. Thus one of our important industries has little to show for its earlier prime movers. It's one thing to save meters and switch gear but something else to save larger engines or turbines. The best representation of an earlier power station is to be found at Claymills Victorian pumping Station in Burton upon Trent. This is the older engine, No. 1287. The cylinders were 19", 28" & 43" bores by 16" stroke. As relocated they were rated at 750 horsepower at 320 rpm on steam at 200 pounds per square inch. The crankcase is the dark mass on the right and its pump is in the centre background. In the centre of the picture is the two stage steam jet air ejector with a jet intercondenser. This removes the incondensable gases (basically air and water vapour) from the surface condenser to maintain the partial vacuum therein (probably around 27-28"Hg.

In 1899 and 1900 two Belliss & Morcom triple expansion steam engines were installed in the power station to direct drive 2 phase alternators (yes 2 phase). When the power station was upgraded with turbo-alternators the redundant reciprocating engines were coupled to centrifugal pumps and used to circulate water from the Aire through the condensers of the T/A sets. They were maintained in standby condition until 1974 and were removed for preservation in 1992. Unfortunately they were ultimately scrapped along with other important engines, having never been reassembled or put on display. Their fate is typical of that befalling the early days of electricity generation in the UK. Nearly all the older items were long since scrapped and more modern plant is just too big to be preserved. Thus one of our important industries has little to show for its earlier prime movers. It's one thing to save meters and switch gear but something else to save larger engines or turbines. The best representation of an earlier power station is to be found at Claymills Victorian pumping Station in Burton upon Trent. The cylinders were 19", 28" & 43" bores by 16" stroke. As relocated they were rated at 750 horsepower at 320 rpm on steam at 200 pounds per square inch. This view is down the pit in front of one of the engines. The big sloping pipe in the foreground is the river water suction to the Rees Roturbo centrifugal pump. The black lump in the left background looks like an oil separator. In the centre is the surface condenser with the atmospheric diverter valve sat on top of it. This probably a very rare picture as the peripheral plant was probably even less photographed than the main engines.

In 1899 and 1900 two Belliss & Morcom triple expansion steam engines were installed in the power station to direct drive 2 phase alternators (yes 2 phase). When the power station was upgraded with turbo-alternators the redundant reciprocating engines were coupled to centrifugal pumps and used to circulate water from the Aire through the condensers of the T/A sets. They were maintained in standby condition until 1974 and were removed for preservation in 1992. Unfortunately they were ultimately scrapped along with other important engines, having never been reassembled or put on display. Their fate is typical of that befalling the early days of electricity generation in the UK. Nearly all the older items were long since scrapped and more modern plant is just too big to be preserved. Thus one of our important industries has little to show for its earlier prime movers. It's one thing to save meters and switch gear but something else to save larger engines or turbines. The best representation of an earlier power station is to be found at Claymills Victorian pumping Station in Burton upon Trent. This is the older engine, No. 1287. The cylinders were 19", 28" & 43" bores by 16" stroke. As relocated they were rated at 750 horsepower at 320 rpm on steam at 200 pounds per square inch.