Agecroft 'A' Power Station, Salford Manchester, June 2019
Introduction:
Finally TAW is back in the game, having loosing my license through injury last year, I've finally managed to get it back and the first thing on my list was Agecroft. I can remember speaking to @Speed about this place back in 2017 but alas other circumstances must have let this one drop but fair one for @albino-jay for getting there and cracking it!
The place really is epic, by far the earliest station I've ever had the fortune to witness, it actually amazes me that the place is still standing let alone all geared up, I guess that live transformer in the basement is the reason and what we all owe a thanks to...
All I can say looking at this place is that a look at Ferrybridge 'A' is required next!
History:
I suppose been rather late compared to pretty much everyone else, little history is needed, but here's the basic to make up the report.
Agecroft 'A' Power Station was opened on the 28th of September 1925 by the then Mayor of Salford for the County Borough of Salford Electricity Department , she was equipped with x4 25MW Metropolitan Vickers Turbo Alternators reaching up to 100,000KWV aka 100MW on max load. I haven't managed to pick up any information on Boiler Production but of course as expected in the 20's they where chain grated boilers. Again a little bit hard to find out just when the 'A' station actually stopped generating, way before the 1993 closures of the 'B' & 'C' stations but when? I'm not sure. When the 'A' station boilers were converted from Coal to Oil I know that the 'A' station did provide steam to the 'B' station for some time but again little information available regarding how long this happened for. What I can tell you is that all generation to the grid from the Agecroft complex was finished by 1993 with the closure and imminent demolition of the 'B' & 'C' stations. The 'A' station still has a fully live transformer in the Substation Basement and as such has so far been the main reason for the preservation of the remaining structures, be nice if they managed to grab a preservation order like Ferrybridge 'A' as a listed building in the future though if they haven't got this already.
Pictures:
Starting off in the substation...
Love the way the Busbars have been painted to the top of the holders, very old school.
There's little to see in the Substation as cool and decayed as it is, sadly not too much in the way of epicness, but as we all know that's coming up!
In the meantime, crossing the bridged corridor to see what the admin block has got to offer us.
Pigeon Holes...
The classic tiles and window offices in here, nioceee
The first look at the Control Room which awaits us!
1925 showing off in it's usual classy manor, lovely.
Thanks to @BrainL for clarifying on the Control Room, did my usual of finding the hardest of accesses and struggling with the simple ones!
Metropolitan Vickers fitting out the electrical systems, I mean this is Manchester, it'd be rude not to!
The AEI set to the right of this image been a modern addition to the control room, obviously added in the mid 60's, maybe something to do with the work connecting the 'A' station to 'B'? Behind this cabinet is a bricked up doorway, once leading into the no longer existing Turbine Hall.
The background shows another bricked up doorway, but check out the art deco entry and stairway.
Myself enjoying the presence of some vintage Metro-Vick machinery...
Behind the back of the controls is interesting, plenty of labels pointing out the customers!
and a final shot of this great control room, would have been nice to have seen her in her glory days for sure!
Thanks for looking,
Definitely an enjoyable explore this one, tourist or not!
TAW
Introduction:
Finally TAW is back in the game, having loosing my license through injury last year, I've finally managed to get it back and the first thing on my list was Agecroft. I can remember speaking to @Speed about this place back in 2017 but alas other circumstances must have let this one drop but fair one for @albino-jay for getting there and cracking it!
The place really is epic, by far the earliest station I've ever had the fortune to witness, it actually amazes me that the place is still standing let alone all geared up, I guess that live transformer in the basement is the reason and what we all owe a thanks to...
All I can say looking at this place is that a look at Ferrybridge 'A' is required next!
History:
I suppose been rather late compared to pretty much everyone else, little history is needed, but here's the basic to make up the report.
Agecroft 'A' Power Station was opened on the 28th of September 1925 by the then Mayor of Salford for the County Borough of Salford Electricity Department , she was equipped with x4 25MW Metropolitan Vickers Turbo Alternators reaching up to 100,000KWV aka 100MW on max load. I haven't managed to pick up any information on Boiler Production but of course as expected in the 20's they where chain grated boilers. Again a little bit hard to find out just when the 'A' station actually stopped generating, way before the 1993 closures of the 'B' & 'C' stations but when? I'm not sure. When the 'A' station boilers were converted from Coal to Oil I know that the 'A' station did provide steam to the 'B' station for some time but again little information available regarding how long this happened for. What I can tell you is that all generation to the grid from the Agecroft complex was finished by 1993 with the closure and imminent demolition of the 'B' & 'C' stations. The 'A' station still has a fully live transformer in the Substation Basement and as such has so far been the main reason for the preservation of the remaining structures, be nice if they managed to grab a preservation order like Ferrybridge 'A' as a listed building in the future though if they haven't got this already.
Pictures:
Starting off in the substation...
Love the way the Busbars have been painted to the top of the holders, very old school.
There's little to see in the Substation as cool and decayed as it is, sadly not too much in the way of epicness, but as we all know that's coming up!
In the meantime, crossing the bridged corridor to see what the admin block has got to offer us.
Pigeon Holes...
The classic tiles and window offices in here, nioceee
The first look at the Control Room which awaits us!
1925 showing off in it's usual classy manor, lovely.
Thanks to @BrainL for clarifying on the Control Room, did my usual of finding the hardest of accesses and struggling with the simple ones!
Metropolitan Vickers fitting out the electrical systems, I mean this is Manchester, it'd be rude not to!
The AEI set to the right of this image been a modern addition to the control room, obviously added in the mid 60's, maybe something to do with the work connecting the 'A' station to 'B'? Behind this cabinet is a bricked up doorway, once leading into the no longer existing Turbine Hall.
The background shows another bricked up doorway, but check out the art deco entry and stairway.
Myself enjoying the presence of some vintage Metro-Vick machinery...
Behind the back of the controls is interesting, plenty of labels pointing out the customers!
and a final shot of this great control room, would have been nice to have seen her in her glory days for sure!
Thanks for looking,
Definitely an enjoyable explore this one, tourist or not!
TAW
