Dinorwic Slate Quarry is located close to the villages of Llanberis and Dinorwig in North Wales, it was once the second largest slate quarry in the world after the neighbouring Penrhyn Slate Quarry. Commercial quarry operations at Dinorwig started in 1787 although it didn't start to flourish until the mid 1820s when a horse drawn tramway was constructed to Port Dinorwic. By the late 19[SUP]th[/SUP] Century the quarry was employing over 3000 men and producing 100,000 tonnes slate products (mostly roofing slate) each year. The quarry continued in production until 1966 when a major slate waste heap collapse into a working area of the quarry halted production, after that slate was only produced sporadically until the quarry finally closed in 1969.
In the 1970s-80s underground parts of the quarry were enlarged and extended to build a 1,800 MW pumped-storage hydroelectric powerstation.
I had a couple of evening visits to lower areas of the quarry, I really wanted to visit the slate cutting shed near the top of the quarry at night, but low cloud / hill fog doesn't doesn't seem to mix well with long exposures.
These are large compressors which provided pressurised air for the air tools used in the quarry, they were powered by electric motors.
A tramway weigh bridge
thanks for looking.
In the 1970s-80s underground parts of the quarry were enlarged and extended to build a 1,800 MW pumped-storage hydroelectric powerstation.
I had a couple of evening visits to lower areas of the quarry, I really wanted to visit the slate cutting shed near the top of the quarry at night, but low cloud / hill fog doesn't doesn't seem to mix well with long exposures.
These are large compressors which provided pressurised air for the air tools used in the quarry, they were powered by electric motors.
A tramway weigh bridge
thanks for looking.