Introduction
Visited numerous times last year and January this year, with, @BoroLad @Hydro @Raz @AndyK
Ironbridge 'B' although not my most recent power station is definitely the one I've been investing the majority of my time in recently. Like Ferrybridge 'C' I've put a lot of effort into seeing as much of the station as possible covering lesser seen parts of the station in order to try and build proper image of just what this place was actually like to work in. Something which for example at Rugeley 'B' we were lucky enough to cover near enough in one night, others however take much longer to complete... Or at least they do to a standard I'm happy with anyway.
I enjoy exploring all power stations, so far I've not been in one that's let me down and as a result if you where to ask me my favourite, I'd probably tell you the last one! I have to say though, there's something about Ironbridge that keeps making me want to return. I don't know if it's that glass turbine hall, the roaming deer that seem to always be on site, or the setting in the Severn Valley, but I've certainly managed to put my fair share of hours into getting to know this place. Sadly, I have had to miss out one or two bits, namely the CW System and the Workshops, I have checked both of these areas and they've been sealed up well on my visits. I'll be keeping an eye on these areas though so be sure to keep an eye open for updates!
I have a feeling it could be quite long winded this one, although I'm sure you're aware that most of my reports are by now!
History
Ironbridge 'B' began construction in 1963 after having the application by the CEGB for construction passed in Parliament in 1962. The Power Station would be made up of two 500MW main generating units consisting of two Forster Wheeler Boilers, and two Associated Electrical Industries (AEI) Turbo-Generators. The station also had a 35MW stand by capacity made up from two 17.5MW Rolls Royce Olympus gas turbines. The CEGB's aim was to get the station online and generating in 1967 however due to industrial action and some set backs the station wasn't synced to the National Grid until 1969, and wasn't generating at full capacity (Base Loading at 1000MW) until 1970.
Below: 1964 Dated Print showing a prototype model of the station (my collection)
Due to Ironbridge's scenic setting in the Severn Valley, the CEGB worked closely with landscape artist Kenneth Booth in order to try and make the power station fit in with its surroundings as much as possible. One famous measure was to use a red pigment in the construction of the cooling towers which makes them stand out as unique to this day. For there efforts the power station was shortlisted for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors conservation award in 1973.
Power Stations have fires often, it's in the nature of the work. Ironbridge however has suffered two major fires in its history, one in 1999 in which the entire turbine hall had to be reconstructed and another in 2014 caused by a generator fire which rendered unit one out of action until closure the following year in 2015.
Biomass was trialled at the station in 2012, and as a result new mills where installed as well as the bunkers been refitted to take biomass as opposed to coal. A Biomass tent was also erected on the old coal plant.
The station closed on November 20th 2015, as another one of the LCPD victims.
Pictures
Ironbridge 'B' viewed in August of 2015 in Steam.
I guess the best way to start would be to do so in the Administration block and Bath House even though these were actually the most recently explored parts of the site for me!
Here's a shot showing the admin block from the roof of the bath house during our night time recce back in November 2016.
Fast forward to 2017 and we're in...
The main entrance.
CEGB Plaque!
The plant would later go on to be owned by Power Gen, National Power and finally e-on.
Between the main entrance and the bath house lays the canteen and a few other bland rooms, for the sake of keeping the report entertaining, I'll skip straight through to the Bath House and Medical Room now.
The Bath House is basically a smaller scale version of the one at Ferrybridge 'C' which makes sense given the construction of the two started at around the same time. Although exploring the Bath House at Ferry was more exciting due to it being an adrenaline fuelled run around between shifts, I think the bath house here at Ironbridge is photographically more interesting with a lot of period clothing and items remaining.
Got to say, I do like a good bath house!
I've got quite a few detail shots from in here, but I'll keep it simple, check my flickr for more (if you require permission as an NP user pm me).
The medical room wasn't the most interesting one you'll ever come across, it's certainly not a Castmaster or a Kellingley, still it's worth popping in all the same.
The usual bits left behind...
I was quite concerned to walk in and find some of the patients had been left behind!!
Moving on we pass through the Conference Room
Before passing through the labs...
I could really do a report just on the Admin Block, but we'd best press on.
Up next is the Control Room connected by the connecting corridor, this is now bricked up, but we'll carry on as though it isn't.
Sadly the Control Room was modernised in the 90's and is now a set up of boring computerised screens and panels. A few original panels do still exist though, and we'll focus on those rather than wasting time with the live controls. A lot of the others have posted pics of the modern control room with the panels still live so go there if you're wanting to see those.
It is a shame the old control room was scrapped, it really would have been the icing on the cake for this place, that and a set of proper mills.
Retro 60's, how I like my Control Rooms, only thing better is art deco!
Moving out of the Control Room we head down a flight of stairs to se the Turbine Hall, before doing so though let's have a look at Unit Two's Battery Room.
Unit 2 Battery Switch Pannel, another older one... The phantom bricky's been having a go on the right too.
Reet, time for some Turbines aye?
I've seen some things through exploring, but watching the sun come up inside here has been one of the finer things for sure.
Me with unit 2
Unit 1, showing fire damage from where the generator and exciter literally blew up. I believe this was caused due to one of the LP Turbines coming to a halt at high speed stalling the generator and causing a fire from the heat of the brushes stopping a high speed. Nasty stuff, fortunate that nobody was on the turbine floor at the time near unit 1.
I've got copious amounts of turbine pics from all different hours of the day and night, but let's move on and have a look at the boiler feed pump turbine. The turbine is an AEI one, but the feed pump that runs off of the turbine is made by the Harland company. I always like the look of the boiler feed pump turbines, they really are the hearts of each unit with all the pipes coming in at all different angles.
The next few shots are from my first visit back in June last year, when the lights where still on. Now the lights are off the boiler house is next to impossible to shoot, even in broad day light it's pitch black in parts.
There's no way I can cover the whole boiler room in this report, but it's been covered fairly well anyway barring the boiler bottoms which I've not seen covered yet I don't think?
Unit 2's Boiler bottom
Fire Precautions in the form of Leyland Diesel Fire Pumps.
Finally, the bunkers.
So there you go, I know there's one or two parts missing, but hopefully that's a lot of new areas covered without going into part 2 etc.
Hope you enjoyed the report,
Thanks for reading
TAW
Visited numerous times last year and January this year, with, @BoroLad @Hydro @Raz @AndyK
Ironbridge 'B' although not my most recent power station is definitely the one I've been investing the majority of my time in recently. Like Ferrybridge 'C' I've put a lot of effort into seeing as much of the station as possible covering lesser seen parts of the station in order to try and build proper image of just what this place was actually like to work in. Something which for example at Rugeley 'B' we were lucky enough to cover near enough in one night, others however take much longer to complete... Or at least they do to a standard I'm happy with anyway.
I enjoy exploring all power stations, so far I've not been in one that's let me down and as a result if you where to ask me my favourite, I'd probably tell you the last one! I have to say though, there's something about Ironbridge that keeps making me want to return. I don't know if it's that glass turbine hall, the roaming deer that seem to always be on site, or the setting in the Severn Valley, but I've certainly managed to put my fair share of hours into getting to know this place. Sadly, I have had to miss out one or two bits, namely the CW System and the Workshops, I have checked both of these areas and they've been sealed up well on my visits. I'll be keeping an eye on these areas though so be sure to keep an eye open for updates!
I have a feeling it could be quite long winded this one, although I'm sure you're aware that most of my reports are by now!
History
Ironbridge 'B' began construction in 1963 after having the application by the CEGB for construction passed in Parliament in 1962. The Power Station would be made up of two 500MW main generating units consisting of two Forster Wheeler Boilers, and two Associated Electrical Industries (AEI) Turbo-Generators. The station also had a 35MW stand by capacity made up from two 17.5MW Rolls Royce Olympus gas turbines. The CEGB's aim was to get the station online and generating in 1967 however due to industrial action and some set backs the station wasn't synced to the National Grid until 1969, and wasn't generating at full capacity (Base Loading at 1000MW) until 1970.
Below: 1964 Dated Print showing a prototype model of the station (my collection)
Due to Ironbridge's scenic setting in the Severn Valley, the CEGB worked closely with landscape artist Kenneth Booth in order to try and make the power station fit in with its surroundings as much as possible. One famous measure was to use a red pigment in the construction of the cooling towers which makes them stand out as unique to this day. For there efforts the power station was shortlisted for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors conservation award in 1973.
Power Stations have fires often, it's in the nature of the work. Ironbridge however has suffered two major fires in its history, one in 1999 in which the entire turbine hall had to be reconstructed and another in 2014 caused by a generator fire which rendered unit one out of action until closure the following year in 2015.
Biomass was trialled at the station in 2012, and as a result new mills where installed as well as the bunkers been refitted to take biomass as opposed to coal. A Biomass tent was also erected on the old coal plant.
The station closed on November 20th 2015, as another one of the LCPD victims.
Pictures
Ironbridge 'B' viewed in August of 2015 in Steam.
I guess the best way to start would be to do so in the Administration block and Bath House even though these were actually the most recently explored parts of the site for me!
Here's a shot showing the admin block from the roof of the bath house during our night time recce back in November 2016.
Fast forward to 2017 and we're in...
The main entrance.
CEGB Plaque!
The plant would later go on to be owned by Power Gen, National Power and finally e-on.
Between the main entrance and the bath house lays the canteen and a few other bland rooms, for the sake of keeping the report entertaining, I'll skip straight through to the Bath House and Medical Room now.
The Bath House is basically a smaller scale version of the one at Ferrybridge 'C' which makes sense given the construction of the two started at around the same time. Although exploring the Bath House at Ferry was more exciting due to it being an adrenaline fuelled run around between shifts, I think the bath house here at Ironbridge is photographically more interesting with a lot of period clothing and items remaining.
Got to say, I do like a good bath house!
I've got quite a few detail shots from in here, but I'll keep it simple, check my flickr for more (if you require permission as an NP user pm me).
The medical room wasn't the most interesting one you'll ever come across, it's certainly not a Castmaster or a Kellingley, still it's worth popping in all the same.
The usual bits left behind...
I was quite concerned to walk in and find some of the patients had been left behind!!
Moving on we pass through the Conference Room
Before passing through the labs...
I could really do a report just on the Admin Block, but we'd best press on.
Up next is the Control Room connected by the connecting corridor, this is now bricked up, but we'll carry on as though it isn't.
Sadly the Control Room was modernised in the 90's and is now a set up of boring computerised screens and panels. A few original panels do still exist though, and we'll focus on those rather than wasting time with the live controls. A lot of the others have posted pics of the modern control room with the panels still live so go there if you're wanting to see those.
It is a shame the old control room was scrapped, it really would have been the icing on the cake for this place, that and a set of proper mills.
Retro 60's, how I like my Control Rooms, only thing better is art deco!
Moving out of the Control Room we head down a flight of stairs to se the Turbine Hall, before doing so though let's have a look at Unit Two's Battery Room.
Unit 2 Battery Switch Pannel, another older one... The phantom bricky's been having a go on the right too.
Reet, time for some Turbines aye?
I've seen some things through exploring, but watching the sun come up inside here has been one of the finer things for sure.
Me with unit 2
Unit 1, showing fire damage from where the generator and exciter literally blew up. I believe this was caused due to one of the LP Turbines coming to a halt at high speed stalling the generator and causing a fire from the heat of the brushes stopping a high speed. Nasty stuff, fortunate that nobody was on the turbine floor at the time near unit 1.
I've got copious amounts of turbine pics from all different hours of the day and night, but let's move on and have a look at the boiler feed pump turbine. The turbine is an AEI one, but the feed pump that runs off of the turbine is made by the Harland company. I always like the look of the boiler feed pump turbines, they really are the hearts of each unit with all the pipes coming in at all different angles.
The next few shots are from my first visit back in June last year, when the lights where still on. Now the lights are off the boiler house is next to impossible to shoot, even in broad day light it's pitch black in parts.
There's no way I can cover the whole boiler room in this report, but it's been covered fairly well anyway barring the boiler bottoms which I've not seen covered yet I don't think?
Unit 2's Boiler bottom
Fire Precautions in the form of Leyland Diesel Fire Pumps.
Finally, the bunkers.
So there you go, I know there's one or two parts missing, but hopefully that's a lot of new areas covered without going into part 2 etc.
Hope you enjoyed the report,
Thanks for reading
TAW
