tarboat's photos with the keyword: ardnacrusha

The building of the Shannon hydroelectric scheme in the late 1920s required navigation to be maintained down to Limerick after the Parteen Weir cut off the old route via O'Briensbridge. This was achieved by building a double staircase lock at the Ardnacrusha power station. Taken from the approach canal this shows the entrance to the lower lock which has a rise of 34ft whilst the top lock has a rise of 68ft. This is the deepest lock in Britain and Ireland.

It is only in the past couple of years that the control room at the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric power station has been taken out of use. Generation is now controlled remotely, but the Siemens built 1929 vintage equipment remains in situ.

An unusual railway is that to carry the machine for clearing debris from the screens over the turbine intakes at the Ardnacrusha power station on the Shannon. The machine is very broad gauge with the other rail just visible along the fence on the left. The centre two rails are for the wagon that carries the detritus.

This appears to be the point where the electricity generated at the Ardnacrusha power station sets off for the various areas that the Irish National Grid serves.

It is only in the past couple of years that the control room at the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric power station has been taken out of use. Generation is now controlled remotely, but the Siemens built 1929 vintage equipment remains in situ.

The destination of the different three phase lines is marked on the wall of the generating hall at the Ardnacrusha hydro-electric power station.

The building of the Shannon hydroelectric scheme in the late 1920s required navigation to be maintained down to Limerick after the Parteen Weir cut off the old route via O'Briensbridge. This was achieved by building a double staircase lock at the Ardnacrusha power station. Taken from the top level this shows the lower lock which has a fall of 34ft whilst the top lock has a fall of 68ft. This is the deepest lock in Britain and Ireland.

The 102ft fall at the Ardnacrusha hydro-electric power station on the Shannon is overcome for navigation by a two-rise staircase lock. The falls are 68ft and 34 ft. Looking up from lower chamber as the water begins to flow out the steel guillotine gate from the upper lock can be seen whilst the curved concrete wall above gives an idea of the height of the first chamber.

Concrete batching plant and blondin system in use during the construction of the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric scheme on the Shannon. The project was run by Siemens and during construction, 5,000 men were employed, 65 miles of railway, including a line up from Limerick, were built, four major bridges were constructed and nine rivers and four streams were diverted. Postcard view c1928.