Tunnel tigers were the highest paid of all the hydro. Sloy awe hydro electric scheme, loch sloy dam, arrochar. On reaching the valve house it thunders down through four mammoth. From time to time the subject of tunnels arises in discussions about nessie. The loch sloy dam was built in 1945 by 2000 men some were german prisoners. Proceedings of the institution of civil engineers vol 1, no 6. Woodhead tunnel 3 our tunneling experts start work on what was the longest rail tunnel in the uk at the time 1949 staythorpe power station one of our first projects for the newly nationalised power industry 1945 loch sloy dam our greatest civil engineering challenge to date, constructing the 49metre high dam our first contract. The years between 1949 and 1975 were dam building years along the pacific northwests columbia and snake rivers. When demand rises, the turbines reverse, and water flows down to generate power. So when you reach the dam, take a look at your map, and wonder at how it was possible, all those years ago, to carve such tunnels through these. From the large car park at lnveruglas, just north of sloy power station, follow the signposted path past the power plant back to the padlocked access road to coriegrogain farm and loch sloy dam.
On the way back a small frog was spotted on a path but it soon made its way back to the safety of the undergrowth. Some of the men who built cruachan power station make an. A lovely day with a little bit of a breeze and occasional cloud. Four 2m diameter highpressure steel pipes drop down to the station each supplying a seperate generator set. Its water runs in the tunnels cut through mountain ben vorlich, to power the station located below. The sloy awe hydroelectric scheme is a hydroelectric facility situated between loch sloy and inveruglas on the west bank of loch lomond in scotland. This is the short sevenmile approximate hike up to the dam at loch sloy, from inveruglas on the west shore of loch lomond. Nothing on such a scale had been attempted before, and the. Sloy is the largest conventional hydroelectric plant in britain and is situated on the west bank of loch lomond. Its water flows along tunnels cut through ben vorlich, to power the station below.
Water descends through tunnels and pipes from loch sloy, passing through the southern slopes of ben vorlich. So the hillsides, aqueducts, and tunnels bringing water to loch sloy act like a 55fold power concentrator. The standard average rainfall of the reservoir catchment is over 3000mm, more than twice the average annual rainfall in glasgow, and at least five times the. Excellent walk to loch sloy dam loch lomond self luxury. Glen falloch viaduct creagan ardain tunnel craigenarden viaduct easeonan viaduct inveruglas power station inveruglas viaduct touristother ardlui pier pulpit rock inverarnan basin drovers inn ben vorlich north peak ben vorlich loch sloy dam beinn chabhair falls of falloch. From here it is channelled through a 3km tunnel, hewn through of the massive side of ben vorlich. The loch sloy hydroelectric scheme 1950 the loch sloy hydroelectric scheme 1950. Inveruglas, loch sloy hydroelectric power station canmore. So rather unwillingly on my part, we gave up on the mountain and walked to loch sloy instead. Jul 01, 2003 a 1,000m long, 35m high dam will create a new reservoir at glen tarff, which will be situated 600m above the power station, to be built on the southeastern corner of loch ness. A 182 ft 56m high dam built from 1946 onwards is dwarfed by the scale of the mountains and is well worth the walk round the back of ben vorlich from inveruglas.
There was a passing loop, sidings and a loading bank. It uses water from loch sloy, which is nearby and higher up. Zack wallace find the roots of his migraines and night terrors by returning to his roots while simultaneously solving multiple mysteries. The actual power from hydroelectricity in the uk today is 0. Loch sloy hydro electric power station tunnels down ben vorlich onto shores of loch lomond with cruise boat in foreground loch lomond, scotland, uk 24 january 2019. This book is a vivid account of the schemes and includes eyewitness stories from many of the workers from dam builders, engineers, tunnel tigers, linemen who made the electrification of the highlands a reality and now, often for the first time, tell what it was like. Loch sloy dam forms the storage reservoir for sloy power station see separate item. The first hydroelectric project to be undertaken by the north of scotland hydroelectric board was at loch sloy on the banks of loch lomond where constructional work began in 1945. Ben vorlich is a bulky and very rugged mountain, the most northerly of the arrochar alps. During those twentyfive years the bureau of reclamation, the corps of engineers, and private entities such as pacific power, portland general electric, and the idaho power company turned the previously freeflowing rivers into a series of quiet lakes. He had first described the principal of using buttresses instead of mass concrete in 1936 when lecturing in washington dc. The loch sloy dam, built as part of the project, is 56m high and 357m long and raised the surface level of the loch by approximately 47m. Its water flows from loch sloy along 3km tunnels cut through ben vorlich, to power the station on the shore of loch lomond below. Arrochar to inveruglas three lochs way walking route.
Thus up to 1943 the development of hydroelectricity in the highlands had reached an aggregate installed capacity of 194,475 kw. Rogue, who is the biggest and has killed a couple of people, and a smaller one. Uncover the history of the epic tunnel and the brave team that drilled and blasted it, then enjoy the stunning views of loch awe from the visitor centre the perfect. Uk weather a snow covered loch sloy hydro electric. Hydro electric power station scotland stock photos. Her name was drawn from loch sloy, a freshwater loch which lies to the north of the burgh of helensburgh, in the region of argyll and bute, scotland. The water for this power station comes from loch sloy, high in the hills, with its massive dam, 56 metres high and 357 metres long.
The use of this technology represented a significant cost saving for the board with only 20,000 tons of concrete required for construction, in contrast to the 50,000 which would have. Oct 22, 2015 this is a great little 22 mile mountain biking route from inveruglas, loch lomond. Go through the kissing gate and follow the road under the railway bridge. They also took a trip up to the hilltop dam, high above loch awe, which is an intergral part of. Sloy awe hydro electric scheme, loch sloy dam is a category b listed building in arrochar, argyll and bute, scotland. Reference guide to famous engineering landmarks of the world. Opened in 1950 by queen elizabeth, the queen mother 1900 2002. The loch is loch ness and as you can guess the main character is nessie the loch ness monster. The last kilometre lies along a footpath by the dangerously busy a82 take care when crossing to the inveruglas car park which marks the northern terminus of the three lochs way. The original power station was opened in 1950 by the queen mother and was designed to provide power to clydeside and central scotland at times of peak demand. The names of the schemes loch sloy, glen shira, tummelgarry, the conon valley, glen affric, strathfarrarkilmorack, glenmoristongarry, shin, breadalbane, ben cruachan are vivid in the memories of all who worked on them, in an epic of.
A new power station and tunnels would require to be excavated inside ben vorlich. Balfour beatty completed a number of major construction projects in the immediate postwar years, including. It is possible to walk a fine circuit taking in the little hills from ardlui to the north, but the ascent here, from inveruglas via the loch sloy dam road, is the quickest and most popular. Geological and civil engineering aspects of hydroelectric. A quarter of the 400 roads required to build the dams would go on to be. To mark the anniversary five tunnel tigers, now in their 70s, revisited the inside of ben cruachan. A sign outside the tunnel advises beware of spalling rock splintering. Loch sloy dam scotland phantom 4 drone footage youtube. The mass concrete buttress dam is 354m long and 49m high, and impounds 34 million cubic metres if water. Jun 02, 2015 winter walk up to the dam at loch sloy on a bleak, wet miserable march day. The route is well maintained throughout and mostly gravel with some tarmac sections generally a route for all abilities and the wide and quiet. Again in heavy seas 31 of the ships passengers and crew clung to. Sloy power station is the earliest example of the work of the north of scotland hydro electric board nosheb in the development of hydro electric power in scotland.
Loch sloy reservoir has a direct catchment area of 17km2, and an extensive network of intakes, pipes and tunnels contributes a further 63km2 of indirect catchment to the reservoir. The route shown in the gpx track below includes a short extension up to the sloy dam which is well worth a look. The loch sloy dam power station at inveruglas on loch lomond. Nicknamed the tunnel tigers, a 4,000 strong army of workers drilled their way into the depths of an argyll mountain to transform the nations energy supplies. The new dam nn289111 at the south east end of loch sloy raised its water level by 47m and doubled its length. This was opened by the late queen mother on 18th october 1950 and is still the largest hydro electric power station in the uk. See why it was listed, view it on a map, see visitor comments and photos and share your own comments and photos of this building. Loch sloy, which sits in the hills several hundred feet above loch lomond, was the subject of the first scheme undertaken by the north of scotland hydro electricity board in 1945. Following matthew ochterlony s death in 1946, the scheme was progressed alone by harold tarbolton. Oct 15, 2015 some of the men who risked their lives, and lost friends, while building the power station near the top of a mountain have been back to ben cruachan.
A dam hard life on the hydroelectric heraldscotland. Loch sloy dam is proof that not all energy storage relies on batteries. In order to maximise capacity, water was diverted into loch sloy from areas to the north and south via tunnels and aqueducts, including a 3 kilometre tunnel through 985 metre high ben vorlich. Jun 05, 20 across the loch could be seen loch sloy hydro electric power station. Power from the glens first edition by jim miller isbn. Sometimes the tunnels lead from loch ness to other lakes with monster legends, enabling a monster singular to appear in different lakes at different times.
Loch sloy hydroelectric power plant uk is located at loch lomond, argyllshire, argyll and bute, united kingdom. At tarbert, about half way up loch lomond we continued straight on towards. Following matthew ochterlonys death in 1946, the scheme was progressed alone by harold tarbolton construction began in may 1945, under. Inveruglas, loch sloy hydroelectric power station you may copy, display, store and make derivative works for personal use or use solely within an educational institution by staff and students, under these conditions. In the 30 years between the end of world war ii and 1975, the construction schemes of the north of scotland hydroelectric board changed the face of the highlands and brought electricity to almost the whole of the country north of the highland line. Whilst the imposing concrete of the 56 metre high sloy dam is impressive enough, the engineering feats that are hidden from view are equally so. Winter walk up to the dam at loch sloy on a bleak, wet miserable march day. The installed capacity will be between 50mw and 100mw. Park wonders friends of loch lomond and the trossachs. Cruachan tunnel tigers honoured 50 years on the scotsman.
May 08, 20 celebration as two groups meet in ben vorlich during the construction of the loch sloy scheme, 1949. The dam will be the longest in sses portfolio, and the drop to the head will be the biggest in the uk. The sloy awe hydroelectric scheme a hydroelectric facility between loch sloy and inveruglas west bank of loch lomond argyll and bute scotland uk gb loch shin below lairg dam 427m long and 12m high built over a 3. The area around the river tummel and loch tummel is known as strathtummel and is one of the most beautiful parts of perthshires big tree country, with ever changing colours throughout the seasons and a great choice of walks, cycle routes and places to. Loch mullardoch, the reservoir formed by the dam, represents the considerably enlarged conjoined loch formed from the union of the pre dam loch mullardoch, and loch lungard, which lay to the west.
Over 37000 kilometres of electricity network was built to distribute the electricity throughout the north of scotland, with a further 110 kilometres of submarine cable taking power to the major scottish islands. It is the main storage reservoir for fasnakyle power station, which lies in glen cannich, to the south. Filming in 1080p60fps for a change, this is the loch sloy dam in scotland, it feeds a hydro electric power station at inveruglas. Power from the glens neart nan gleann emma woods book the hydro boys foreword. Don and alison have lived in the te anau area for over 20 years and prior to building loch sloy they were farming in the te anau basin and previously not far from invercargill. Oct 01, 1994 loch and his sister zaidee are with their father at lake alban. Cavenger, who is trying to find loch ness type creatures to study. During times of low electricity demand, its turbines pump water from loch awe to the reservoir above. The loch vennachars sister ship the loch sloy was also wrecked on the kangaroo island coastline just six years earlier, in 1899.
Sloy by loch lomond, there were only three dry weeks, and with the mud. Please be patient as this page may take a few moments to load thank you. Since the 1930s this is essentially a hydro system with a large and sinister looking dam across it. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. So when you reach the dam, take a l ook at your map, and wonder at ho w it was possible, all those years ago, to carve such tunnels through these mountains. Glendoe, near loch ness, was the mostrecent major hydro scheme to be built. Inveruglas, loch sloy hydroelectric power station you may copy, display, store and make derivative works for personal use or use solely within an educational. The names of the schemes loch sloy, glen shira, tummelgarry, the conon valley, glen affric.
There was an access tunnel with strictly no access danger of spalling. Below the dam at kinlochleven nearly halfamile long and holding. Loch sloy was a scottish sailing barque that operated between great britain and australia from the late 19th century until 1899. Scottish and southern energy sloy reservoir and power.
The resulting sloy reservoir has a 17km 2 direct catchment area, although various pipes and intakes have provided a further 63km 2 of indirect catchment area. Celebration as two groups meet in ben vorlich during the construction of the loch sloy scheme, 1949. Loch sloy was built to provide power for the glasgow area to meet peak. The catchment area for the loch is some 8,300 hectares. This halt was built for halt for the loch sloy hydroscheme construction of inveruglas power station and loch sloy dam. Bridges, tunnels, dams, roads, and other structures berlow, lawrence h. Tunnel tigers were the highest paid of all the hydro boys with wages some 10 times that of. About loch sloy dam loch sloy is the largest conventional hydroelectric plant in britain.
It is a bold modernist classical design, sited in a prominent location on the banks of loch lomond adjacent to the a82 trunk road and is a fine work by one of the boards most. Mountain biking route from inveruglas, loch lomond past ben. Hydroelectric energy on reserve signature electric. Arrochar, tarbet and ardlui heritage the loch sloy hydro. Over 300 kilometres of rock tunnel had been excavated and a similar length of aqueducts and pipelines constructed. The construction of the loch sloy dam and power station was, quite literally, a groundbreaking start to one of the most progressive and farreaching engineering projects in the world. The signal box here opened in 1946 and closed in 1956. This infrastructure is of type hydro power plant with a design capacity of mwe. The glasgow firm of crowley russel were awarded the first part of this contract. Early 1945 the hydro electric scheme at loch sloy was to commence.
Christopher silver is the author of a book on scottish culture and media. The plan was to walk from arrochar at the head of loch long and follow the northern end of the cowal way up to loch sloy leaving appletree cottage we drove to balloch and then up the western shore of loch lomond. The first unit was commissioned in 1950 and the last in 1950. Inveruglas 19451950 opened on the west highland railway. Loch sloy is dammed to retain the water and is fed by a series of tunnels and aqueducts from a much larger area. Apr 23, 2012 a group of four archaeology students searched the sea and land on kangaroo islands west coast earlier this month in a bid to find the historic loch sloy and the burial sites of 11 bodies. The first project of the north of scotland hydroelectric board was the construction in 1946 of a 182ft 56m high dam across the old homelands of the clan macfarlane west of ben vorlich, the mountain itself penetrated by a twomile tunnel. For associated loch sloy reservoir and dam, see also nn21se 2. Loch sloy dam is situated in loch lomond national park. In fact, hydropower is the largest contributor of all renewable energy sources and accounts for 6. Ch 8 page 56 sustainable energy without the hot air. North of scotland hydroelectric board graces guide. Loch tummel is a long narrow loch in perthshire, 6 miles 9.