Cottam Power Station - Walk from control block to and around U1 42ft

[@kathyjohnson5290]

Thank you so much. In 1969 I made the same rounds from drum level to basement, and checking the coal feeders for build-up and of course at the top adjusting the isolation valves before the attemporator control valves could be scary especially when a bonnet gland assembly decided to "move" and give you the fright of the day. I feel it was the most interesting station I have worked in. Regards Terry Johnson ex unit operator, unit 4. New Zealand 😊

[@edwardbyard6540]

Thanks very much for these videos. We will never see engineering on this scale ever again, and these videos will help show our grandchildren how we made electricity. I wish we could keep Ratcliffe as a museum but sadly that won't be possible. Best Regards.

[@highfields5365]

No station will be preserved, they all had protection against being listed, even Historic England state no cooling tower is worthy of preservation. I'm working at Ratcliffe now, it is definitely being demolished when the time comes.

[@martinsadventures3691]

Brings back memories 😊👍

[@kathyjohnson5290]

Sorry, but a little more history. I think it was Unit 3? I answered the phone and "Lez" the boiler attendant very loudly said, can you hear what sounds like bullets whizzing past me 😮 , the coal bunker is slowly splitting open and coal is piling up fast 'what' a sudden rush of ops people to the war zone and it was still fiiring bolts in several directions as the opening continued to grow. Then as men and wheel barrows are trying desperately to get rid of coal through the hand rails and down to the Mill level. Coaling plant had overfilled the bunker 😮 oh dear. Such were the eventful days of the 1969-74, every shift was, dare I say it 'full of job satisfaction'. Regards Terry Johnson in New Zealand Zealand