Historic photographs of a Highland Perthshire power station have been unearthed during an extension to the building.
The pictures, which date back to the 1930s – the heyday of building of such electricity plants – show various scenes, including the very first transformers being delivered to the site by a steam-powered traction engine, undertaken by hauliers JB Rawcliffe & Sons.
A Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) spokesperson said it was “purely coincidental” that the photographs were sent across at the same time as the refurbishment of the Rannoch sub-station was underway.
The company have a photograph archive centre within the old visitor centre at Pitlochry power station and these latest finds will be added to the collection.
“SSEN has unearthed photographs of the first transformer deliveries to Rannoch sub-station almost 90 years on as an extension to the site is constructed,” she said.
“Rannoch sub-station has delivered locally-generated hydro-electricity to residents in the north of Scotland since the 1930s. Almost 90 years on, SSEN is extending the sub-station to facilitate new hydro generation connections and improve the security of supply for the area.
Duncan McCall, SSEN project manager, added: “Transformer deliveries have come a long way with the original deliveries to the site being undertaken by steam-powered traction engines. We now work alongside specialist hauliers, roads authorities and the police to make sure each delivery can be completed smoothly, safely and with minimum disruption to other traffic.
“We are fully refurbishing Rannoch sub-station to meet modern safety standards and increased demand on the electricity network and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the local community for their patience and understanding while construction work and local road improvements have been progressing.”
The Rannoch sub-station extension requires the delivery of two new grid transformers and two new primary transformers. The next transformer is scheduled to be delivered in August and the works are expected to be complete by the end of the year.
Rannoch power station and the sub-station have been operational since 1930.
