Slatty
proper brummie kid
Now age 76, I remembered this Power Station as a young boy, growing up in Aston. I did a Bing AI search, which initially could not find anything.
A few days later, it sent me this interesting information:
City of Birmingham Electricity Supply Department Alma Street
The Alma Street power station in Aston was one of the earliest and most influential electricity generating stations in Birmingham. It was built by the Birmingham Corporation in 1891, following the Electric Lighting Act of 1882 that allowed local authorities to supply electricity to their areas. The power station was located on the corner of Alma Street and Summer Lane, near the Hockley Brook. It had two 500-kilowatt (kW) steam engines that drove dynamos to produce direct current (DC) electricity at 460 volts. The power station supplied electricity to about 3,000 customers, mainly for lighting and tramways.
The Alma Street power station was expanded several times over the years to meet the growing demand for electricity in Birmingham. In 1899, it installed two 1,000 kW alternators to produce alternating current (AC) electricity at 2,000 volts, which could be transmitted over longer distances and stepped down to lower voltages for different uses. The power station also added more boilers, engines, and transformers to increase its capacity and efficiency. By 1914, the Alma Street power station had a total installed capacity of 16,500 kW, making it one of the largest power stations in the country at the time.
The Alma Street power station played a key role in the development of Birmingham’s electric tram network, which was one of the first and most extensive in the world. The power station supplied electricity to the tram depot on Summer Lane, as well as to the overhead wires that ran along the main roads of the city. The electric trams replaced the horse-drawn trams that had been operating since 1872, and offered a faster, cleaner, and cheaper mode of transport for the people of Birmingham. The electric trams also helped to stimulate urban growth and social mobility, as they enabled people to travel more easily between different parts of the city.
The Alma Street power station also contributed to the industrial and commercial progress of Birmingham, as it provided electricity to many factories, shops, offices, and public buildings in the city. Some of the notable customers of the power station included the Birmingham Mint, the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA), Cadbury’s chocolate factory, and Aston Villa Football Club. The power station also illuminated some of the landmarks of Birmingham, such as the Town Hall, the Council House, and the Victoria Law Courts.
The Alma Street power station was a prominent feature of Birmingham’s skyline for over half a century. It had a tall brick chimney that could be seen from miles away, and a distinctive red brick building that housed the boilers, engines, and generators. The power station was also decorated with ornamental features, such as arched windows, stone carvings, and iron railings. The power station was regarded as a symbol of Birmingham’s civic pride and technological prowess, and was often featured in postcards and photographs of the city.
The Alma Street power station was decommissioned in 1947, when it was replaced by larger and more modern power stations that used coal or gas turbines to generate electricity. The power station building was demolished in 1958, and the site was redeveloped for industrial use. Today, only a few traces of the power station remain, such as some brick walls and metal pipes. The Alma Street power station is remembered as one of the pioneers of electric power generation in Birmingham, and as a testament to the city’s history of innovation and enterprise.
Alma Street got its name from the Battle of Alma during the Crimean War.
A few days later, it sent me this interesting information:
City of Birmingham Electricity Supply Department Alma Street
The Alma Street power station in Aston was one of the earliest and most influential electricity generating stations in Birmingham. It was built by the Birmingham Corporation in 1891, following the Electric Lighting Act of 1882 that allowed local authorities to supply electricity to their areas. The power station was located on the corner of Alma Street and Summer Lane, near the Hockley Brook. It had two 500-kilowatt (kW) steam engines that drove dynamos to produce direct current (DC) electricity at 460 volts. The power station supplied electricity to about 3,000 customers, mainly for lighting and tramways.
The Alma Street power station was expanded several times over the years to meet the growing demand for electricity in Birmingham. In 1899, it installed two 1,000 kW alternators to produce alternating current (AC) electricity at 2,000 volts, which could be transmitted over longer distances and stepped down to lower voltages for different uses. The power station also added more boilers, engines, and transformers to increase its capacity and efficiency. By 1914, the Alma Street power station had a total installed capacity of 16,500 kW, making it one of the largest power stations in the country at the time.
The Alma Street power station played a key role in the development of Birmingham’s electric tram network, which was one of the first and most extensive in the world. The power station supplied electricity to the tram depot on Summer Lane, as well as to the overhead wires that ran along the main roads of the city. The electric trams replaced the horse-drawn trams that had been operating since 1872, and offered a faster, cleaner, and cheaper mode of transport for the people of Birmingham. The electric trams also helped to stimulate urban growth and social mobility, as they enabled people to travel more easily between different parts of the city.
The Alma Street power station also contributed to the industrial and commercial progress of Birmingham, as it provided electricity to many factories, shops, offices, and public buildings in the city. Some of the notable customers of the power station included the Birmingham Mint, the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA), Cadbury’s chocolate factory, and Aston Villa Football Club. The power station also illuminated some of the landmarks of Birmingham, such as the Town Hall, the Council House, and the Victoria Law Courts.
The Alma Street power station was a prominent feature of Birmingham’s skyline for over half a century. It had a tall brick chimney that could be seen from miles away, and a distinctive red brick building that housed the boilers, engines, and generators. The power station was also decorated with ornamental features, such as arched windows, stone carvings, and iron railings. The power station was regarded as a symbol of Birmingham’s civic pride and technological prowess, and was often featured in postcards and photographs of the city.
The Alma Street power station was decommissioned in 1947, when it was replaced by larger and more modern power stations that used coal or gas turbines to generate electricity. The power station building was demolished in 1958, and the site was redeveloped for industrial use. Today, only a few traces of the power station remain, such as some brick walls and metal pipes. The Alma Street power station is remembered as one of the pioneers of electric power generation in Birmingham, and as a testament to the city’s history of innovation and enterprise.
Alma Street got its name from the Battle of Alma during the Crimean War.