Galloway Hydro-Electric Scheme
The Galloway hydro-electric power scheme is a network of dams and hydro-electric power stations in Galloway, south west Scotland. It was built between 1930 and 1936 and was owned by the Galloway Water Power Co.
The pre-existing Loch Doon was dammed and the water level raised to form a major element of stage II of the Galloway Hydro-electric Scheme.[1]
The generating stations draw water from the River Ken, River Dee and River Doon through reservoirs at Loch Doon, Kendoon, Carsfad, Clatteringshaws, and Tongland. The unusual modernist stations were designed by Scottish civil engineer, Sir Alexander Gibb.
Glenlee Tunnel connects Clatteringshaws reservoir to Glenlee Power Station. Water is not drawn off from the reservoir at the dam, but at the eastern side north of it. The tunnel has a total length of 3.6 miles and a flattened circular cross-section of 11 ft equivalent diameter. It is concrete lined throughout and over the greater part of its length is constructed on a gradient of 1 in 350, the last 3600 ft being on a gradient of 1 in 100. At about its midpoint the tunnel passes under the Craigshinnie Burn, which is intercepted and its water led into the tunnel through one of the vertical driving shafts adapted for the purpose. There is a surge shaft on the tunnel close to the downstream portal at Glenlee. The main contractor for the tunnel construction was A. M. Carmichael and for the steel pipeline, Sir Wm. Arrol & Co. Ltd.[2]
Since the 1970s the whole scheme has been controlled from Glenlee Power Station.
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