Tullis Russell’s Markinch Power House, Fife, Scotland

Tullis Russell's Markinch Power Station

Tullis Russel was a paper mill in Glenrothes, Scotland. The Markinch power station was built to provide electricity to the mill.

Visited May 2016  UK Glenrothes, Fife, Scotland Closed

Tullis Russell Paper Mill in Glenrothes, Fife produced paper and board for use in cards, covers and premium packaging. The Markinch Power Station was built to provide electricity and steam to the paper mill. Construction began in 1912 and was completed in 1914.

Markinch Power Station - The powerhouse in 1955​
Markinch Power Station – The powerhouse in 1955​

Originally consisting of a single Parsons turbine and generator unit, the power station was enlarged in 1921 to add another two units. The ability to co-fire oil along with coal was also introduced at the same time. The powerhouse was then expanded once again and a fourth, larger Parsons turbine was added.

In 1979 David Russell expressed his concerns about energy shortages and suggests that Tullis Russell must save coal. He devised a method of continuous working to avoid closing down at weekends which saved 70 tonnes of coal. He also started looking for an alternative to burning oil.

In 1999 one of the boilers was converted to run on gas, but it was realised that cleaner and cheaper energy was still required. In 2012 RWE invested in the Glenrothes site to build a biomass power station to replace the ageing coal plant. The new plant provided both steam and power to Tullis Russell, and made the old plant obsolete.

Turbine Hall

Markinch Power Station - Turbine hall with original Westinghouse sets
Markinch Power Station – Turbine hall with original Westinghouse sets
Markinch Power Station - Turbine hall in 1951 after the new Parsons sets had been installed​
Markinch Power Station – Turbine hall in 1951 after the new Parsons sets had been installed​
Markinch Power Station - Parsons turbines
Markinch Power Station – Parsons turbines
Markinch Power Station - Overview of the turbine hall
Markinch Power Station – Overview of the turbine hall
Markinch Power Station - Overview of the turbine hall
Markinch Power Station – Overview of the turbine hall
Markinch Power Station - Equipment by side of turbine
Markinch Power Station – Equipment by side of turbine
 
Markinch Power Station - End view of Parsons turbine
Markinch Power Station – End view of Parsons turbine
Markinch Power Station - Parsons turbine detail
Markinch Power Station – Parsons turbine detail
Markinch Power Station - Switch panels and turbine
Markinch Power Station – Switch panels and turbine
Markinch Power Station - View down the turbine hall
Markinch Power Station – View down the turbine hall
Markinch Power Station - Turbine and old gauge panel
Markinch Power Station – Turbine and old gauge panel
 
Markinch Power Station - Turbine and gauges detail
Markinch Power Station – Turbine and gauges detail
Markinch Power Station - Alternator detail
Markinch Power Station – Alternator detail
Markinch Power Station - The larger Parsons unit was added later
Markinch Power Station – The larger Parsons unit was added later
 
Markinch Power Station - Below the turbines
Markinch Power Station – Below the turbines
Markinch Power Station - Modernised control room
Markinch Power Station – Modernised control room

Original control panels still remain around the turbine hall…

Markinch Power Station - Original panels behind turbine
Markinch Power Station – Original panels behind turbine
Markinch Power Station - Local boiler control station
Markinch Power Station – Local boiler control station
Markinch Power Station - Boiler control panel
Markinch Power Station – Boiler control panel
 
Markinch Power Station - Original gauge panel
Markinch Power Station – Original gauge panel
Markinch Power Station - Original gauges
Markinch Power Station – Original gauges

Boiler House

Markinch Power Station - Archive photo of the boiler house
Markinch Power Station – Archive photo of the boiler house
Markinch Power Station - Boiler house with International Combustion boilers
Markinch Power Station – Boiler house with International Combustion boilers
Markinch Power Station - International Combustion boiler
Markinch Power Station – International Combustion boiler
Markinch Power Station - Top of the boiler house
Markinch Power Station – Top of the boiler house
 
Markinch Power Station - The decaying power station library
Markinch Power Station – The decaying power station library
Author: Andy Kay | Facebook | Flickr | Instagram

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