WATER POWER

Series

Series Name
Mining Review 11th Year

Issue

Issue No.
1
Date Released
Sep 1957
Stories in this Issue:
  1. 1PROP SHOP
  2. 2WATER POWER
  3. 3PAPER WORK
  4. 4SONGS OF THE COALFIELDS: "The Row Between the cages"

Story

Story No. within this Issue
2 / 4
Summary
BFI synopsis: Loch Leven’s Balgonie colliery’s own small hydro-electric plant
NCB Commentary - The quiet waters of Loch Leven find their way out down river to serve the only colliery in the country with its own private hydro electric plant.
Near the town of Thorton, the River Leven is diverted into a canal which flows past the old 12th Century castle to end at a set of sluice gates.
Here, the flow of the water is controlled before it tumbles down into a generating station built by miners during the strike of 1921.
There are two sets of generators near the castle, both supplying power to nearby Balgonie Colliery.
The second power house is in a converted flax mill.
From here the cables set out across country and down to the pit.
Eighty per cent of Balgonie’s electricity needs are supplied by the Colliery’s own hydro electric system.
Local initiative has harnessed natural power interests of economy and production.
Researcher Comments
Commentary recorded 26th July 1957.
Keywords
Mining; Energy resources
Locations
Scotland; Fife
Written sources
British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.12 No.137 March 1958, p118.
The National Archives COAL 32   /12 Scripts for Mining Review, 1956-1960
Credits:
Production Co.
Documentary Technicians Alliance
Sponsor
National Coal Board

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