Open House – SELCHP
SELCHP or the South East London Combined Heat and Power energy recovery facility, is a refuse incinerator, that generates up to 35 MW of electricity. I went for a look round during the Open House weekend.
It’s a long time since, I’ve been given free rein in an industrial plant. The last one that generated power was probably Cliff Quay or Sizewell A. Or it certainly was in the UK, although I have visited two others in the US; AEP Cook and Beaver Valley.
The site was impressive and I think they do a good job, getting rid of London’s rubbish. For those who object to incinerators on principle, it can’t be that bad, as they have now got resident peregrine falcons to keep down the number of pigeons. All I can find is this in a forum.
There’s also a bird of prey of some sort that nests at SELCHP, the incinerator opposite Millwall football ground. They provide it with special nesting boxes. Apparently, the high, bare walls look like the cliffs that are its natural habitat!
But the building probably looks no different to peregrines as does Tate Modern.
The New Overground Line To Clapham Junction
I took these pictures today, whilst walking from Surrey Quays station to SELCHP.
Note.
- How the track for the new branch, runs between SELCHP and the fence along the route I walked.
- A couple of trains have been seen travelling along the line. One may have passed me, but I’m not sure.
- It would appear that the new bridge over Surrey Canal Road, has been designed to be incorporated into any proposed Surrey Canal Road station. I actually met a guy with his dalmatian by the station and he and/or a neighbour could remember Surrey Canal Road as the Grand Surrey Canal. The neighbour could also remember troop trains going by over the old line, that was dismantled in the 1960s or 1970s.
- The proximity of the New Den to the proposed station.
- The new line has an out of station interchange at Clapham High Street station with Clapham North station on the Northern line. It would make it easy for anybody in my area to get to the Tooting area, although I think that Clapham North station is not the best.
One thing that would appear to be certain, s that opening the line this year, is not an outrageous boast.
Open House – The Thames Tunnel Revealed
Because it was Open House, the floodlights were left on in the Thames Tunnel today. I took these two pictures.
I did intend to take some more on my way back, but I was rather delayed.
Perhaps it would be a good idea, if Transport for London, lit up some of the disused stations on the Underground, so they could be seen from passing trains on the Open House weekend.
What A Name For A Shop!
The picture says it all.
hat A Name For A Shop!
They probably do sell good furniture and possibly even make it or get it made!
But it is a name with connotations.
Open House – Is Mine Bigger Than Yours?
This picture was taken at TUCA yesterday.
Is Mine Bigger Than Yours?
The tunnel boring machine is not one of the largest. But it is probably, the biggest one, where you can have your photo taken.
Open House – Crossrail’s Bond Street Station Presentation
This was a presentation, that I wanted to see yesterday. But as you can see it was very popular. At least from the numbers who turned up.
Crossrail’s Bond Street Station Presentation
At least it probably shows, that CrossRail is going to be a success.
Lingerie Adverts On The Tube
It was always said in the 1960s and before, that lingerie adverts were put on the Underground escalators, as because people were passing them at speed, they couldn’t write anything on them.
Then a few years later, certain women, thought the adverts were degrading and started putting stickers on them.
And then, yesterday I was ascending in Bond Street station, where a large number of copies of the same woman on video screens, was showing off her Marks & Spencer’s bra.
I suppose because the video lasted only a few seconds before changing to something else, this stopped them being defaced.
Open House – The Limehouse Hydraulic Accumulator
Rather a unique building available for view was the Limehouse Hydraulic Accumulator.
I managed the climb up the tower quite easily and as you can see some pictures were taken of the view from the top.
The machinery in the tower was originally built by William Armstrong and was used to provide hydraulic pressure to the cranes and other machinery around the docks.
The Anonymous Widower 