NNG Off Topic - Silverton Substation

The Animas Light & Power building was a switching station, not a "powerplant" or generating station as many people think...and it has one heck of a history.

The project was originally started in 1901 by the Animas Canal, Reservior, Water, Power & Investment Co. They experienced a number of construction issues and financial issues...and reorganized to the Animas Power & Water Company in 1905. That company completed construction and started generating power in May 1906.

Power from Tacoma was transmitted to the station on two lines at 44kv (second line was built a few years later to improve reliability). The station had three 750Kw water cooled oil transformers to step down to a 17kv distribution voltage. The Gold King Consolidated Mines Company at Gladstone was the first customer.

Animas Power & Water started selling power to the town of Silverton in June 1907 and the municipal operation was shutdown soon after. Animas Power & Water went into recievership later in the year, and operated in that manner until June 1909 when it was sold at auction to the San Juan Water & Power Company. That company operated the system until 1913 when it was purchased by the Western Colorado Power Company.

Here is a view of the north roof line, with an interesting "2nd Gen" arc-gap lightning protection system and switch:



And an inside view of the 17kv switchgear:



Not narrow gauge - but all of this stuff was hauled up the canyon by the D&RG...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/2018 06:25PM by rainbowroute.