The Powerhouse The powerhouse drew on water from the three main dams and various other inlets on the scheme (see separate records) to drive five 6,800 kW generators. These were set into a deep rock excavation to get the turbines as close to sea level as possible. Lochaber power scheme was a significant development in terms of scale and innovation over the previous BAC scheme at Kinlochleven. The output from the powerhouse was not exceeded until 1950 at Sloy. The powerhouse is on a large scale with a number of good design features including a pilastered rear elevation, mural panels

Pipelines and Portals The scheme harnesses the headwaters of the Rivers Treig and Spean and the flood waters of the River Spey (plus a further eleven burns along the way). The Laggan Dam (213 m long and 55 m high) contained the flow of the Spean in a reservoir (Loch Laggan). A 4 km tunnel then linked this body of water with another reservoir (Loch Treig) contained by the Treig dam. From here, the main tunnel, until 1970 the longest water-carrying tunnel in the world, an enormous 24km long and 5m in diameter, was driven around the Ben Nevis massif.

Loch Treig Dam and Railway Loch Treig (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Trèig, meaning loch of death) is a 9 km freshwater loch situated in a steep-sided glen 20 km east of Fort William, in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. While there are no roads alongside the loch, the West Highland Line follows its eastern bank. Since 1929 Loch Treig has been a reservoir, retained behind the Treig Dam, forming part of the Lochaber hydro-electric scheme, which required diversion of the West Highland Railway. The increase in water level following the construction of the dam submerged the small communities of Kinlochtreig and Creaguaineach at

Building the Lochaber Factory The scheme was initially designed by engineer Charles Meik but after his death in 1923, the scheme’s realisation was left to William Halcrow, by then a partner in the firm founded by Meik’s father Thomas Meik. Laggan DamThe project was finally sanctioned by Parliament in 1921, but construction did not start until 1924. On 30 December 1929, the first aluminium was cast.[1] It took about 95% of the 82,000 kW of power generated. It eventually became part of British Aluminium. Loch Treig damThe scheme harnessed the headwaters of the Rivers Treig and Spean and the floodwaters

Casting Shop Lochaber The liquid aluminium was drawn off from a holding furnace where it was held in the molten state after the smelting process. It was then cast into blocks. Prior to the 1950s it would have been cast into ingots.

Lochaber Tunnel The Lochaber Power Company was established by Act of Parliament in 1920 to produce aluminium using electric smelters. The company was authorised to develop a catchment area of 303 square miles in the vicinity of Ben Nevis which had, in places, a rainfall of 160 in. and was admirably suited for the site of a hydro-electric scheme. The runoff was collected in two reservoirs, Loch Laggan and Loch Treig, connected by a tunnel 23.4 miles long and 15 ft diameter. The supply of water was supplemented by the diversion of the upper waters of the Spey into Loch

Laggan Dam Construction Photographs taken during the construction of Laggan Dam. The structure was built as part of the Lochaber hydroelectric scheme by Balfour Beatty for the British Aluminium Company and construction was finished in 1934. The supervising engineers were the firm of C S Meik and William Halcrow, now known as the Halcrow Group. The dam is about 700 feet (210 metres) long, and 48 m (157 ft) high between the level of the foundations and the crest of the spillway. It is curved upstream like an arch dam with a radius of curvature of 2,000 ft (610 m),

Garvamore project Garvmore project started last year with Jahama estate’s (Alvance) recording the valley from Melgarve, to Laggan Valley. Garvemore, Garvebeag, Sherabeag, Shermore and Crathie Village near Spey Dam. On going project metal detecting the land over three years discovering the history of the landscape and farming of the valley. Working with the estate and staff in all weather’s and finding some amazing artifacts, Bronze age Torque Bracelet, 15th century coins to present day.  All work carried out through Jahama estates, completion around November 2023