A time-sequenced presentation of the history of the

A time-sequenced presentation of the history of the national grid Stuart Nicholson Tony Silke Richard Donaldson T E H A presentation to the Engineering Heritage Workshop, Wellington August 2004

What is the national grid? • Transmission of electric power • from large power stations • to line companies, and • to large industrial users. • Includes the HVDC link. T E H

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Who are we? • Electricity Transmission Heritage of NZ Inc • Collecting and making available resources for study of the historical development of the New Zealand electricity transmission system • Membership mainly drawn to date from Transpower staff, contractors, and consultants • Strong sponsorship from Transpower executive • Gathering also from non-transmission sources T E H

How to tell the story? • Depicting grid development • The grid has grown from 1915 to today and is continuing to develop • We have collected data going back to the beginnings • A visual display of this growth • Use Power Point to give one slide per year? T E H

Source material • Network drawings & maps from Transpower record system • Records of all circuit-breakers and power transformers • Histories (see references) T E H

Network drawing sample c. 1925 T E H

Network on NZ map from 1940 s T E H

Network drawing sample T E H

A first mock up to demonstrate the concept T E H

Otago joined to Canterbury OAM HWB 1935 T E H

Southland joined to Otago & Westland joined to Canterbury. Diesel ex-LYT at DOB BWR DOB ALD AHA COL GOR HWB 1938 T E H

BOP joined to NI Grid & WC Generation joined to SI Grid EDG ARI DOB AHA MST Assume UHT not yet connected to KHD T E H UHT 1939

KTA joined at 50 k. V to Wairua Falls generation near MPE. Reinforcement of supply to Auckland from ARI KTA MPE PEN PAK ARI 1940 T E H

Cleaned up and checked by Hayley Grace T E H

1954 Click to edit Master title style WMG IGH • Click to edit Master text styles – Second level EDG • Third level – Fourth level » Fifth level KAW BPE HAY T E H

1955 STK Click to edit Master title style KIK IGH • Click to edit Master text styles – Second level • Third level – Fourth level » Fifth level T E H

1956 ARI-EDG B 110 k. V Click to edit Master title style First SI 220 k. V ALB • Click to edit Master text styles HEN – Second level • Third level – Fourth level » Fifth level ROX T E H ARI ISL HAM HTI EDG

1957 Click to edit Master title style • Click to edit Master text styles – Second level • Third level – Fourth level » Fifth level GIS PTI T E H

1958 BOB-MER A 110 k. V Click to edit Master title style BOB-OTA A 110 k. V KIK WMG WPT • Click to edit Master text styles OTA BOB – Second level • Third level – Fourth level » Fifth level MER TGA MTM TMI ISL WKM TRK ROT ATI WRK T E H

Things we learnt • Finding accurate information is essential • Attracting attention to the display • Social commentary – Relate development to the era – Show relationship of development to history T E H

On display at the Linemen’s reunion 22 -24 November 2002 T E H

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Learnings from this version • Not eye-catching • Slow moving • Minimal commentary • Minimal relating to NZ historical events and social developments T E H • Not suitable for a public venue

Transpower interest in its use • For training • The move to Transpower House • Public appeal – www. • Offer to develop with professional assistance T E H

Origin Design input • • Using Flash instead of Power. Point Interactive www compatibility Plasma display in foyer of Transpower House • PC file also provided • Style T E H

Run some of D: Grid Preso Flashnormal. exe T E H

Drivers for ETH • Database record • Social comment • Offering value to Transpower – Our patron – Funding – Name/status/recognition for ETH T E H

Application elsewhere • • • T E H National highway Railways Telecom network Ports & coastal shipping Water supply on a regional basis

Characteristics of the display • • • T E H Visual Time-sequenced Map-based Auto or manual operation Source files can be more detailed Can be put on the web (www)

Who benefits? • • • T E H Transpower as a corporate citizen ETH output Engineering research tool/database Reunions – stimulus to memory Highlights gaps in knowledge!

References • Transpower drawing records system • Transpower equipment record files • NZED equipment database conceived, prepared, and maintained by Ron Jane on the “Vogel Computer” • White Diamonds • (Power board history) • Power Politics & People T E H

Acknowledgements • • T E H Transpower Hayley Grace The Linemen’s Reunion Origin Design