Palmerston North Electric Power Station Inc

Ground Floor Plan - 1924  

(The large ones in two parts - unfortunately)

This plan shows the building as it was set out for the three National engines, along with a planned fourth (at left) in the place now occupied by British Polar engine No. 216. The mezzanine floor in the engine room at that time extended across the space at the right of the engine room, that is now occupied by Engine 215. Equipment such as the air cylinders were then located beneath that section of mezzanine floor. Clearly many changed occurred at the building when the British Polars arrived. This included removing the inner wall of the 'Repair Shop' and the walls in front of the toilets. In fact, at that time the 'Station Lav' was removed altogether and the urinal was converted into a shower (!). The accessway thereafter included the passage from the offices (now kitchen) and down through the 'Log Room.' The need to make these changes was to accommodate the alternators on the British Polars, which extend into these spaces. The door to the 'Store' was also relocated as the air cylinders were moved to that wall. The main door at that time was the one shown in the left wall. The present main door was installed to admit the much larger British Polar engines.

Note that the office staff and senior people had a toilet to themselves, and also that there is no provision for a staff room - including upstairs.

The cross section of the building at the line of the floor plan that runs upwards from the 'A' shown above. (The matching 'B' is not shown on the above scanned versions) The ladder shown is the one then at the centre of the engine room.

Last Updated: 8/4/2001