Anyone Visited one of our (old) Nuclear Power Stations?

[Ross365]

It seems that 4 of the old AGR's have visitor centres as does the Sizewell PWR. 40 years ago, I went in to one which was under construction, but I've never done the public visitor thing. Worth doing or not?

 

[Barking Mat]

I'd be interested, don't know if it would be interesting.

 

[daleyd]

I’ve been to a few with work, along with Sellafield and Springfields but never done the visitor thing.

I think trawsfynydd has a visitor centre, wouldn’t mind a trip to see. When I go with work I tend to only see a small part of it, usually some obscure plant rooms!!

 

[Parm]

I go to sizewell all the time

 

[Barking Mat]

I go to sizewell all the time

Just for fun ?

 

[Erie Fred]

Just for fun ?

For a refill.....

 

[Onoff]

The missus and I went to Dungeness whilst on our honeymoon.

 

[voipio]

There's a campsite next door to Sizewell.

 

[colnerov]

The missus and I went to Dungeness whilst on our honeymoon.

You know how to treat a girl don't you?

 

[nickk]

I toured Dungeness in ‘86,an eye opener would like to go again or any other.
Watched part of a programme last night on Chernobyl and revealed KGB mistakes and cover ups!

 

[m_c]

Depends on your idea of interesting.

I visited Torness while at school, and there's not really that much you get to see in person.
Get a guide talk you through the visitor centre explaining a lot about the safety and back up systems (4 back up generators - one in each corner of the site, each capable of powering the station in the event of external power loss, emergency gas cooling system should the s*** really hit the fan), the man made sea break (made from interlinking pre-cast concrete stars), then a walk to the viewing gallery overlooking the reactor hall and turbine halls with some explaining on how the whole lot works.

 

[Parm]

Just for fun ?

Work, we have a contract with 5 Magnox power stations

 

[drjim]

I remember going to Calder Hall when I was in Scouts and walking over the top of the active reactor on the tour. What fun!

Been looking through my Dads stuff (died 11th June retired electrical engineer), found lots of books about power stations and nuclear electric stuff. All historic interesting and sadly no longer working!

 

[sparkysy]

I've been to two for a tour, Wylfa and Oldbury both were good I thought not exceptional, but it was worth going. Much as @m_c described above, bit of an introduction to the place and how it works, then into a bus for a tour round and a visit to a viewing room to see the top of the reactor, also got to see the turbine hall from another high up viewing room. Then back on the bus around a bit more of the site and back to the start.
Never been on a tour of Trawsfynydd although I have spent a lot of time round that way. And we did walk past part of Hinkley point last year on holiday but ran out of time for the tour!
Still worth a visit I think!
Sy

 

[Ross365]

I go to sizewell all the time

I don't have the same affinity for the PWR as the AGR's; only had the most minimal connection with the PWR.
Of course, being situated in N.Oxon, none of them are very close.

It's unfortunate that we'll never really know how successful or otherwise the "fleet" was; as Thatcher found out, the CEGB had kept a good part of the costs of nuclear hidden and unfindable. So far as I recall, not one of the Magnox, AGR or the PWR were ever shut down in emergency conditions. The Magnox's had have their output power down-graded by 30% early on due to unexpected corrosion. The AGR's (except Dungeness) delivered full power and the intended operating lives of 30 years were generally extended to about 40.

 

[Parm]

I toured Dungeness in ‘86,an eye opener would like to go again or any other.
Watched part of a programme last night on Chernobyl and revealed KGB mistakes and cover ups!

The best nuclear power station I’ve ever been to is Dounreay

its proper out of a 1960’s film.
proper full blown awesome

 

[Parm]

I should say, most of you, probably go to the public places

i get to go to stuff well of the beaten track

its fascinating stuff

 

[julianf]

I went to the one on Anglsea about 30 years ago, and Hinkley B around the time when Teressa May was doing the whole "will she, wont she" charade over Hinkley C.

(I remember thinking that there was a whole truck load of money being spent on the C site when we were all being told that it wasnt a "done deal" yet!)

Both stations were operational when i visited them.

There's a possibility i went to the one at Bradwell, but i cant be sure.


Theyre worth visiting if you are interested in that kind of thing.

 

[premmington]

There's a campsite next door to Sizewell.

Been to it...

Even swam in the sea

 

[Redsailor]

Think the nuclear power plants cancelled public visits a few years back. This was as a result of certain newly arrived citizens and their terrorist activities. Not sure if this has been relaxed of late, though I doubt it.