The Mechanicville Powerhouse is the oldest continuously operating power station in new york constructed in 1897 It primarily supplied 40 cycle power to the GE plant in Schenectady over a single circuit 3 phase line that direct connected the generators to the substation at GE. The line was insulated with U-935 Imperials. Later a second circuit was added with U-746 Imperials and/ or large Thomas Boch insulators. This line was again upgraded with Thomas M-3065 and Fred Locke M-3062 multiparts around 1904. A small shallow dump area on the tail race bank was excavated by myself with permission of the plant staff . For more information on this plant or to arrange a tour please follow the link below . The plant is about a 1/2 hour drive north of Albany, N.Y.. The staff and management of the plant are currently involved in a detailed and exact architectural restoration of the building, it's grounds, and many aspects of the plant's mechanical operations to there original state as when the plant was first built in 1897-98 .

http://www.albanyengineering.com/mechanicville.htm

All original 1897-1900 insulators, pins and related artifacts I found will be used in the display and restoration of the plant .( I am dreaming of seeing a short demonstration dummy power line constructed at the plant to the original 1898 standards using all original hardware!!). Here is the small dig site... Powerhouse tail race in the background...please see the next few photos for pictures of the interesting things I found. [id=282903787]