Rugeley Power Station & Model Railway Club
Rugeley originally had two power stations, both coal powered, and located on the banks of the River Trent.
First opened in 1961, “Rugeley A” was the first of the two stations, followed by commissioning of “Rugeley B” in 1970.
Costing some £30 million, construction of Rugeley A began in 1956. Constructed as the first joint venture between the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) and the National Coal Board, Rugeley A took coal directly from the neighbouring Lee Hall colliery, via a conveyer belt. Rugeley A boasted the world’ first large dry cooling tower, with no further dry towers constructed in the UK due to the costs of operation. Another distinguishing feature of Rugeley A was that it was the first power station in Britain to be managed from a central control room.
Construction of Rugeley B power station began in 1965, and became operational from 1970. When fully operational, the B station generated enough energy to power some 500,000 homes. When both A and B stations were in service, some 850 people were employed to operate these units.
After privatisation of the CEGB, ownership of both A and B stations passed to National Power in the early 1990s, which coincided with the closure of Lee Hall colliery in 1991, after which coal used to power the stations arrived via rail. On an annual basis, some 1.6 million tonnes of coal per annum was used to power both stations.
For economic reasons, a decision was subsequently taken by its new owner to close Rugeley A, and decommissioning of its generating units was completed in 1995, followed by demolition of its towers. Over its lifetime, it is estimated that Rugeley A burnt 41,869.969 tonnes of coal.
Improvements were then made to Rugeley B to enable compliance with environmental legislation. However, ongoing electricity generation was also eventually deemed uneconomic, due to falling market prices and rising carbon costs, and a decision was taken to close the station. There had been plans to convert the power station to run on biomass fuel, but these were never implemented.
Rugeley B ceased to operate in June 2016, resulting in the end of an era, and the overall loss of some 150 jobs, although 30 employees were retained to manage decommissioning activities.
Demolition of the site was completed in 2021.
The site will eventually become a mixed-use development, with plans in place to create up to 2,300 new homes, a school, community facilities, and new employment opportunities.
The site is also the home of the Rugeley Power Station Society of Model Engineers, a group of that meets in their own workshops, steaming facilities and running track within the landscaped grounds of what used to be Rugeley Power Station. The Society has been established for 52 years having been formed in 1971. Construction work on a new track was completed in August 1991. Since then, thanks to the work carried out by dedicated members, the track and facilities have been continuously upgraded and improved.
The main interest represented by the society is the steam and diesel outline railway locomotive and steam traction engine, although members’ interests also include stationary engines, rolling stock, and other model engineering projects.
Over the last 35 years the Rugeley Miniature Railway has given countless hours of pleasure to the local community, visiting societies, and members. The society is recognised as having one of the best multi-gauge ride-on raised level miniature railway tracks in the UK.
Following the granting of access to the facilities by the Power Station site owners in 2021, members have been involved with installing a new electronic signalling system, as well as bringing the site back to a satisfactory condition, general maintenance, and replacing equipment.
Running days have recommenced and you can find up-to-date information on the society’s Programme page.
During the redevelopment of the Power Station site, visitors can only be allowed on site by prior arrangement. The society’s meetings are held at Armitage with Handsacre Village Hall.