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Deanie Tunnel [Deanie Power Station]

Deanie, Glen Stratfarrar, Invernessshire.

Power Station Access Tunnel (Hydro electric scheme).

"From an intake tower adjacent to the [Monar] dam, water is led by a tunnel, 29,000ft long and 15ft in diameter, to the underground Deanie power station... The supply of water is augmented in several ways - there is an intake system which captures the waters of the Uisge Misgeach and is taken by tunnel to Loch Monar (compensation water is also supplied from this system). The flow in the Deanie tunnel itself is augmented directly by three side-stream intakes which feed directly to the tunnel via slope shafts, and a further aqueduct system captures water from the North side of Glen Strathfarrar, and feeds it to the riser of the surge shaft." [Corestore]

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"in Glen Strathfarrar, Loch Monar is dammed, and a 5.6-mile (9 km) tunnel carries water to an underground power station at Deanie...

undetected faults were discovered when excavating the underground chamber for Deanie power station. The tunnel from Loch Monar terminates in a surge shaft just behind the power station, which is accessed through a road tunnel, to allow vehicles to reach the station. The tunnel entrance has a stone portal, probably built of stone excavated when building the main chamber." [Wikipedia]

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With reference to Deanie Tunnel Inlet: "Deanie Tunnel, start of low pressure tunnel lining at intake, 3 April 1961 Hydro-electric power stations like Deanie (commissioned in 1963) use the power of flowing water released from reservoirs to drive turbines, which then turn generators to convert it into electrical energy. The power of gravity ensures that water passing downhill can be used by several power stations before it reaches the sea. The entrance to Deanie tunnel at the Loch Monar end of the tunnel shown here with the concrete lining in place. The railway was used to take concrete into the tunnel to form the lining. The intake tower and gates were built on to the rock face seen here." [RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN]

Alternative Names: Loch Beannacharan Deanie Power Station

Notes: "Deanie Tunnel is part of the Strathfarrar scheme which has four power stations, five dams and two lengthy tunnels. The Strathfarrar scheme formed part of the larger Affric/Beauly scheme that was one of eight large schemes built by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board during the 1940s to 1960s" [RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN]

Deanie, commissioned towards the end of 1963, was one of the last conventional hydro stations to be built by the Hydro Board.

Given length approx.