The Gorge - Pylons around the UK

Pylons around the UK

Having seen my site, Ian McAulay of Envision shared some of his collection of pylon photos with me. They are mainly of the UK, so I did not want to use them all in my pylon photos pages, because my focus is on "pylons around the world". However, they are excellent and need to be seen, so they are aired on a page of their own. The full size images are great and we are very privileged that Ian shared his photos!

For an explanation of the tower model names, please see this page on structures.

For my hundreds of photos of pylons worldwide, please click here.

With many thanks to Ian McAulay, who took all of these photos except the one in the USA (taken by Roger Sidaway) and who supplied the descriptions.

View fullsize L6 (left) and L12 (right) 400kV towers near Ormiston, East Lothian. Both have equivalent carrying capacity. Shows how much slimmer a tower could be with computer based design in 1980 than in 1960.	View fullsize Single circuit 132kV PL1b series S10S tower near Dalmellington, Ayrshire. Most of the grey paint has peeled to reveal red oxide primer, making an impromptu camouflage pattern.	View fullsize Single circuit 275kV towers near Tuxford, Notts. There are 2 lines of these crossing the A1 near here - believed to be only 275kV single circuit in England. These are known as 'cat's head' towers - you can see the outline of a cat's head in the angle towers with the ears forming the earth peaks.	View fullsize 132kV PL1b series towers near Kirknewton, West Lothian. Early tower designs were made to take a small deviation even in the case of suspension towers. This is the only double circuit example I know which actually takes advantage of that. D2 suspension tower on the left, D30 angle tower on right.	View fullsize 400kV L12 series towers near Gifford East Lothian. Low winter sun reflecting off the conductors.	View fullsize 132kV Folded-plate tower, Cambridge Science Park.
View fullsize Single circuit 275kV 30 degree angle tower on Scotland-Northern Ireland interconnector, near Drongan, Ayrshire.	View fullsize Single circuit 275kV line towers near Patna, Ayrshire.	View fullsize Single circuit 275kV 30 degree angle tower near Straiton, Ayrshire.	View fullsize Single circuit 275kV towers near Straiton, Ayrshire. Single circuit towers are short enough to hide in forestry quite effectively.	View fullsize 275kV/400kV paired L2 series D60 towers near Edinburgh	View fullsize 400kV L9 series towers near Inverkip Power Station, Inverclyde, reflecting late afternoon sun.
View fullsize 400kV L9 series towers near Inverkip. Low-height towers were used here to limit the impact on the skyline as they climb up from the coast.	View fullsize 400kV L9 series towers near Inverkip. The terminal towers are an ad-hoc design based on bits of the L9 angle towers.	View fullsize 400kV L6 series towers near Thirsk, North Yorkshire. D30 angle tower nearest camera. Early morning sunshine on a misty December morning.	View fullsize 400kV L6 series towers near Thirsk. Same location looking the other way.	View fullsize 400kV low-height L12 series tower near Thirsk. Tower looms dramatically in dense fog.	View fullsize 400kV low-height L12 series line tower near Thirsk. Better weather this time!
View fullsize 400kV low-height L12 series towers near Thirsk. Transition to full-height towers in distance.	View fullsize 400kV low-height L12 series LD30 and LD towers near Thirsk.	View fullsize 275kV L2 series D30 towers with big height extensions, Bruntsfield station Edinburgh.	View fullsize Double circuit 132kV PL16 line near Currie, West Lothian.	View fullsize Double circuit 132kV PL1b line near Kirknewton, West Lothian.	View fullsize 275kV L3c near Malton, North Yorkshire.
View fullsize 220kV single circuit towers near Ardee, Co Louth. White paint makes excellent camouflage against the sky, but completely useless against landscape!	View fullsize 400kV L6 series towers near Dungeness, Kent. To get the height down below the flight path from Lydd airport, angle towers have been used at reduced span and height and with the earth peak omitted so the whole thing is not much higher than the height to the top conductors. Not a pretty sight though.	View fullsize 132kV Folded-plate tower, Cambridge Science Park.	View fullsize Single circuit 275kV line tower near Tuxford, Notts.	View fullsize 132kV terminal tower, Braco substation.	View fullsize 132kV terminal tower, Braco substation.
View fullsize 132kV terminal tower, Braco substation.	View fullsize 132kV terminal tower, Braco substation.	View fullsize 132kV terminal tower, details of number plate, Braco substation.	View fullsize 132kV towers near Braco substation.	View fullsize L6 towers at south side of Forth crossing near Alloa on Longannet-Denny lines. River crossing towers appear to be ordinary L6 with high extension. Adjacent angle towers appear to be junction or terminal towers for strength.	View fullsize L6 towers at north side of Forth crossing. Kincardine crossing in background.
View fullsize L6 towers at north side of Forth crossing. Kincardine crossing in background.	View fullsize Crossing where Kincardine-Tealing line ducks under Longannet-Denny lines. One circuit underground, possibly along old railway line, one on gantries.	View fullsize Crossing where Kincardine-Tealing line ducks under Longannet-Denny lines, gantries and other terminal.	View fullsize Crossing where Kincardine-Tealing line ducks under Longannet-Denny lines, gantries and other terminal.	View fullsize Crossing where Kincardine-Tealing line ducks under Longannet-Denny lines, gantries and L6 towers.	View fullsize Crossing where Kincardine-Tealing line ducks under Longannet-Denny lines, conductors seen against sky.
View fullsize Crossing where Kincardine-Tealing line ducks under Longannet-Denny lines, gantries and L6 towers.	View fullsize Crossing where Kincardine-Tealing line ducks under Longannet-Denny lines, gantry in detail.	View fullsize rossing where Kincardine-Tealing line ducks under Longannet-Denny lines, L2 terminal. Kincardine river crossing in background.	View fullsize Kincardine river crossing towers seen over trees.	View fullsize Kincardine river crossing towers seen over trees.	View fullsize Kincardine river crossing, north tower and strainer seen through fence around power station site.
View fullsize Kincardine river crossing, north tower and strainer seen through fence around power station site.	View fullsize Kincardine river crossing, showing both towers and strainers.	View fullsize Kincardine river crossing, showing both towers and strainers (overexposed).	View fullsize L2 tower silhouetted against sky, Kincardine.	View fullsize Kincardine river crossing from south side.	View fullsize Kincardine river crossing from south side.
View fullsize L2 towers near Airth, Falkirk.	View fullsize Kincardine river crossing, south tower.	View fullsize Kincardine river crossing, tower and strainer.	View fullsize Kincardine river crossing, south strainer.	View fullsize Kincardine river crossing, south strainer seen against early morning sky, Longannet power station in the background.	View fullsize Kincardine river crossing, both towers.
View fullsize Kincardine river crossing, south strainer, detail of 8x insulator string bundle.	View fullsize PL1 D60 angle near Buchanty, Perthshire.	View fullsize PL1 D60 angle near Buchanty, Perthshire.	View fullsize PL1 D60 towers near Buchanty (camera shake).	View fullsize PL1 D60 towers near Buchanty, Perthshire.	View fullsize PL1 D60 angle near Buchanty, Perthshire.
View fullsize PL1 D60 angle near Buchanty, Perthshire.	View fullsize PL1 D60 angle near Buchanty, Perthshire.	View fullsize PL1 towers near Buchanty, purpose of rod on top of nearest tower not known - possibly lightning protection?	View fullsize Anti-windfarm poster on A8222 near Monzie.	View fullsize Anti-windfarm poster on A8222 near Monzie.	View fullsize L2 D60 angle tower in yellow primer, Falkirk.
View fullsize L2 D60 angle tower in yellow primer, Falkirk.	View fullsize A different L2 D60 near Falkirk in yellow primer.	View fullsize Insulator string replacement L2 line tower, Falkirk.	View fullsize Insulator string replacement L2 line tower, Falkirk.	View fullsize Insulator string replacement L2 D10 or D30 tower, Falkirk.	View fullsize Insulator string replacement L2 line tower, Falkirk.

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This page last updated: 01 September 2022

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