Historic Hood River
Turbine Failure
7-19-2013
Notes
This turbine failure must have been dramatic when it happened. I’m not sure if it blew out the wall behind, but other frames show a good amount of damage outside the plant.
This facility is on the White River near Tygh Valley. It produced electricity from 1910 until 1963, after the completion of the Dalles Dam. You can visit this decommissioned powerhouse now at the White River Falls State Park.
l.e.
I bet he has dirty fingernails when he gets home at night.
I think the ability to invent and manufacture something like this is quite amazing.
It would be interesting to know what happened.
spinsur
What I find interesting, is no blades visible! Must have been quite catastrophic to not just blow out the side, but completely demolish the wheel inside!
http://www.google.com/search?q=water+turbine+wheel&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=TF3pUcqCOoiRiQLMrIGYAw&ved=0CD0QsAQ&biw=1074&bih=842
Casey
Wow, so cool! I recognized this immediately. It’s so fun to explore that old building.
Jeffrey Bryant
An article that I believe could describe the failure of the White River power plant can be found in the Hood River Glacier, 1926-11-25, image 12.
https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn97071110/1926-11-25/ed-1/seq-12/