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View Full Version : Archived: RAF UPPER HEYFORD STANDBY "GENNY" HOUSE OCT-2010



Tankman
23-09-2010, 03:39 PM
This is not one of the most exciting buildings on UH but like so many innocuous buildings it had its "role to play":thumb

Known as NATO, Building 114, its historical significance dates from WW II when it supplied the power/mains backup to the base in the event of enemy destruction of mains power or failure of!

The entire building is surrounded by a 3 foot thick reinforced concrete blast wall, and is somewhere in the region of 15-20 feet in height. Dating from WW II when the base was likely to be bombed by the Germans.

With the words "Don't touch anything that is making a noise" I entered the building.
Inside the single big massive water cooled generator that served the base has long gone:(
But it served the base well:thumb, up until the Yanks pulled out in 1994, when the MOD removed it for other use elsewhere.

Since then the building has laid in a semi derelict state, although there is power still coming in and going out of the building, with a series of backup batteries constantly on standby charge for what pupose is a mystery:confused:

On with the pics.


http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20UPPER%20HEYFORD%20STANDBY%20GENNY%20HOUSE/104.jpg


NATO Bldg 114 Standy Generator House


http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20UPPER%20HEYFORD%20STANDBY%20GENNY%20HOUSE/105.jpg


The fuel tanks that supplied the "Genny" now Slowly "Rusts in Peace" The faded sign says "No Smoking within 50 feet"


http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20UPPER%20HEYFORD%20STANDBY%20GENNY%20HOUSE/100.jpg


The Blast Wall that protects the building.


http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20UPPER%20HEYFORD%20STANDBY%20GENNY%20HOUSE/037.jpg


The interior of the building is lined with white glazed bricks, very Art Deco:lol: The main generator stood in the middle.


http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20UPPER%20HEYFORD%20STANDBY%20GENNY%20HOUSE/088.jpghttp://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20UPPER%20HEYFORD%20STANDBY%20GENNY%20HOUSE/088.jpg


http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20UPPER%20HEYFORD%20STANDBY%20GENNY%20HOUSE/073.jpg


Inside the office, time has stood still, a chair big enough to take a nice Fat butt! faces the window and awaits a worker who will never return:(


http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20UPPER%20HEYFORD%20STANDBY%20GENNY%20HOUSE/035.jpg


Power, back-up batteries which are still being charged from the mains. There use/for what purpose is not known? even by the maintenance staff:confused: Like so many buildings on the base there are power transformers that have never been turned off, when they should have! When the Yanks left.
Weird:eek:


http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20UPPER%20HEYFORD%20STANDBY%20GENNY%20HOUSE/036.jpg


ROC Post, type batteries sit on a shelf still charged and ready!


More pics here:


http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/RAF%20UPPER%20HEYFORD%20STANDBY%20GENNY%20HOUSE/?start=all


Thanks for looking:thumb