Toronto Power House

The Toronto Power House is the main building of the former Toronto Power Company (later operated by Ontario Hydro), located just north of the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.

The plant is built on top of a deep wheel pit, with turbines at the bottom of the pit, turning generators at the top by means of long vertical shafts. The water from the turbines runs out through a brick lined tailrace which eventually comes out at the base of the falls.

Construction commenced in 1903 and first power was distributed on November 21, 1906, and in its prime had a generating capacity of 137,500 horsepower.

The plant ceased operations on February 15, 1974 as Ontario Hydro looked to make better use of the available water downriver at the Sir Adam Beck power plants in Queenston. In addition, the plant produced "25 Cycle" electricity, now largely unused. Except for being occupied in 1982-83 by the "Sir Sandford Fleming Foundation" to promote the building as a museum on the history of hydroelectric power, the building was mothballed and stood vacant.

In recent years, it has been a favorite site for urban exploration, and many urban explorers view making the trip to the tailrace (commonly known as 'Confluence') as one of the 'holy grails' of urban exploration. This is due to the extreme difficulty of reaching the tailrace, and the awe-inspiring sight and sound of the falls from behind.

Ownership of the Power House recently passed to the Niagara Parks Commission, who are carrying out work on the building. It is anticipated that access to the wheelpit and tailrace will soon be permanently blocked as a result.

External links

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* [http://www.vanishingpoint.ca/tpco.html Vanishing Point] History of the station and contemporary photographs of its interior.
* [http://www.vanishingpoint.ca/tailrace.html Vanishing Point] Written account and photographs of urban exploration of the Toronto Power Company station tailrace.
* [http://www.nfpl.library.on.ca/nfplindex/results.asp?action=browse&q=295&key=250 Images from the Historic Niagara Digital Collections at Niagara Falls Public Library]