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Power Transmission to the Railway Mine
In 1864, a power transmission line was built, consisting of a approximately 1200-metre-long iron wire from Gåsgruve Fall to the Railway Mine. The line supplied the mine with lifting and hoisting power.
The line was driven by a 4-horsepower turbine placed at the fall (picture 4), with a rotational speed of 120–180 rpm, giving a line speed of approximately 9.1–13.8 m/s.
From the turbine, power was transferred to the line via a 10-metre-long vertical shaft up to a three-legged tower with a mounted drive wheel (see drawing, picture 5).
A Fourneyron turbine was used at Gåsgruve Fall. Benoit Fourneyron (1802–1867) invented the so-called Fourneyron turbine in 1827.
For detailed description and drawings, see attached link: ”Järnvägsgruvan”.
Turbine Replacement and Nyhytte Fall
The exact year when the turbine was replaced with an overshot waterwheel is unknown, but it is likely that the turbine was moved 1300 metres downstream along Rävbäcken to what is called Nyhytte Fall.
See attached link: ”Nyhyttefallet”.
It is interesting to consider how the power line from Nyhytte Fall was used – did it pass only the Gåsgruve wheel, or were the two systems connected?
Waterwheel and Wheel Pit
From the intake tube, a approximately 40-metre-long pipe with a diameter of 0.6 m led to the waterwheel.
Wheel pit dimensions: 6.5 × 1.8 m.
The site is worth a visit, both for the pleasant walk along the canal bank and to see the stonework of the wheel pit.
The wheel bearing is carved from a granite block with dimensions:
L = 3.0 m, W = 0.9 m, H = 0.9 m → volume = 2.49 m³.
When the stone block was first worked, it weighed over 6 tons.
Water Supply and Problem Solving
Gåsgruve Fall received its water via a approximately 700-metre-long canal from a dam in Rävbäcken. Remains of the dam are still visible north of where Gammalkroppa Road crosses Rävbäcken.
The reports indicate that a recurring problem was lack of mechanical power, caused by limited availability of driving water to the fall.
The water supply was increased by building a dam in Sarrbobäcken and channeling the water over to Rävbäcken.
Sarrbo Canal crosses Highway 26/63 just south of the road to Mörkhult.
See attached link: ”Sarrbokanal”.
