Malvern Tramway Substation

Malvern Tramway Substation is a rotary converter station producing 600 Volt Direct Current supply for the tramway system. It is virtually complete including AC switchgear, two 1000 kW rotary converters together with their control equipment, DC switchboard and rotary converter repair facilities. The station was commissioned in 1929 and retired in the late 1990s.

It is believed that the Malvern rotary converter traction substation has survived with its plant virtually complete due to the lateness of its retirement and the fact that replacement traction power semi-conductor rectifier substations were sited elsewhere. There evidently being no pressing need to either re-use the substation building or its site for other purposes.

English Electric 1000 kW Rotary Converter at Malvern Tramway Substation
Source: Owen Peake

Exterior of Malvern Tramway Substation
Source: Owen Peake

Part of the 600 Volt DC Switchboard at Malvern Tramway Substation
Source: Owen Peake

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Engineering Heritage Recognition Program

Marker Type	Engineering Heritage National Marker (EHNM)
Award Date	June 2016
Heritage Significance	The essentially complete rotary converter substation plant and equipment that from 1930 to the 1990s supplied 600 volt direct current (DC) for electric trams. The key items are the two 1000 kW English Electric rotary converter machines, associated 6.6 kV switchgear, transformers, automatic starting and AC control gear and DC switchgear/switchboard.
Nomination Document	Available here.
Ceremony Booklet Ceremony Report	Virtual interpretation site. There was no unveiling ceremony.
Plaque/Interpretation Panel	Not Installed.