In January 1882 the Edison station at 57 Holborn Viaduct in London began supplying electricity to the public, lighting the viaduct's street lamps and customers including the City Temple and the Old Bailey, months before Edison opened Pearl Street in New York that September. It is claimed as the world's first public steam power station, a claim its own chroniclers hedge, and it did not last; the durable commercial model was Pearl Street, but the chronological first belongs to Holborn Viaduct.
Facts
Milestone Year LocationHolborn Viaduct, City of London, England 2 Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
Credited To
Sources
1. Guinness World Records Site
Guinness World RecordsFirst public electricity power stationQuote, First public electricity power station
opened in January 1882
2. Grace's Guide to British Industrial History
Grace's Guide LtdEdison first public electricity generation stationQuote, Edison first public electricity generation station
1882 Thomas Edison designed (what has been claimed to be) the world's first public steam-powered electricity generating station to light the lamps on Holborn Viaduct.
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