On the eve of the professional holiday – Power Engineer's Day (celebrated on December 22), Siberian Generating Company organized an excursion for representatives of the press services and media of Krasnoyarsk, to which they came with their families and children.
The event was held as part of the educational project “Krasnoyarsk Lights”, which this year was awarded two National Awards “KonTEKst” and “Corporate Museum” and was recognized as the best educational project, as well as the best image project.
SGK has been conducting “Krasnoyarsk Lights” excursions for city residents for four years now. Traditionally, on the eve of the New Year holidays, the excursion program is enriched with the history of Christmas celebrations in Krasnoyarsk and turns into “Christmas Lights”.
An exciting journey into the world of energy began with a walk through the center of Krasnoyarsk. Familiar buildings appeared to the excursion participants from a new perspective, revealing their history of warmth and light. And the guide said that for the first time the New Year celebration in Krasnoyarsk was held in the House of Officers. In the mid-19th century, it was a Noble Assembly – a closed club for the local nobility.
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In 1858, the New Year's ball took place here. The building had a large dance hall and a separate room for card games. And, of course, we decorated the Christmas tree. At that time, the New Year's tree was decorated with marzipans, baskets with sweets and tangerines, and homemade angel toys could be removed from the branch and taken home, for good luck. Even pineapples, which were also present on the festive table, could be obtained in Krasnoyarsk.
The mansion, which is now known as the House of Officers, was built later, in 1915, according to the design of the famous architect Vladimir Sokolovsky in Krasnoyarsk.
One of the points on the route was the square in front of the Opera and Ballet Theatre, historically called Drovyanaya. Here, more than a century ago, residents bought firewood and coal for heating: a cartload of firewood cost 18 kopecks, and 10 kg of coal – 15. The fuel was shipped directly on the banks of the Yenisei.
The excursion continued at the Energy Museum of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The journey to it went through the Communal Bridge. The guide noted that this facility not only connects the banks, but also plays an important role in the city’s heat and power industry: a pipeline is laid inside the bridge through which hot water from the right-bank thermal power plants flows to the left bank.
“Scientific magic” awaited guests at the museum. They were shown a dynamo, a device that produces electricity. Its smaller model repeated the first prototype installed in the house of the merchant Gadalov, which powered 56 light bulbs. But what attracted the most attention was the historical telephone used for communication between workshops. The device no longer works, but by dialing a special combination, you can “get through” the reception desk to the first director of CHPP-1, Pyotr Veniaminovich Yurensky. The conversation with the “secretary” captivated the guests so much that half of the participants wanted to “make an appointment.”
The interactive halls were especially delightful. The guests were shown in practice the operation of the law of conservation of energy. Many have become convinced that even human exhalation contains energy. The young researchers couldn't wait to take on the role of masters of the elements. With the help of special exhibits, little laboratory assistants tamed the energy of water, sun and wind, lifted airplanes into the sky and launched carousels. Children's emotions and the sparkle in their eyes left no one indifferent, and adults joined the scientific experiments.
Six-year-old Masha, the youngest participant, liked most of all creating lightning and “switching on” lights in the windows of a multi-story building. For older guests, they showed how a thermal power plant boiler works, transmitting steam to a turbine. Its blades rotate at a speed of 3,000 revolutions per minute and generate electricity for the country's unified power grid.
“I went on a tour for the first time. What surprised me most was that Krasnoyarsk at the end of the 19th century was a very progressive city. It was also interesting to find out where the first light bulb was lit, how heat is transferred from the right to the left bank, and that behind this lies the great work of hundreds of energy specialists,” shared Tatyana Patanina, deputy director of the Yenisei TV channel.
“Cool and interesting project. In a simple and exciting way, it opens up the world of energy to city residents, and also gives warmth and good mood on the eve of the holidays. I really liked it,” said Yulia Ryadchikova, representative of the editorial office of the newspaper “Our Krasnoyarsk Territory”.
At the end, the energy workers congratulated the guests and excursion participants on the upcoming New Year, wished light and warmth in each home and, along with gifts, presented an angel for the family Christmas tree – for happiness and good memory.
