Urban Exploration…sort of.
We found the old coal cart in a dilapidated sub-building near the main building. Barges laden with coal used to pull into the 100′ slips on either side of the main building where large cranes picked up the coal and loaded them into these coal cars at the top of the building where the coal began its journey to the enormous boilers.
We first encountered the coal cars a few years ago when construction was just beginning. They sat in the upper reaches of the boiler house, presumably in much the same locations they were left when the plant was decommissioned. Aside from a few that were tpped over by mischievous teenagers, they were well-preserved. Probably also mildly radioactive from traces of uranium and other such stuff in the coal. A few of the carts were cleaned up and put on display in the main lobby, but I believed the rest had been scrapped along with most of the other remnants of generating electricity until TG spotted them in their current location. Nearby in the building was an enormous spring balance and a large valve wheel. There is also a really cool freight elevator. TG and I really wanted to explore the upper floors of the structure but decided that doing so without clearing it with building management was not a good idea. We’re on good enough terms with the super that we would probably get an OK or even a guided tour if we asked. Perhaps I will bring my good camera now that I have one.
Until then, here are the coal cars as seen by the venerable SKII.
