A Love Letter to Abandonments

photoLith · #1 Posted **Jun 11, 2015, 2:22 AM**

So, since I posted my last photo thread I've recently found out about the magic of photographing abandoned railroad and mine tunnels after coming across one a few months ago. So far this year, Ive photographed dozens of abandoned railroad tunnels throughout PA. All of the photos in this thread are photos from the past few months. If you want more you can check out my facebook page, here https://www.facebook.com/chrislitherlandphotography

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Abandoned Weirton Steel

[url=https://flic.kr/p/uc6dfS]

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Abandoned Furnace at Weirton Steel

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Mingo Junction, OH

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Abandoned coal mine, Burgettstown, PA

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Weirton Steel

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Weirton Steel BOP

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Ore Smelter, Burgettstown, PA

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Manchester, Pittsburgh

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Abandoned Rail Tunnel, Somerset, PA

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Abandoned Church, Larimer, Pittsburgh

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Manchester Pittsburgh

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Abandoned Rail Tunnel near Clairton, PA

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Abandoned rail truss Sigel, PA

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Kinzua Bridge

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Abandoned Carrie Furnace Bridge, Pittsburgh

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Same bridge

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Carrie Furnaces

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near Kittanning, PA

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Eastern State Penitentiary, Philly

Naming places is taking too long, so Ill just post the photos....

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By the way, if I find anyone stealing my photos I have lawyers

The-New-Tony-Detroit · #2 Posted **Jun 11, 2015, 2:50 AM**

simply surreal.

Centropolis · #3 Posted **Jun 11, 2015, 1:50 PM**

sublime.

also we now know where the zombie apocalypse will begin.

photoLith · #4 Posted **Jun 11, 2015, 2:59 PM**

Lots of incredible abandoned places in St. Louis, I need to go back there.

Centropolis · #5 Posted **Jun 11, 2015, 3:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoLith

Lots of incredible abandoned places in St. Louis, I need to go back there.

there's a vast array of abandoned industry in illinois across the river, and some abandoned mines and other things in the ozarks near st. louis, too, although probably a lot more spread out than in PA or even WV. my favorite stuff is right along the river. if you are around here in early spring, there's wrecked boats and an old navy minesweeper just south of downtown in the mississippi. i checked it out this spring and took some not great photos with my phone.

the water intakes near the chain of rocks are cool and allegedly have apartments for the old water works engineers.

stltoday.com

then you have the caves under the city where they lagered beer in the 19th century...

http://cdn6.buildingmoxie.com

http://users.stlcc.edu/mfuller/uncov...keecaveBig.jpg

photoLith · #6 Posted **Jun 11, 2015, 4:34 PM**

Whoa, are those river intake buildings still there? They look incredible.

Centropolis · #7 Posted **Jun 11, 2015, 4:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoLith

Whoa, are those river intake buildings still there? They look incredible.

yes, they are. people do paddle out there, but if you go over the chain of rocks when the water levels are lower you fall 12 feet and may die in a pile of debris. they bypassed the chain of rocks (which is why st. louis is where it is) with a canal years ago for large vessel traffic, so it's an interesting area, people paddling the mississippi river from minneapolis to new orleans camp out and relax on mosenthein island there before running the "gauntlet" of swift water and barge traffic around the port of st. louis. the beaches are kind of cool but you can also get sucked under if theres a channel of water running under the sand...

http://photos1.blogger.com

Centropolis · #8 Posted **Jun 11, 2015, 4:55 PM**

your photos are worth second, third glances. this looks like some kind of machinery from a futuristic-distant-past, or something strange like that.

HomeInMyShoes · #9 Posted **Jun 11, 2015, 5:02 PM**

Thanks photoLith. :applause:

Such a beautiful historical documentation. You really need to go back and add the where's to your photos, at least on flickr, title them and locate them with the municipality and state.

#10 Posted **Jun 11, 2015, 5:31 PM**

Wow… are you making shit-loads of money yet? You should be. These are breathtaking. This one in particular:

lio45 · #11 Posted **Jun 11, 2015, 5:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Centropolis

your photos are worth second, third glances. this looks like some kind of machinery from a futuristic-distant-past, or something strange like that.

In fact, if you're familiar with steel mills, these photos look perfectly normal.

Great photo set...

lio45 · #12 Posted **Jun 11, 2015, 5:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Centropolis

http://photos1.blogger.com

Can one live in those apartments? If you dislike having neighbors close to you, it would be great

I imagine you'd go for groceries once a month in a little boat, and work from home (all you need is a satellite internet connection).

Is the Mississippi owned by the Federal govt, or is it state waters? Could you possibly buy and own that place with an emphyteutic lease for the square feet of Mississippi bottom that you'll be occupying?

MolsonExport · #13 Posted **Jun 11, 2015, 6:39 PM**

National Geographic quality. Wow these are amazing.

streetscaper · #14 Posted **Jun 11, 2015, 6:51 PM**

Great set!

Centropolis · #15 Posted **Jun 11, 2015, 7:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lio45

In fact, if you're familiar with steel mills, these photos look perfectly normal.

Great photo set...

Actually, that's sort of my profession. It's a testament to Photolith that these photographs portray this abandoned infrastructure in such a fine light.