Exploring an Abandoned Power Plant - MASSIVE Turbine Hall!
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- čas přidán 7. 11. 2019
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In this episode we're exploring one of the most impressive abandoned power plants in the world- the Port Richmond Generating Station. Being designed in an era when electricity was new and exciting, no expense was spared in creating a structure worthy of this promising technology. Today, the plant has fallen into serious disrepair, but it's still one of the best examples of early 20th century industrial architecture.
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Is it just me, or did you guys step up your game for this one? The music, the narration, epic drone shots, even the overall look was amazing. I'm not saying your previous work was lacking, but this took my breath away.
I noticed this as well .
As did I....
I think that this was one of their bucket list sites to visit.
yes yes yes
Agreed!! This was just stunning.
The roofs of these buildings were never meant to freeze or carry a snow load. The heat from inside melted the snow and kept the in uninsulated roofs clear and mostly dry. once the plant shuts down it's only a matter of time before the roof starts to collapse.
pfdx that’s awesome, thanks for the info!
I was an operator at Richmond Station from1977 till the mid 1990’s. The last steam unit (#9) was shut down in 1985. Great video by the way, so sad to see how badly the plant has decayed. Even when I arrived in 1977 three of four the large steam turbines you show were already retired and 2/3’s of the Boiler Plant was shut down. Even back then the plant was starting to show it’s old age. It was very unique how this plant operated. Richmond was one large station but operated as three independent plants. Boiler Plant / Turbine Plant / Electrical Plant. During a normal day it was frowned upon for Boiler personal to wander over to Turbine Hall and vice versa. God forbid you walked over to the Electrical plant, that was a big No-No. Each “side” had it's own personal, work schedules etc etc. Back when I started at Richmond all the plant supervisors were old WWII veterans and they ran the plant like the air craft carrier or battle ship they served on during the war……very strict and regimented. Power plant work, plus working shiftwork was tough duty, but the overtime was unlimited and the group of guys I worked with were great. The shit we did to “torment” each other is unprintable. Almost every nook and cranny of that place has a story to tell. I could write a book! A great place to work.
I was wondering if anyone who worked there saw this and sure enuff . I was born in 76 so I'm assuming has to be in your early twenties in 77 but you said 2of 3 turbines where shut down already..this plant is OAMF..
I really enjoyed the narration explaining the history of the place, that's something that 99% of all urbex videos lack.
How can you explain something that you have absolutely no understanding of what it is, how it works, it's function, how the individual components work and interact and most importantly the hazards and life threatening dangers of the environment you are in? Most of the decommissioned or shuttered power stations I've dealt with in my career still had live circuits, if not high tension feeders in them. They might be labeled with not clear or hold off tags, but upon testing they were still energized. Usually because it can cost more to deactivate them than it does to keep them alive. Something these two clowns won't be if they come in contact with them. 13,000, 27,000, 110,000 volts at any amperage is not at all forgiving to the human body. The same goes for any control or P.T - potential transformer, or C.T - current transformer, metering wiring, which may necessarily be alive as it might go to still in service substations or sister generation facilities. In this instance an inquiring mind could get you dead.
@@bobgarr6246 He was talking about explaining history of the place, not the dangers of exploring, mr. very serious.
Very true
I've always loved the quality and effort behind your guy's editing, but this time takes the cake. I haven't even gotten a minute into the video yet but I gotta say that intro was amazing!!🤩
Update* halfway through the video and those damn drone shots!!!❤️❤️❤️
It seems they are learning the importance of production value. The use of the drones really shows maturity in that respect.. it shows size and perspective. That shot that begins at 24:26 is one of the best things I've ever seen them do.. that is like Ridley Scott shit.. brilliant.
What a beautiful building. It’s a shame it’s been left to rot.
~37 minutes ago, hmmm
Thats how it is with most beautiful buildings
I think the fact it was left to rot makes it even more beautiful because we often only see the value in something once it is dying or gone.
Its a shame, i feel like most of society just doesn't care about history. Everything now is just crap.
@@d-rocker26 true
I spent a good share of the 1980's working in and around these old coal-fired power stations all across the country. While looking through archives of drawings we would find notices and posters inviting the public to tour an operating power plant. Schools and colleges would schedule field trips to the massive generator rooms while in operation, with tours becoming more and more detailed as the students got older. I was able to salvage a 12' section of brass handrail including 4 posts from Fisk Power station in the Chicago suburbs (at the time the oldest operating coal fired station in the country). After restoration and refinishing that section provides a separation between our dining room and the family room. The posts have 1901 cast in the brass base.
One of the panels in the control room still lit up when I first went there in 2006. There was no graffiti at that time. Place has been used in several movies over the years.
I wonder what happened in the past decade.
yaggy9 what movies?
@@judsonlindsey7891 I think Transformers - Revenge of the fallen
Places like that really make you want to go back in time to see the glory that they once were.
or you could just live in the moment and enjoy all the wonderful things we have now
It’s good to review the past so the present can be put into perspective 👍
If the Delorean was in my garage all you’d see is a long flaming burnout.
My wife and I drive past this building every day and can see it from the back of our house. We have always wondered what it looked like inside and now we know. Thanks guys. The building always reminds me of another generation station in Philly near Penns Landing which may have been designed by the same architect.
thats the delaware substation. pretty much the same story with that place to the T with richmond. heavily patrolled too.
@@bdub215 Yeah I figured that one would be heavily patrolled due to its location. I only ever see people fishing nearby and workers around the active sub-station in front of the abandoned Port Richmond plant. I don't think I've ever seen any security actively monitoring the plant.
Like the famous Battersea Power Plant in the U.K.that's on the cover of Pink Floyd's Animals album. The fires of Industry in the Iron age...
Do videos like this enable or encourage more vandalism? Does this video call attention to its vulnerability ?
@@michaelmccarthy4615 Surely. But we have to document its existence, or it will be forgotten, vandalized or not.
If you have ever seen a preserved powerplant from this time period, you know they were BEAUTIFUL installations. Electricity was still kinda new, even if electrification started around the turn of the centuries (19->20th) many areas didn't got it until the 30s. So it was amazing technology and it had to look like that.
It's really sad to see something like that rotting that way.
and coated in graffiti :(
We need art in common structures today. Everything is so bland nowadays.
I wonder why this is.
Its because 'form should follow fuction' ideology was implemented to absurd extended, as it lowers cost for investors.
The only art we have now is abstract sculptures. They work well sometimes but there is a reason people prefer old intricate buildings.
No one is more frustrated and sad for the loss of artistry in buildings and structures than architects are. Most people would be stunned to learn of the constraints and limitations that are forced upon architects during the design process: building codes (good) and district schedules (often bad and always limiting) mean that you are forced down a very limited path. Not to mention that money is in far shorter supply nowadays and the financiers are under huge pressure to limit expenditure; there are shareholders to consider after all.
That ending message is something that i can never get enough of, and I wish everyone would actually be smart enough to understand it, and care.
I concur
But, look where all this amazing architecture gets all these great places: abandoned. I'd be interested in seeing if a site like this costs more to demolish and reuse than it would a more utilitarian modern building. Problem with building like we'd like to, especially with places like power plants is in the regulatory and political climate of today, that plant might only operate for 20-30 years at most, due to improving technologies and even regulations that could end an entire industry overnight.
What is the incentive to build ornate, durable structures above design standards, at immense additional cost, if you may need to level it and rebuild for a different mode of operation in a few decades or even take it offline entirely? That's like buying a Ferrari when you don't drive more than 100 miles a year and live in a country trying to outlaw sports cars. A compact budget car is all you need, and it's far less of a loss for as much as you use it or even if you lose the use of it.
There are also public and personnel considerations. People will bitch HARD if you build a beautiful power plant they get to drive by every day and marvel at when you have to increase their electricity rates. "Why do they need more money? Maybe if they didn't spend so much on their generator palace we could afford their power!". You'll have a certain subset of employees that'll look at the nice architecture and premium materials and say "Oh, so THAT'S where our wages and better insurance coverage money went, the company spent it on all this fancy stuff. Wish I could afford to take my kids to the doctor."
I work for a publicly owned water utility and I hear stuff like this all the time. I've had to go to hearings and justify why I spent money to change our HVAC filters every month instead of over other month. I got excoriated for buying too many paper towels, and mind you this is in a half-million dollar budget. Best of luck explaining artistic embellishment to the people at large who are actually paying the rates and taxes to pay for it, is all I'm saying bottom line.
@@RobertMorgan well sometimes you need to just say "fuck the people. If they're not willing to even Try to understand it, then don't take their thoughts into play" sounds familiar right? Almost every corporation is like that.
Unfortunately people today are more like the character “goat boy” than the civilized people of 1925.
Robert Morgan “Am I saying we should start building giant palatial power plants again? No.”
I think you missed the entire point.
I think after five years of you guys making a name for yourselves, should have "Proper People ID cards" and the security guards should just let you guys in. You don't steal, vandalize, or break anything. Just make awesome videos of places that won't be around forever. In my opinion you guys are making some serious history!!! I got hooked on your videos a couple years ago, and I've watched every single one. I even rewatch some of the really good ones. You've come a very long way since your beginning, and you have excellent content!!! Keep it up!!!
danc2581 shoot sign me up for one of those cards. Would be nice to not have to dodge security all the time 😂
They have definitely honed their skills. And they were already excellent. I am surprised National Geographic hasn't snatched them up yet. They are, though, better off staying independent.
Unless the area is super dangerous... if I was a guard, and or, location official.. I'd tell guys with video cameras to just let me know when they leave... and not break or paint anything.
hawkdsl you should be a security guard, I like your style 😂
@@jlucasound I agree. Stay independent
Also, you give the building, the men who built and operated it the respect and dignity deserved
19:40 Michael: “That’s a nice view” - Zooms in on Bryan ;-)
Great video guys. The history you put into your videos is what makes them stand out as so wonderful in the urbex video movement. Also the lack of teenage guy screaming (and "yo'boying")
Thanks for the amazing videos and head out west!
Amen. Bryan & Michael are on a whole different level than some of these over-the-top, click-bait channels that lose me in the first 15 sec. despite the location. The Proper People are my go-to for UE!
The problem with sharing history is that they give out too much info. I guarantee this place will be swarming with rookie explorers soon since they name dropped it
@@GoTrespassing True they normally don't direct name drop it. But most areas are already swarmed. I don't care about that as long as they are not taggers
@@GoTrespassing This place is super famous already, them mentioning the name will have zero effect.
DasVERMiT I hope you’re right!
I know it sounds weird but when i look at these amazing machines that were so important and productive in their time i can't help feel that some machines whether planes,ships,cars or machinery all have souls....and like a dog say,one minute the life and soul of the family the next,abandoned outside and they don't know why.
I feel the same. Humans are a part of mother nature. Machines where created by humans. Therefor, machines are mother nature's children. They are created. They live. They work. They are abandoned. They die. They rot. No god. Only man and machine. Man is cruel to abandon them when they become useless. They should be decommissioned and kept, or the materials recycled.
@@RingingResonance We are incredibly resourceful when it suits us but financially..we feel the need to abandon when the money doesn't roll in as it did. There will come a time i'm sure when all these abandoned buildings will simply become a part of nature." Man has no need of things that do not work".You do not comply with my needs so i send you away.
@@RingingResonance Agreed
@@sicooper4230 Earth Reclamation is inevitable and guaranteed.
I feel it in my daily driver. One of the very last holdouts from that era, it is, and that thing almost seems to have personality.
Large part of why I don't want anything to do with modern cars, why if I could afford it I'd have something art deco built to live in...
the dislikes are from security guards.
the control panels are made of slate since it doesn't conduct electricity.
I was wondering if anyone knew that.
yeah, i cant imagine how much that whole thing weighs.
Likely asbestos based composite for fire protection. possibly slate.
That is incorrect. The control panels and operating stations of power plants and power substations from this time period were made of a material called Transite, this was a non conductive material that looked like a type of slate but was man made. It was produced by General Electric who made most of the equipment, especially operating and control equipment, in these plants . Westinghouse was another major builder. The transite was proprietary and it did contain a large percentage of Asbestos in it's composition. It was installed as slabs, panels and boards. They could be polished smooth and shiny or be left a dull un polished matte black or very dark gray. I have never seen them any other color. They came from the manufacturer with mounting holes already drilled and ready to take mounting bolts to attach to structure. After mounting, caps or plugs would be screwd into the bolt mounting holes holes to eliminate the danger of electrical shock from a hot structure. This material was near indestructible but I've witnessed it burn when panel breakers mounted to it overloaded or faulted and put tens of thousands of amps into it. It is perfectly safe in it's solid form, but if it breaks or is drilled into it presents the same fryable asbestos problem to the air. And is then extremely hazardous. The reason this plant is still standing is because the cost of abatement of the lead, mercury, P.C.B's and asbestos it contains would be so prohibitively expensive to remove, that it's not cost effective to do so.
bob garr O_O
You ever see some graffiti and wonder how the hell someone managed to paint there
All the time
All the time
I saw once a graffiti saying “Gucci gang” at the entrance of a road tunnel. You would basically have to dangle head first over a road 8m below with the rest of your body on a 45°+ slope
Morons that do that should have their butt kicked all across town
@@bobkinkade5747 i think that depends on the place where the graffiti is painted. This place would look better without graffiti. However I think that graffiti makes some places a lot more interesting.
I want to take a second to agree with everything you mentioned at the end of the video, there really is a lack of true craftmanship and lack of creativity in how things are being built in this day and age, I personally noticed that everything new being built in Denver and the surrounding area looks to be built to last 20 years and is built to be as cheap and as low budget while still trying to look "chic" or "modern". They made the freaking control room out of marble or some sort of stone! that's truly beautiful and a great example of the fine details that went into buildings back in the day. these new style buildings are put up with particle board and not built to last. Thanks again guys for truly showcasing the beauty of the architecture of a once beautiful building.
Keep up the amazing work!
1900-1930 was pretty much the peak of US traditional craftsmanship. The labor force in every major city was unbelievable. People had a lot of kids. The economy was booming. Architects and master craftsmen were seasoned. The country was primed for a golden age in construction. And it happened. These buildings can be re-used and repaired. But they cannot be built again.
@@777jones it could be. But back then it was about the project. Today you'll spend 40% of your budget on permits and studies. Money grabs
@@777jones They're not worth it to repair and reuse. Just the steel alone is worthless having sat rusting for that long. It would be massively weaker to clean off the rust and repaint. The upkeep on these structures is simply unsustainable. It is overbuilt in a way of vanity. It was built at a time when the economy was soaring and people were getting so comfortable that they were getting wasteful and apathetic. Not knowing about hard times, so they just squandered what they had instead of saving it by living more modestly.
This is what happens when companies start putting the bottom line before all else, and the massive high proficient and efficient American blue collar class- tradesmen, builders, architects, has been gutted and outsourced for cheap foreign labor. The narrators right- everything now is focused on maximizing profit and being made to be disposable.
My house was built in 1952 and it's solid as a rock. There's track houses in the next town over that were build in the late 1990's that are already having major foundation and structural problems.
@@melgibsonaftertwobeers6119 What makes you think all of the sudden businesses care about maximizing profits exclusively? The whole point of a business is to make as much money as they can. There is no "magic" that made stuff better back when this power plant was built. You are all just reminiscing a fantasy that never existed.
I worked at the Lovett Generating Station in NY for 7 yrs. It was shut down in 2008 and dismantled within a year. While the architecture wasn't as impressive as this (1948), it still had those massive proportions. We had 3 active boilers that could run coal, gas, or oil......coal was the staple for our two biggest boilers. I loved that job, and truly miss working there.
The monologue there at the end really hit me in the feels. I do wish sometimes that I lived in the times were people really put everything they had into what they were doing. It's sad to think about.
I'm thinking this is one of your best works. I have lived and worked in the area all my life and have spent a good chunk of time working around this stuff. I have seen pictures from the inside of the Chester Plant before it was gutted. I knew this plant would be more breath taking and it is. I have been past this plant many times and always wanted to see what it looked like inside. When I clicked on this video my heart was in my mouth. I knew what I was about to see. It was much better than I expected and you guys did a great job of it all. Your words at the end brought tears to my eyes. I don't believe anyone could have done any better. You guys really Nailed It from every direction. For me? This video is truly a Dream Come True! I can't thank you enough!
Signed! I am working in similar aged (but larger) power plants in Germany, the part starting from 24:25 really summarizes the look and feel around the art-deco design.
There is no reason to build that way, but it just feels like its something important is being fulfilled there. And in fact, electricity is vital to our modern society in every aspect.
Sadly, more and more of those masterpieces are shut down due to their lower efficiency compared to newer coal power plants.
Newer ones look like mentioned in the video "Warehouses with generators in them". It is not that bad, but they lack a lot of detail and feel quite compressed - as all the space for maintenance and repairs or possible alterations for the future is already calculated and minimized to save on building and operation cost.
It is also interesting to see people being stunned by the dimensions and details when they enter an older turbine hall for the first time or walking around in endless steel structures around several 60-180m tall boiler buildings.
Well said!
The turbine room could be described as an industrial cathedral, sort of like Grand Central Station in NYC, which has a similar look, though cleaner.
would be awesome if you could find an employee and interview him/her.Not only on this explore but in any possible exploration.
Great work guys.
That's a great idea. I bet if they thought of this they'd be really up for it as well.
Not really a great idea, given that many of these places are off-limits and have trespass notices. If they were to find an employee on site and interview him, he could lose his job; plus they'd be required to report these guys to security and even if you are actually referring to interviewing them off-site, or even a former employee, some employment clauses still require former employees to report people for violating certain areas of their property (for example, I work for MGM-RI, in about half a year I'll be leaving to pursue other ventures, despite no longer being an employee at that point, my employment contract has a clause that even after separation requires me to report anyone that has been in the off-limits areas that the company is unaware of and if I do not report it, and if they find out, I can be sued.)
@@Suisfonia It'll be former employees they meant.
@@mybldyvlntn Problem is that more than likely those employees signed a document - maybe knowing what was in, maybe not (since corporations are ruthless for retroactively changing documents -,-) to prevent them from saying anything.
Course, I think in some states, those documents do not apply.
I went there with a guy who's Dad worked there. He showed us a spot on a turbine that his Dad was forced to weld without them shutting the turbine down. Very sketchy.
Why is the crunching sound from them walking so satisfying tho!?
Sometime during the rise of the strip mall, society lost the "art" in architecture. This place was built when architects where more artist than engineer.
This place shows what happens when architects and engineers come together in perfect harmony to create a marvel to all who see it from the outside, but more importantly, to those who work inside. Good management and an aesthetically pleasing environment go a long way towards fostering loyal employees in any plant.
@@jenavevesnowolf13 But, when your plant workers get notice that sorry, the budget couldn't allow raises this year, just like last year, you start to look at your nice, beautiful architecture and it's added cost and wonder why they're spending on that when they can't afford you. Just saying.
The indoor shopping malls had a little bit of architecture left over, but yeah, strip malls. A long rectangular box divided into separate units with outdoor entrances. No fucks given how it looks when you don't have the cost of heating and maintaining the indoor area of 70/80's mall.
It happened when architects lost the energy and capability to use pen, paper and clay models. Maybe lower IQ because of something like water toxins is another possible reason. Same thing applies to property owners and developers.
MsFarmhand they could use those materials to build good looking buildings. But it would cost 10% more. Maybe if each developer were ranked according to beauty and quality by regional committees.
The ending speech gave the chills, so good
I concur
I second that, almost gave me chills. Great music too!
@@TheGraffitiWanderer If you don't like it, don't watch it. Simple as that.
"That teal thing" is a Hertz meter. In the u.s. our electric is a.c. @60 hz.
16:25 pre-war vs post-war technology
The quality of the videos are outstanding. Everytime i watch one, I feel like I'm watching an episode of a tv show. The main reason I've been subscribed.
It wasn't a power plant. It was a power cathedral.
And its still housing Big Daddy's.
Power cathedral is WA Parish in Thompson Texas. It makes this plant look like a baby to hulk Hogan.
steam punk like
It does look like a shrine to electricity.
This is the most beautiful video you've made to date. The cinematography, the location, the music was all perfect. Even your thoughts at the end of the video summed up exactly what I was thinking throughout.
I'd be willing to bet that when the cameras are off these fellers just hammer down stacks of mustard sandwiches
Hi Phil
@@joseph-tannerklainert5227 what are ya lookin at me gut fer Tanner?!
@@randybobandy402 I was just reading where it says Vancouver
@@joseph-tannerklainert5227 I seen ya!
@@randybobandy402 Look everyone's looking at your fuckin' gut, it's fuckin huge let's just get this over with, everybody take a long hard look. What's the big deal?
My god....im so in awe of this film...your editing skills...fantastic. even your choice of music and when to have it play is astonishing. Every time yall upload a new film i think this is there best to date. Then the next one comes and im proven wrong. Yalls films...and i call them films because calling them a video is a egregious understatement..are better quality than most documentaries one would see on the discovery channel.
This place needs to become a museum... Thank you for showing us what we can't see from the outside or wiki. Great work as always!!
That would be awesome but no corporation is going to pay the millions it would cost unfortunately
You guys: See this spider here? It's huge.
Australia: Hold my beer.
I can confirm not very big for us
In a toxic power house and they are worried about a spider !!!
Yeah I’d be worried about asbestos
> 8:28
I took a tour accompanied by a PECO employee about 3-4 years after this plant was retired. It was as if time stood still, paperwork , logbooks, etc. were left open to the day it shut down with written notes about final shutdown. Biggest danger then was asbestos, that place is LOADED with it. There are also 25 cycle converters on site that converted 60 cycle power to 25 cycle power that the railroads use for catenary power that the trains use. Really cool piece of American Industrial history.
The content you guys give us, especially with this video is light years beyond any of the crap I have to pay for with my cable TV subscription. Please keep it up.
Thank you for this. I think something was lost when we stopped putting art into our lives. I bet the people who worked here felt a pride that few workers feel today
I think alot of people feel disposable because they surround them selves with disposable things and dwellings. They don't feel the need to step up. to reach higher.
Many of the same analog meters in the control room are still common today. Your summary at the end of the video was spot on. That building was designed to be a focal point of human progress, not just a place where steam turns generators. Name a building under construction now that shares the same symbolism or is dedicated to marking civilizations achievements. maybe the new Apple HQ?
This was a really good vid that gave some good detail on the building. My favorite rooms were the control room and the turbine room because it was so big. I just wish that buildings that are built today had as much detail as this one does. This was a really good explore👍🏻.
You wouldn't want to pay for it though.
I being the son & grandson of electricain,s that break,s my heart to such a waste of a place such as that thanks for your video of that place👍👍 those older turbines need to redone & put in a museum.for all to see !!!!!
Fuck that. I want to see them spooled back up again, their steam generated through less carbon-tastic means than original.
What I find surprising is there doesn't appear to be asbestos anywhere. You usually see steam pipes and areas of the boiler room full of the stuff. There must have been a major abatement right after they shut the plant down.
Yea same here,,my friend worked on turbines and pipes in power plants in the 80's and 90's and he told me all them pipes had asbestos sleeves from the out put pipes.
I love your exit speech - it basically sums up what I'm working towards with my Architectural Thesis. In the US we've gone from Form "Follows Function" to just "Function". Everything is cost engineered to the point there is no value left. Everything we're taught in school is "you can't do that because nobody will pay for it". It's quite depressing, especially as someone who has seen the incredible architecture that still gets built in other countries.
4:20 those switches look like different faces
Yea they look like theyre pogging
It's always cool seeing abandoned stuff like this, and how it fades over time.
This place was amazing when I was there 6 years ago, so much so a lot of my University photography film thesis was done there! Thanks for posting this, it's so nice to relive the memory.
Do you have anywhere where we could see the photos you took?
Pics or it never happened.
@the guy of stuff and more stuff I don't mind sharing.
@@ambiemae921 yeah! here are the best of the 35mm film photos from the facility. photos.app.goo.gl/mipkXjH8u8sfxKvL9
@@Omar-em7rl oh, it happened. photos.app.goo.gl/mipkXjH8u8sfxKvL9
Michael, I'm so pleased and inspired by your commentary. I find it wonderful when young persons such as you and Brian take the time to notice the details and importance of the art of architecture and show such respect for the buildings and items you find in them.
I went here about 3 years ago and we couldn't get fully inside since some places were wielded shut
Surprised to see you here
Any tips or tricks on how to get in here, I live not too far away 😳
This is a lesson in cinematography. Beautifully crafted.
4:38 funny to see a harborfreight generator inside of a powerplant.
LOL I was Just about to mention that. Appears to be this one. www.harborfreight.com/900-watt-max-starting-2-cycle-gas-powered-generator-epacarb-63025.html
Wow good catch, had to play that back and forth a couple times to see it!
The main question is, what is it doing there?
I just got a Harbor Freight ad. Coincidence?
@@patrickvanden8322 Propably used by salvagers. Maybe they forgot it, maybe they got caught, maybe it's broken, maybe they got injured, who knows.
That quote, I still cant stop coming back to it every now and then. I like it so much:
24:57
> One reason I love this powerplant so much is
> because there is no reason it **had** to be build
> with all these intricate details and grandiose architecture.
> Its just a power plant after all.
> All it had to do was create electricity.
> I think that demonstrates a fundamental change of philosophy
> in the way we construct the world around us.
> To me, the world is feeling more and more disposable,
> everything is created as cheaply as possible and is simply a means to an end.
> But when port richmond station was built,
> the builders thought they were constructing something
> that would serve future generations for centuries.
> And when we are creating something permanent its only natural for us
> to want to inject art, creativity and craftsmanship into it.
> Its part of what makes us human and thats whats lacking from so much that we build today.
I understand the sentiments a cathedral like this inspires...but really, we may say we want more beautiful structures, but our actions say that we don't. Ask any modern utility company what their customers' biggest complaint is and they will say "the rates." Ask about their second biggest complaint, and it's that ugly utility pole stuck in the yard near the front gate. Everyone in modern times wants their electricity to work, they want it as cheap as possible, and they want it cleanly tucked out of the way. Offer your customers a $10/month rate hike in order to convert overhead infrastructure to underground, and you might get a lukewarm buy-in. Tell them you want that same hike because you think the company needs a new building modeled after a Roman bathhouse, and they will hang YOU from that utility pole before nightfall.
This station was built, as noted, in an age when electricity was Exotic Future Magic. Part of it reflects the excesses of the 1920s and part of it reflects common building materials of the time. One example of that is the slate control panels, which were often employed in very old old power plants because of their useful fire resistance and electrical insulating properties. The station also reflects the building methods of the time, which relied on cheap labor worked for long hours with minimal safety equipment. Fatalities were considered an unavoidable cost of doing business. For comparison, take a look at the well-documented working conditions and casualty statistics for the Hoover Dam, which was built a few years later.
If the area had the economy to support it, this could be a spectacular museum conversion or a retail redevelopment project. But it would likely cost some 8 or 9-figure sum to do, given the present structural disrepair and modern building code problems, and that's probably why the city (correctly, IMO) refrained from forcing that cost onto Exelon's captive customers by designating it a historic landmark.
Spot on. Well said!
Excellent sir
15:41 the material is more than likely bakelite, which was a common electrically insulating material they built housings out of, but also looked like marble.
marble was also used in control panels back in the day. Bakelite became more common as a cheaper replacement after
The way that it flaked is definitely synthetic, that's not how granite breaks it's got a much tighter grain structure
i am thinking this too - hard to really say though since we weren't there
Amazing video guys. What a spot. I really appreciate the camera work in this too, especially that shot near the end that raised upward slowly
Lol 8:34 "Come look at this spider it's huge" (Spider is 2cm max)
NEXT EPISODE: Goes to Afghanistan finds Camel Spider and dies from Shock And Awe.
@Jimmy L Needham oh god that's horrible
Guys, I think this episode was probably one of your best to date. Just rewatched it. From the venue, the lighting and accompanying weather, your narration and presentation, the musical scoring. All were very well done. I especially liked your message at the end.
It's amazing that 94 years ago a power company would spend money to design and build a magnificent turbine hall, and a control room with marble panels, whereas today, all money would be put into the electrical generating equipment only and it would be housed in a basic enclosure with basic control room equipment. Times have certainly changed! As Brian noted, 94 years ago electricity was new and they wanted to make a statement that this is magnificent! Michael is right, today things are disposable!
It's such a shame that society dont appreciate beautiful things of the past x
= NO pride only PROFIT today & some
7:43 Absolutely stunning......
I spent 14 working in power plants; the oldest one was built in 1959 which was, coincidentally, the year I was born. I recognize a lot of the old equipment in this video. Even though I left the power plant environment in 2002 to become a system operator, there isn't a week goes by that I don't have at least one or two dreams about the plants I worked in. Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever stop dreaming about the power plants.....power plants are dangerous places to work; they are even more dangerous in a dilapidated state such as the ones you guys venture into. I wish you luck and be careful. Thanks for this video. Ken in St. Pete
Another cinematic masterpiece by the Proper People. BTW, those control panels were made from slate, common for electrical panels and fuse boards back in the day.
4:38 out of place brand new generator just sitting there
a scrapper must have left that there! good catch!
Saw that. Harbor freight pos. The opposite of everything that power plant represents
Dude I love that you found those set pieces!! I watched that movie a few months ago, it's like an impromptu behind the scenes!
This channel is one of my absolute favourites. You are always respectful, you are always well-researched, and you let the visuals speak for themselves. No over-the-top editing, no larking about, just good quality informative viewing. Keep up the good work. It's appreciated and respected.
I'm sitting at my computer in London, and have only recently discovered your videos and I love them, and they are getting better after the earlier ones I've been almost binge-watching. I was telling my friend about these videos, and I took photos of my Mac screen to send to him. He said something I really like and wanted to share with you:
"Seriously, they are true archaeologists of the built and abandoned environment." This is very true, and a fitting tribute to your endeavours . . .
When I see places like this, it makes me sad to think about how much is left behind to rot when it could have been recycled or repurposed. Your videos are really fantastic. Thank you.
Looks like most everything in there that could be carried out was repurposed or recycled into some worthless losers drug habit.
You guys get into the most amazing locations! Nice sketchy I-beam entry into yet another amazing place.
I love this channel... just because it's real. You know no click bait, and crap like that. It's not overdone, great job.
The ambiance moment and all the natural sounds is why your guys content is like asmr to me. It relaxes me so much. 🙌
Mesmerizing. Truly beautiful.
The light rainstorm ambiance though...
I second this
One amazing thing to consider is this was made back in the 1920. That’s around 100 years ago (give or take) and the people that made and worked there are long gone
I really like how you guys are respectful to the places you go in, and don't vandalize anything. You just document them. Outstanding!
The narration at the end hit me... In a way, it breaks my heart because i feel like the heart and soul of the west is dying around us. But it also gives me hope, because it shows people are starting to notice it. It's what makes the work you guys do so important. In a hundred years when all buildings are nothing but soulless drywall and metal truss blocks built by the lowest bidder, future generations will be able to watch these videos and see what once was, and hopefully have motivation to make a future more like the past.
Mel Gibson after Two Beers Thank you for saying exactly what I wanted to say about this video.
How is it that abandoned buildings are more beautiful than ones that are used?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Because these old buildings were built before the days of soulless minmaxing of profits.
@@TestECull Profits.. nothing else matters.. Life, environment, family, beauty, history... nothing... absolutely nothing matters... but Profit.
Things were built to last back then. Things are built to be disposable today. Goes for everything- cars, electronics, machinery, etc.
Mel Gibson after Two Beers all 4 money
Amazing images, sound, editing...everything. The best vídeo of this Kind I have EVER seen.
Thanks for sharing!!!!
Thank you Nikola Tesla. Structures like these are not only a testament to creativity and function, but also a monument to your innovation and invention.
The last several minutes of this are the most amazing and honestly moving moments of any URBEX video.
Awesome! The rusted behemoth!!
Good people! Got allot of respect for you two. So young but so appreciative and respectful of things of the past! This place is right up the road from me. Thanks for sharing.
Stumbled across this and am deeply struck by the beauty of industrial entropy you've caught so very well. CZcams is allowing millions of people who wander by and are touched by images that before the internet age it would take a film crew with a budget and determined intention to capture. Nice work you guys. This is decayed industrial art at it's best and you treated it so very well.
4:38 harbor freight 2 stroke generator "tailgator"
Think it's theirs or left from movie set?
@@bw3506 i was thinking it belonged to a scrapper
Could be rave kids'
The best video I have seen in a long time, what you say is so true, when things are created with passion it creates a vibe, just like this video, love it
These videos are an incredible example of where humanity started and where it is today. From the era of coal and iron to the era of wind and solar energy. Incredible cinematography. Keep up the great work and bring us the magical times of "Then".----Your fellow urban explorer from Greece.
I worked at the tank farm directly across the river back in the early seventies. I always admired
the majesty of that building. Your final thoughts in this video are profound. Fortunately, the
similar Chester plant downriver below the airport has been repurposed and its monumental beauty can be seen by all.
With the superb quality of videography, editing and narration those in charge of the buildings you document should be paying you to breathe new life into them.
Wow!!!!!! 😱 The quality of this video is amazing! It really shows the effort you put in to it. I really enjoyed it and is now my favorite Proper People Video. (Though the power plant is cool too) I'm just impressed about the production quality of this one. I was glued to the couch for the entire video. Thanks for allowing people like us feel like we are traveling there with you and looking at historic places that we may not be able to access or see in our lifetime. Great Job guys!!!
So glad that I stumbled across your channel, guys. I've watched through a large amount of your videos, in no particular order, and it's been amazing seeing the level of quality you've put into these later episodes. This one is the best one yet. Thank you for giving us a window into these small worlds that would otherwise be lost to time.
I have been trough your playlist 4 or 5 times in 6 months and this video takes my breath away. You had it all music, narration, drone shots. You two have a very special talent. Of all the urban explorers out there (and there are a lot) you two are the very top
This has an HR Giger feel to it -- I love it!
The quality of the videos just gets better every time and they were already really awesome to begin with! Love the editing, thanks for another unparalleled exploration!
You guys really know how to make an urban exploring video. Where others just walk around and tell what you see, you actually tell a piece of interesting history and side stories. Also great camera work and background music. Great job!
Brilliant work boys, this is documentary level stuff. You two have become the "Planet Earth" of industrial decay.
Guys, this was incredible. The music, the editing...just amazing.
All this is so interesting. It is sad to see that this hall with all inside is abandoned.
That narration at the end was phenomenal. Absolutely heartfelt. You guys are really stepping it up!
corporate power company just left mess for the people to pay to clean up