Abandoned...

[Eric M]

...Louisville and Nashville Railroad tunnel.

http://ericmcferrin.smugmug.com/Indu..._xK7QJCf-XL-LB

This was really just a "preliminary" trip to find the tunnel with the intent to go back and shoot it. That being the case, my tripod, speedlights, etc were left behind. This is a handheld shot with the 50D at ISO 3200, 1/4 sec. The vanishing point, leading lines, colors, texture and reflections have me wanting to get back there asap. It is a cool place with great history.

Thanks for looking.

-Eric

[Letrow]

That is a great looking tunnel. Weird light as well. Very nice series.

[rpcrowe]

Very nice looking series on smugmug.com...

[Eric M]

Thanks for the replies.

Peter, the tunnel has 400' of concrete reinforcement in each entry. The sunlit foliage outside was reflecting the bright green color into the tunnel. It has a ghostly effect.

[Wirefox]

Fascinating Eric. The coal tipple is a great shot too. We live in the northwest of England so coal mining was everywhere. Sadly, the sites were cleared pretty quick after closure. There is a pit head museum at Astley and I did manage to go down the Chatterley-Whitfield pit just before it closed in the early 80's but given that mining was our biggest employer up to the mid eighties there is surprisingly little left. I always pay close attention to the urbex/industrial stuff. I grew up next to the largest derelict site in Europe at the time - a WWII munitions factory - great playground for us kids and we actually now live on what used to be part of the filling station complex. The brook at the back of the house was once a section of the defense dyke. There are a few bunkers left and a scattering of concrete posts that carried service lines and electrified defence wiring but not much left. A whole new town was plonked right on top of it in the late seventies

[Eric M]

Fascinating Eric. The coal tipple is a great shot too. We live in the northwest of England so coal mining was everywhere. Sadly, the sites were cleared pretty quick after closure. There is a pit head museum at Astley and I did manage to go down the Chatterley-Whitfield pit just before it closed in the early 80's but given that mining was our biggest employer up to the mid eighties there is surprisingly little left. I always pay close attention to the urbex/industrial stuff. I grew up next to the largest derelict site in Europe at the time - a WWII munitions factory - great playground for us kids and we actually now live on what used to be part of the filling station complex. The brook at the back of the house was once a section of the defense dyke. There are a few bunkers left and a scattering of concrete posts that carried service lines and electrified defence wiring but not much left. A whole new town was plonked right on top of it in the late seventies

Hi Steve,

One day I'd love to visit England and learn more about its industrial history. It sounds like you are a knowledgeable source of information.

It is always good to hear from other folks interested in industrial history (and the photography of it). English contributions to overall industrialization are huge. English industrial history had such a profound impact on my local area. The cities of Birmingham and Bessemer (obviously English names) are two of my primary haunts. I recently found a piece of English steel in a hoisting engine building that dates to the early 1880s. I believe it originated in Dronfield. It was found in this structure http://ericmcferrin.smugmug.com/Indu...97_vQPab-XL-LB.

I am very fortunate to work in historic preservation full time around the former red ore (iron) mines on Birmingham's Red Mountain. www.redmountainpark.org That said, all metals industry (especially local) is of interest to me. Iron mining, coal mining, coke production, blast furnace operations, steel production, foundry work, and railroads are all really part of the same story amazing story. This industry built world powers, won world wars, and produced the high standard of living we have become accustomed to.

It is enjoyable to mix a love for industrial history with photography.

[Pandrion]

Excellent series Eric, some great photos amongst them.

Its a very good idea to capture these images of times past. One can only imagine how different these places would have been in their heyday, filled with noise, smoke, fire and sweating men wielding shovels and hammers. And now only silence and crumbling brickwork remain.
A sad reminder of how temporary we all are, but very photogenic !

[Eric M]

Excellent series Eric, some great photos amongst them.

Its a very good idea to capture these images of times past. One can only imagine how different these places would have been in their heyday, filled with noise, smoke, fire and sweating men wielding shovels and hammers. And now only silence and crumbling brickwork remain.
A sad reminder of how temporary we all are, but very photogenic !

Thanks Mike.

These abandoned places do have a mystery about them that tends to draw you in. Remembering what went on "back in the day" makes visiting the sites even more interesting.

For anyone interested in a brief background on the tunnel in this thread... http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/f...ad.php?t=23316

For a more detailed look at another abandoned RR tunnel...
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/f...ad.php?t=22923

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to look at the images and commenting on them.

[JohnC]

Went through them and then came back at full size-I think the Locos were my favs. Top class series ,really enjoyed viewing them.Thanks.

[Eric M]

Went through them and then came back at full size-I think the Locos were my favs. Top class series ,really enjoyed viewing them.Thanks.

Thanks John! I appreciate the feedback and am glad to hear that you enjoyed the images.