[SEL] OT Carrie Blast Furnaces - Pittsburgh, PA

Thu Apr 28 16:35:15 PDT 2011

I've sure as hell heard THAT EXCUSE before!
	Dave

On Apr 28, 2011, at 7:14 PM, Peter Lowe wrote:

> Pity I am so far away (smile) good luck.
> Peter
>
>
>> I'm trying to acquire a Bailey mud gun right now from another blast
>> furnace
>> plant to replace the missing gun at Carrie No. 6.  If I get it I  
>> plan to
>> make it operational again.  It is electric.
>>
>> Rick
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Peter Lowe" <plowe at exemail.com.au>
>> To: "The SEL email discussion list" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
>> Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2011 9:16 AM
>> Subject: Re: [SEL] OT Carrie Blast Furnaces - Pittsburgh, PA
>>
>>
>>> Yes Rick, blast furnaces and the whole steel making process is
>>> fascinating.
>>> I worked and served my time as an electrical apprentice and  
>>> tradesman at
>>> the
>>> BHP Steel Works in Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
>>> The blast furnaces in particular were full on, we ran 4 of them  
>>> 24/7.
>>> The job I hated most was when the mud gun cables got burnt or the  
>>> motor
>>> malfunctioned. For those who do not know, the mud gun is a device  
>>> that
>>> plugs
>>> up the tapping whole at the bottom of the furnace where the molten  
>>> iron
>>> comes out. All 100 tons of it. It has a water cooled head/plug that
>>> closes
>>> the hole and fills it with a clay plug.
>>> We dreaded hearing the urgent call for an electrician to the #4  
>>> blast
>>> furnace mud gun. Putting on the flame proof suit and helmet and  
>>> getting
>>> sprayed in molten sparks and the heat in summer was unbearable,  
>>> aahhh the
>>> good old days. The entire BHP site in now gone, wiped out by cheaper
>>> imports, a placed where you could really learn a trade well.
>>> http://www.hfinster.de/StahlArt2/archive-Trinec-Steelworks-img_2615-2008-a-en.html
>>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/5124322221/
>>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/5551841142/
>>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/state-records-nsw/2807965978/
>>>
>>>
>>> Regards
>>> Peter Lowe
>>> R&V Engine Registrar
>>> http://www.oldengine.org/members/plowe/rv-engines/rvpage.htm
>>> Australia
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> For the past month I have been actively volunteering with Rivers  
>>> of Steel
>>> to
>>> assist in the preservation of the Carrie blast furnace plant in  
>>> Rankin,
>>> PA.
>>> The Carrie furnaces area pair of ironmaking blast furnaces, built  
>>> in 1906
>>> and operated until 1978.  If you like big stuff made of metal, its  
>>> hard
>>> to
>>> find a more fascinating place.
>>> http://news.webshots.com/album/578647201kosHYJ
>>>
>>> ROS acquired the plant last year after twenty years of off and on
>>> negotiations, and now have their hands full in preserving the  
>>> site. I
>>> have
>>> permission to organize a volunteer work crew to assist in the
>>> preservation
>>> work, and am looking for a few able bodied people who would be  
>>> interested
>>> in
>>> joining our work crew and help fight the battle against corrosion  
>>> and
>>> neglect.
>>>
>>> Some of the projects that we will be tackling this summer include:
>>> 1) Closing up and securing the blowing engine house and  
>>> establishing a
>>> workshop inside.
>>> 2) Cutting brush and trees around the property to improve the  
>>> appearance
>>> of
>>> the plant.
>>> 3) Restoration of some equipment on site to operation for visitor
>>> demonstrations
>>> 4) Cleaning around the bases of the steel columns and making  
>>> repairs to
>>> ensure the structural stability of the plant.
>>> 5) Mending fences. (yes literally, its a daily chore)
>>> 6) Building handrails, railings, repairing stairs and platforms etc.
>>>
>>> Volunteers do not need to have any skills, just the willingness to  
>>> help
>>> out.
>>>
>>> Engine related content:  I'm negotiating to move the 1905  
>>> Westinghouse
>>> Corliss steam engine from Steubenville to the Carrie Furnaces for
>>> display.
>>> 150 ton, 18' flywheel cross compound generating engine.
>>>
>>> We will hold our first Saturday work session sometime in May,  
>>> depending
>>> on
>>> volunteer availabiliy.  If interested in joining us please contact  
>>> me and
>>> I'll put you on the list.  I feel so strongly about this project,  
>>> and
>>> have
>>> such a sense of urgency that I've postponed some of my planned 2011
>>> projects
>>> at the Tod Engine Heritage Park to spend as many days as possible at
>>> Carrie
>>> this year.
>>>
>>> If you are local to Pittsburgh an can volunteer on a regular basis  
>>> that
>>> is
>>> great.  If you would be coming in from out of town for a one time  
>>> visit
>>> that
>>> is good too.  I may be able to provide short term lodging at the
>>> "Rowlands'
>>> Bed and Breakfast" to wayward travelers.
>>>
>>> Thanks and I hope you can join us.
>>>
>>> Rick Rowlands
>>> rick at todengine.org
>>> 330-272-4089
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> =======
>>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.
>>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.21, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.17360)
>>> http://www.pctools.com/
>>> =======
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> SEL mailing list
>>> SEL at lists.stationary-engine.com
>>> http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/sel
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> SEL mailing list
>>> SEL at lists.stationary-engine.com
>>> http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/sel
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> =======
>>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.
>>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.21, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.17360)
>>> http://www.pctools.com/
>>> =======
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> =======
>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.
>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.21, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.17360)
>> http://www.pctools.com/
>> =======
>> _______________________________________________
>> SEL mailing list
>> SEL at lists.stationary-engine.com
>> http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/sel
>
> _______________________________________________
> SEL mailing list
> SEL at lists.stationary-engine.com
> http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/sel