Redcar Blast Furnace
Introduction:
My final SSI target ticked off at long last, the Redcar Blast Furnace, the sole surviving blast furnace in Teeside! Now that is something that's hard to beleive, when you consider that Teeside and the surrounding area was once Great Britains steel capital.
It's taken me longer than I'd have liked to get this done, not had an awful amount of free time, so it feels like a bit of a weight off of my shoulders finally visiting each area of the works somewhat in depth. Considering that the blast furnace has probably had the largest foot fall from explorers and photographers I decided to concentrate on covering other areas like the two Coke Ovens, BOS Plant and Power Station before tackling the beast. Still I can't help but share the photo's with you, the blast furnace is a real joy to photograph, and a bit of a challenge in parts too.
I visited solo, and spent a fair few hours watching evening turn to night before making the dash out, security here has been beefed up, and they're begining to become a bit sneaky, parking in the shadows with lights off... They clearly know the most popular routes, but nothing that can't be dealt with!
History:
The blast furnace itself was completed in 1979 during the British Steel remodeling of the Redcar Iron Works site and constructed by Davy McKee of Sheffield. It was the largest of it's kind in Europe when completed, although I doubt that's the case any longer.
The Redcar Iron Works site itself was opened in 1917 by Dorman Long, Iron produced here was used around the world, the most impressive feat probably been the production of steel for the Sidney Harbour Bridge in 1923.
In 1967 Dorman Long was nationalised under British Steel, the site would later be taken on by both Corus and SSI before closure in 2015 marking a sad end to steel and iron making in Teeside.
The furnace was re-lined in 2000, it is advised that a re-line is undertaken every 20 years so had the furnace still been in operation we'd be looking at a 2020 overhaul of the furnace.
Pictures:
The blast furnace seen in operation back in August 2014 from one of the second world war bunkers located on the South Gare.
Lets take a look inside then, starting with a a view of the furnace and surrounding cast house from the gantry crane.
I'll try not to go too overboard regarding furnace pics, but it is a real peice of pure industrial porn!
A view of the other side of the furnace catching some sunlight, still a bit of paint left on this side too...
Slag seen on the runaway ramp...
The Cast House Control Room...
Interior..
The Bottom of the 'Brain' as it has become fondly known as...
Upper level...
Outside the Cast House now and heading up the Furnace towards the Crow's Nest, stopping to take in the views along the way...
Redcar Power Station, another brilliant explore, I'll put a report up from there one day... It was powered by gas produced from the blast furnace and coke works if you didn't know!
Heading up a bit further...
Sunset over Hartlepool and the Tees Estuary, you can make out Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station too on the left...
Looking over the Works... Light trails can be seen from secca and diggers still working on the coal field...
Redcar offshore wind and shipping...
And finally, one looking up at the summit!
And that's all, thanks for looking, really was the iceing on the cake for me, this and the BOS Plant have been my personal highlights of the Teeside Steel experience. I'm looking foward to re-visiting soon too, there's plenty I've missed I'm sure but I'm happy I've briefly covered all the main areas now. I'll probably release further reports from here when there's a bit of down time in the future...
If you've not been yet, don't miss out! In the same breathe don't do anything stupid, security is on the ball as it is!
Cheers Again,
TAW
Introduction:
My final SSI target ticked off at long last, the Redcar Blast Furnace, the sole surviving blast furnace in Teeside! Now that is something that's hard to beleive, when you consider that Teeside and the surrounding area was once Great Britains steel capital.
It's taken me longer than I'd have liked to get this done, not had an awful amount of free time, so it feels like a bit of a weight off of my shoulders finally visiting each area of the works somewhat in depth. Considering that the blast furnace has probably had the largest foot fall from explorers and photographers I decided to concentrate on covering other areas like the two Coke Ovens, BOS Plant and Power Station before tackling the beast. Still I can't help but share the photo's with you, the blast furnace is a real joy to photograph, and a bit of a challenge in parts too.
I visited solo, and spent a fair few hours watching evening turn to night before making the dash out, security here has been beefed up, and they're begining to become a bit sneaky, parking in the shadows with lights off... They clearly know the most popular routes, but nothing that can't be dealt with!
History:
The blast furnace itself was completed in 1979 during the British Steel remodeling of the Redcar Iron Works site and constructed by Davy McKee of Sheffield. It was the largest of it's kind in Europe when completed, although I doubt that's the case any longer.
The Redcar Iron Works site itself was opened in 1917 by Dorman Long, Iron produced here was used around the world, the most impressive feat probably been the production of steel for the Sidney Harbour Bridge in 1923.
In 1967 Dorman Long was nationalised under British Steel, the site would later be taken on by both Corus and SSI before closure in 2015 marking a sad end to steel and iron making in Teeside.
The furnace was re-lined in 2000, it is advised that a re-line is undertaken every 20 years so had the furnace still been in operation we'd be looking at a 2020 overhaul of the furnace.
Pictures:
The blast furnace seen in operation back in August 2014 from one of the second world war bunkers located on the South Gare.
Lets take a look inside then, starting with a a view of the furnace and surrounding cast house from the gantry crane.
I'll try not to go too overboard regarding furnace pics, but it is a real peice of pure industrial porn!
A view of the other side of the furnace catching some sunlight, still a bit of paint left on this side too...
Slag seen on the runaway ramp...
The Cast House Control Room...
Interior..
The Bottom of the 'Brain' as it has become fondly known as...
Upper level...
Outside the Cast House now and heading up the Furnace towards the Crow's Nest, stopping to take in the views along the way...
Redcar Power Station, another brilliant explore, I'll put a report up from there one day... It was powered by gas produced from the blast furnace and coke works if you didn't know!
Heading up a bit further...
Sunset over Hartlepool and the Tees Estuary, you can make out Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station too on the left...
Looking over the Works... Light trails can be seen from secca and diggers still working on the coal field...
Redcar offshore wind and shipping...
And finally, one looking up at the summit!
And that's all, thanks for looking, really was the iceing on the cake for me, this and the BOS Plant have been my personal highlights of the Teeside Steel experience. I'm looking foward to re-visiting soon too, there's plenty I've missed I'm sure but I'm happy I've briefly covered all the main areas now. I'll probably release further reports from here when there's a bit of down time in the future...
If you've not been yet, don't miss out! In the same breathe don't do anything stupid, security is on the ball as it is!
Cheers Again,
TAW
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