The Frognest Tunnel

The Frognest Tunnel is a hand-carved train tunnel deep in the Warrior Coal Fields north of Birmingham. Built in the 1880s, the tunnel was unfinished, bare rock. The tunnel had an inherent design flaw. It was lower in the middle than at the ends. This resulted in the tunnel regularly filling with a couple of feet of water. The tunnel was eventually abandoned, replaced by an above ground cut nearby. Since its abandonment, the tunnel has fallen into deep decay. The mortar and steel beams that once reinforced the ceiling of the tunnel have given way to rust, water drops from nearly every inch of the ceiling, and huge chunks of rock that once were securely embedded into the ceiling and walls now lay in a few feet of water at the tunnels bottom. How many years more will this tunnel bear the test of time, before it totally gives way and collapses in upon itself?

E.C. Gaston Steam Plant

The E.C. Gaston Steam Plant is located in Wilsonville, Alabama, along the Lay Lake section of the Coosa River. It has a generating capacity of 1,880,000 kilowatts. The Gaston Plant is the second largest producer of mercury emissions in the United States, despite being ranked 17th in power production among Coal fired power plants.

James H. Miller, Jr Electric Generating Plant

The Miller Steam Plant is operated by Alabama Power, and is the fifth largest coal fired power plant in the United States. It went into service in 1978, and currently has a generating capacity of 2,640,000 kilowatts. It is also one of the most polluting plants in the United States, ranked at second in carbon dioxide gas production, and third in mercury emissions. I hope you don't live nearby, or you might just be re-re.









Panorama, click for larger view. No shame on the failed stitching at the power lines.

The Bridge

Took my Roadster out for some fun driving around the Birmingham area. Found a couple of interesting places in the process.

This Parker through truss style bridge was abandoned in 1971, after a modern (boring) concrete bridge was built right next to it.















On a semi-related note, this is an abandoned railway bridge in the middle of an expensive Hoover neighborhood.

The Coal Tunnel

This disused train tunnel once allowed trains access to two nearby coal mines. The tunnel was built in 1908, and was sealed shortly after the last mine finally closed in late 1983. The tunnel is of brick construction with concrete spread over the brick, and is approximately 500 feet long. Today, the tunnel is sealed with large piles of dirt and rock on both ends, and has partially filled with water as a result.



To get in, you must wriggle through this tiny hole in the mountain.



The Tunnel.



Looking back at the way in.

Going to return here with waders some day.

Red Mountain Mines #1

This will be my first in a series of posts on Red Mountain Mines.

Canon Canonet with Kodak Portra 400.



Ishkooda #13 Mine Portal.













Ishkooda #14 Mine Portal.



Muscoda.

TCI Ensley Redux - On Film

Went back to TCI's Ensley works. This time I took my Canon Canonet QL17 G-III and some Kodak Portra 400.



This first shot is actually an Olympus XA on Portra 160.











Precariously placed nest, with eggs. Click for larger view.