OldGettysk
Running the MC & Buffalo
Looks like a real fine trip Eric !
Birmingham History - Republic Steel Thomas Plant. Dial up Destruction, new pics P7/8
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Hi Paul, I can always count on you!
Here's a shot from today of an ex Republic Steel locomotive that used to be assigned to the Thomas Works. It's #904 and is now at the Heart of Dixie RR Museum in Calera, Al. It sat beside Birmingham's Powell Ave for some time before being moved to Calera and, unfortunately, the local bums did much damage to it (and other RR equipment).
It's a shame...
I have something that just may help you identify the tanks.
Keep in mind this was for Canton, Ohio according to the booklet cover.
Click here for the large version... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3647/3309886519_4ffe9f04ca_o.jpg
Your reawakening of this thread has be all fired up about the Thomas Works again.
Here are a couple of re edited images I took when LGM and I were at the plant the last time we shot it.
Late 1880s power house.
View of the coal bin from the atop the ovens. Man it was cold that night!
Thanks Jim. The images are reworks of old RAW files. Sadly, the tallest of the boiler plant stacks at Thomas had to be taken down recently.
It had just become to much of a fall hazard and had been hit by lightning many times over the years. I'm glad to have the images of it standing.
I need to get started back on some night shooting. Things have been so busy for the last few months that my photography has been mostly been for the RMP.
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grande man
Bonafied Grande Nut
Here are a few historical images of the Thomas Works from the Birmingham Public Library Archives. I hope someone here finds them of interest...
Look closely, the original 1925 coke plant coal bin is visable here. It would appear that the power house is in the center of the frame...
The power house today...
This is a beautiful shot from "inside the fence". The furnace detail is wonderful. Based on the one vehicle shown, I'd guess this to be in the 30s. Note the locomotive crane... Is it possibly the one remaining on site today?
Look closely, the original 1925 coke plant coal bin is visable here. It would appear that the power house is in the center of the frame...
The power house today...
This is a beautiful shot from "inside the fence". The furnace detail is wonderful. Based on the one vehicle shown, I'd guess this to be in the 30s. Note the locomotive crane... Is it possibly the one remaining on site today?
OldGettysk
Running the MC & Buffalo
Eric I got my hand raised to see more !!!!!!!
grande man
Bonafied Grande Nut
Hi Paul, I can always count on you!
Here's a shot from today of an ex Republic Steel locomotive that used to be assigned to the Thomas Works. It's #904 and is now at the Heart of Dixie RR Museum in Calera, Al. It sat beside Birmingham's Powell Ave for some time before being moved to Calera and, unfortunately, the local bums did much damage to it (and other RR equipment).
It's a shame...
grande man
Bonafied Grande Nut
Thanks Rex and Jos. I really do appreciate you guys hanging in there and following the history threads. 
The Thomas By Products plant really is a time capsule of sorts. It's great to know so many folks are as interested in it as I am.
I'd like to go back to Thomas and shoot again. I'm thinking detail shots, and high dynamic range images... There is just so much there!
The Thomas By Products plant really is a time capsule of sorts. It's great to know so many folks are as interested in it as I am.I'd like to go back to Thomas and shoot again. I'm thinking detail shots, and high dynamic range images... There is just so much there!
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grande man
Bonafied Grande Nut
Rogue and Jim,
I appreciate the comments and vote of confidence. I've considered a book before but really would need some serious help with such a project for it to have much of a chance at success. I've also thought about doing a dedicated web site. We'll see what the future brings, but for now, I'm just satisfied to have the stuff up here on the forum. The response has been greater than I'd have ever thought it would be. I'm still in shock that this thread has 26000 hits! If the history threads highlight our industrial history and gets folks to think about it, I'm pretty happy with that. If another format would reach more people, I'd certainly entertain it.
I appreciate the comments and vote of confidence. I've considered a book before but really would need some serious help with such a project for it to have much of a chance at success. I've also thought about doing a dedicated web site. We'll see what the future brings, but for now, I'm just satisfied to have the stuff up here on the forum. The response has been greater than I'd have ever thought it would be. I'm still in shock that this thread has 26000 hits! If the history threads highlight our industrial history and gets folks to think about it, I'm pretty happy with that. If another format would reach more people, I'd certainly entertain it.
Alcomotive
Grandson of an ALCO Builder
GM if you wish to consider publishing a book let me know. I have a very close friend that lives in Birmingham, Al that is a book publisher. He primarily publishes childrens books and education books. Just a thought, I think the amount of time and dedication you have on what you bring here would be more than enough to do some format of a documentary book.
Just a thought...
Just a thought...
Hi folks - my first post here.
This thread, and all the photo's are absolutely amazing!! All the more so because I am currently building a model of that very benzol plant!!! I'm using photo's and drawings I found at the HABS/HAER website, but some of the great photo's here answered a question I had about some of the piping.
Whoever said it would make a great model is right. I thought so the first time I saw the photo's. The benzol plant seems to have a lot of interesting parts in a small footprint, so I started there.
I hope you won't think I'm hijacking the thread if I post a few pix of my build. It is not finished yet, but is slowly nearing completion.
Glenn, I hope you're still around, because I have some questions about what some of the tanks around the plant are.
Here's the upper platform with the 2 light oil condensers in progress.
A view from the side showing the agitator.
Awaiting some Plastruct tubes to create the tanks in front, this shot is approximately where I'm at with it now.
I'm sure those of you who are familiar with this plant will notice a couple of errors that crept into the model, such as the concrete rather than corrugated building to the left, the ribs on the agitator, and the lack of a ground floor door at the front of the brick building. I started out with the idea to just approximate the real thing, but have been getting more and more obsessed with greater accuracy as I go.
I would really welcome any comments and suggestions.
cheers
Val
This thread, and all the photo's are absolutely amazing!! All the more so because I am currently building a model of that very benzol plant!!! I'm using photo's and drawings I found at the HABS/HAER website, but some of the great photo's here answered a question I had about some of the piping.
Whoever said it would make a great model is right. I thought so the first time I saw the photo's. The benzol plant seems to have a lot of interesting parts in a small footprint, so I started there.
I hope you won't think I'm hijacking the thread if I post a few pix of my build. It is not finished yet, but is slowly nearing completion.
Glenn, I hope you're still around, because I have some questions about what some of the tanks around the plant are.
Here's the upper platform with the 2 light oil condensers in progress.
A view from the side showing the agitator.
Awaiting some Plastruct tubes to create the tanks in front, this shot is approximately where I'm at with it now.
I'm sure those of you who are familiar with this plant will notice a couple of errors that crept into the model, such as the concrete rather than corrugated building to the left, the ribs on the agitator, and the lack of a ground floor door at the front of the brick building. I started out with the idea to just approximate the real thing, but have been getting more and more obsessed with greater accuracy as I go.
I would really welcome any comments and suggestions.
cheers
Val
grande man
Bonafied Grande Nut
Welcome to the forum Val.
Your project looks great so far! I wish you were close by. We could go see the real thing. Are there any specific shots you need? I have many "reject" images from Thomas and have found myself wanting to get back over there soon (I'm so busy right now that it may be a while) to shoot some more.
I also have a Republic Steel booklet that Robin gave me from the plant entitled "Training for Better Jobs, Benzol Helper" dated 1954 that has a lot of great specifics about benzol plants even though it was actually from the company's Central District. It might answer some of your questions.
I look forward to seeing you work as it progresses. Please keep us updated.
-Eric
Your project looks great so far! I wish you were close by. We could go see the real thing. Are there any specific shots you need? I have many "reject" images from Thomas and have found myself wanting to get back over there soon (I'm so busy right now that it may be a while) to shoot some more.
I also have a Republic Steel booklet that Robin gave me from the plant entitled "Training for Better Jobs, Benzol Helper" dated 1954 that has a lot of great specifics about benzol plants even though it was actually from the company's Central District. It might answer some of your questions.
I look forward to seeing you work as it progresses. Please keep us updated.
-Eric
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Many thanks for the welcome Eric. I wish I were close by too. Any shots you have of the piping around the benzol plant would be great. It's a real challenge trying to figure out how things connect.
Do you or Glenn have any idea what the tanks outside are called? I know the tall one is the wash oil still, and the second tallest is the light oil rectifier, but I'm at a loss when it comes to the others.
cheers
Val
Do you or Glenn have any idea what the tanks outside are called? I know the tall one is the wash oil still, and the second tallest is the light oil rectifier, but I'm at a loss when it comes to the others.
cheers
Val
grande man
Bonafied Grande Nut
I have something that just may help you identify the tanks.
Keep in mind this was for Canton, Ohio according to the booklet cover. Click here for the large version... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3647/3309886519_4ffe9f04ca_o.jpg
Your reawakening of this thread has be all fired up about the Thomas Works again.
Here are a couple of re edited images I took when LGM and I were at the plant the last time we shot it.Late 1880s power house.
View of the coal bin from the atop the ovens. Man it was cold that night!
Wow, stunning photo's! Looks like something from a calendar. And thanks very much for the schematic. I'm going to study it and see if I can co-ordinate that info with the HABS diagram I have.
I'll post a couple of shots of my progress soon. I am at the piping stage, and it's going pretty slow. I'm not too concerned if I don't duplicate the Thomas plant exactly, but I would like the pipes to connect the right parts of the plant. I think that diagram you posted will really speed things up for me. Thanks again!!!
cheers
Val
I'll post a couple of shots of my progress soon. I am at the piping stage, and it's going pretty slow. I'm not too concerned if I don't duplicate the Thomas plant exactly, but I would like the pipes to connect the right parts of the plant. I think that diagram you posted will really speed things up for me. Thanks again!!!
cheers
Val
grande man
Bonafied Grande Nut
Thanks Jim. The images are reworks of old RAW files. Sadly, the tallest of the boiler plant stacks at Thomas had to be taken down recently.
It had just become to much of a fall hazard and had been hit by lightning many times over the years. I'm glad to have the images of it standing. I need to get started back on some night shooting. Things have been so busy for the last few months that my photography has been mostly been for the RMP.
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Thanks for these great posts and info!
I grew up close to the ruins of Thomas Iron Works in Pennsylvania. I had heard that Thomas had built a plant in Alabama but never could find any information about it....until now.
I believe Samual Thomas built the Alabama works. He was the son of David Thomas, who was the first to successfully use coal to make iron in the USA. This allowed iron to be made cheaper and in far greater quatities than could be made with charcoal. . This is thought to be the start of the industrial revolution. His first works, the Crane Iron Works located in Catasauqua, were a short distance down the river from the Thomas Works. The base of the last furnace is still standing there.
The ruins in PA, are mostly from 1920's rebuilding of the plant, though the still standing engine house is from about 1911. The depression ended iron production in both Hokendauqua and Catasauqua.
If interested I could post some of my pictures of those ruins, but here are some good ones somebody else posted:
http://news.webshots.com/album/559539867EykOaf
There are some great pictures of the Hokendaqua plant, before being torn down for scrap here:
http://digital.lib.lehigh.edu/cdm4/beyond_viewer.php?DMTHUMB=1&searchworks=cat10&ptr=010737
A 1904 history book about the Thomas Iron Company can be found here:
http://digital.lib.lehigh.edu/cdm4/beyond_viewer.php?DMTHUMB=1&searchworks=cat10&ptr=5685
Although I only set up a small model railroad at Christmas, I signed up to this forum to thank all the contributors for their work concerning this important historical site. That power house in Alabama may be the oldest intact buildings constructed by the family that ushered in America's industrial revolution!
I grew up close to the ruins of Thomas Iron Works in Pennsylvania. I had heard that Thomas had built a plant in Alabama but never could find any information about it....until now.
I believe Samual Thomas built the Alabama works. He was the son of David Thomas, who was the first to successfully use coal to make iron in the USA. This allowed iron to be made cheaper and in far greater quatities than could be made with charcoal. . This is thought to be the start of the industrial revolution. His first works, the Crane Iron Works located in Catasauqua, were a short distance down the river from the Thomas Works. The base of the last furnace is still standing there.
The ruins in PA, are mostly from 1920's rebuilding of the plant, though the still standing engine house is from about 1911. The depression ended iron production in both Hokendauqua and Catasauqua.
If interested I could post some of my pictures of those ruins, but here are some good ones somebody else posted:
http://news.webshots.com/album/559539867EykOaf
There are some great pictures of the Hokendaqua plant, before being torn down for scrap here:
http://digital.lib.lehigh.edu/cdm4/beyond_viewer.php?DMTHUMB=1&searchworks=cat10&ptr=010737
A 1904 history book about the Thomas Iron Company can be found here:
http://digital.lib.lehigh.edu/cdm4/beyond_viewer.php?DMTHUMB=1&searchworks=cat10&ptr=5685
Although I only set up a small model railroad at Christmas, I signed up to this forum to thank all the contributors for their work concerning this important historical site. That power house in Alabama may be the oldest intact buildings constructed by the family that ushered in America's industrial revolution!
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)