Northern Exposure and myself have been working this place out since before last xmas. We spotted it and assumed it was abandoned, only to find when we went for an explore it was very much in use. Our previous recce's had given glimpses of major engineering inside so we decided on on a live infiltration outside office hours.
We dont want the owners to realise we've been in as there's more to see, so this report is non public.
History: Weardale Steel Castings has been making major steel castings since 1864 and is still a massive plant. However it continues as a shadow of it former production levels. All the kit is still here as you'll see but doesn't get used much these days.
In its heyday the site was world renound in castings of Ships rudders, and made anchors, chains and all sorts of very large steel components for such customers as Doxford Shipbuilders in Sunderland. Each of the tools in the plant looked like they belonged to a giant, lathes as big as my house. Hope you enjoy the pictures, I sure enjoyed taking them - engineering porn!
This is a press/mould - the size of the lid is unbelievable, its hinged and a 45 ton crane closes the lid!
A crucible for moving and pouring molten steel into a mould
A furness control panel - notice the red AC Aux power light is on, it was humming away like big electical things do
Massive vertical lathe, about the size of my house, the turntable is at the bottom and the tool is forced down from above
Furnace
Mini maglite for size comparison
Oh wow! And the wiring to power it was impressive
Another 45 ton crane
One of the more derelict areas
Lovely lighting in the area
Outside
As we didn't do any external shot heres a photo from an earlier recce with the site operating through the week.
We dont want the owners to realise we've been in as there's more to see, so this report is non public.
History: Weardale Steel Castings has been making major steel castings since 1864 and is still a massive plant. However it continues as a shadow of it former production levels. All the kit is still here as you'll see but doesn't get used much these days.
In its heyday the site was world renound in castings of Ships rudders, and made anchors, chains and all sorts of very large steel components for such customers as Doxford Shipbuilders in Sunderland. Each of the tools in the plant looked like they belonged to a giant, lathes as big as my house. Hope you enjoy the pictures, I sure enjoyed taking them - engineering porn!
This is a press/mould - the size of the lid is unbelievable, its hinged and a 45 ton crane closes the lid!
A crucible for moving and pouring molten steel into a mould
A furness control panel - notice the red AC Aux power light is on, it was humming away like big electical things do
Massive vertical lathe, about the size of my house, the turntable is at the bottom and the tool is forced down from above
Furnace
Mini maglite for size comparison
Oh wow! And the wiring to power it was impressive
Another 45 ton crane
One of the more derelict areas
Lovely lighting in the area
Outside
As we didn't do any external shot heres a photo from an earlier recce with the site operating through the week.
