Abandoned blast furnace
Still counting the days without accident

The abandoned gas station/truck stop outside of Olds, Alberta (thread in the relevent section) continues to have full 120/208 VAC electrical service, despite being closed since around 2008.

On our several expeditions to the property we've noticed the microwave oven left on with different cook times on the display.

On our last trip there 5 days ago, we found a few of the breakers switched back on after we had turned them off. The kitchen's heat lamp was turned on, and the walk in coolers had been turned on. Opening the doors we discovered that they were a balmy 22 degrees C (the ambient temperature of the building was around -10).

We discovered a wifi antenna on one corner of the building, but our devices failed to detect a network.

So yeah, for whatever that's worth... apparently a part time squatter's shelter or something.

Posted by Archer Security terminal for configuration, I guess. No one was able to break the password to login.

So were you able to use it to dispense a Nuka Cola, or no?

Wow! didn't expect so many cool examples. Cdevon I can't believe you found a working arcade machine! That's awesome.

Here's some lit up locations for ya.

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Posted by Tupsumato This steel factory, closed in 2012, was fully powered and around the plant servers and desktop computers had been running for two years or so. There was even a CCTV system that was fully operational with remote-controlled cameras... http://s3.postimg....wskg1f/fiilis2.jpg For once, I did not press buttons in the control rooms. This place had power and heating in some parts of the building. Still, in many places windows were broken and it was snowing inside...

Want to touch the buttons!!!!

Neat pic. I havent found any power yet. Always dark and cold and abandoned...how i like it lol.

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Terrible photos because they were taken in 2004 with a camera from 1997 that used diskettes... but anyhow, the place had been abandoned long enough that the light fixture in #3 was filled with water. The elevators has been disabled but still had power, and a few automatic doors still worked in the place.

We actually had an abandoned house burn to the ground just this week because the power was still on. I almost think half these people are hoping the place will burn down and theyll finally get to claim insurance.

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overhead lights on motion sensors....

This was a very comfortable (temperature-wise) explore on a very cold winter day a few years back. Power was still on, CCTV running (although not recording -- we took turns posing in front of the cameras), and the heater keeping the place nice and warm. It was only on the way out that we discovered the security/maintenance hang out area with faxes removed and filed from just the day before. Got super lucky that we didn't run into anyone.


IMG_0637 by epignosis, on Flickr


IMG_0754 by epignosis, on Flickr


IMG_0738 by epignosis, on Flickr

And some forgetful workers left their entrance unlocked and lights on for this place through the entire weekend. Right in the middle of the city. I had been in at night before but this convenience made everything a lot easier.


IMG_0562 by epignosis, on Flickr


IMG_0570 by epignosis, on Flickr

I've come across my fair share of beeping smoke detectors and the occasional working switch. Last year on one of my last explores of the season I came across a home computer room of someone who obviously fried a lot of computers. The place in question still had electricity at the time so out of curiosity I tried booting up the computers and surprisingly got a few of them to work. Nothing of any real interest on them but whoever used to use them was stupid enough to keep their porn right on the desktop.

This is possibly my new favorite thread. I hope to see more additions in the future, because I've only ever run into electricity once. And it was intermittent. I would love the shock and thrill of finding a functional PC.

as an electrician, im ALWAYS interested in the mechanics of buildings.
ive lit up SEVERAL places from dever state school (mike D can tell that story), to a prison (went to jail for that one), to several buildings and a bowling alley at northville state hospital....
if theres power, i will find it, and i will make it work

Posted by R3d ive lit up SEVERAL places if theres power, i will find it, and i will make it work

Bringing light to the darkness. How interesting. Shame you went to jail for it.

Posted by R3d to a prison (went to jail for that one)

are you being clever? or were you actually taken out of the abandoned prison and placed into a working one?

Posted by R3d as an electrician, im ALWAYS interested in the mechanics of buildings. ive lit up SEVERAL places from dever state school (mike D can tell that story), to a prison (went to jail for that one), to several buildings and a bowling alley at northville state hospital.... if theres power, i will find it, and i will make it work

Thats amazing. Lets get these places up and running!
Would be crazy if you could restore heat too.

Posted by Cateater are you being clever? or were you actually taken out of the abandoned prison and placed into a working one?

the cops drove by the abandoned prison and saw the lights come on.
they came in, whooped us fairly well, and yes, arrested us and took us to the city jail

heres a little bit of video from the bowling alley....
http://youtu.be/DYVf3s6whq8?t=4m1s