forums
new posts
donate
UER Store
events
location db
db map
search
members
faq
terms of service
privacy policy
register
login




UER Forum > Archived US: South > Ralston Pump Station (Viewed 362 times)
dwtaylor999 


Location: Unassigned Lands, Oklahoma
Gender: Male




Send Private Message | Send Email
Ralston Pump Station
< on 8/15/2011 5:59 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
This is the old Ralston Pump Station. It's mundane function was to pump raw crude oil. I'm assuming it was named for the nearby town of Ralston, though it was actually closer to two other towns. I found it on an old map from 1929 that I was actually using to find some old schools with. The old dirt road had been the main "highway" when the map was printed, but has long since been supplanted by state highway 20.




I didn't expect anything to remain, but since I was close, I decided to check it out. Surprisingly, it still stood, but was no on a farm about 1/4 mile off the road. Initially I just observed from a distance, but came back later in the summer and got permission from the land owner to check it out.Unfortunately, he didn't have any information on it, in fact, he wasn't even aware it had been a pump station.




In the early days, transporting the oil from the field to a refinery was a challenge. Roads didn't exist or were impassible much of the time, and the oil was coming faster than they could move it. Tanks were built as quickly as possible with the conditions, and oil was stored in everything imaginable, from wooden tanks to diked earth works. Obviously, the EPA didn't exist at time and it wasn't until the later 30's that rules governing the fields began to take effect. Many refineries were built "on site" and pipe lines were run from wells the tank farms. Much of the oil was shipped via rail on tank cars to larger refineries.






As roads improved, tanker trucks were able to ship the oil much less expensively than rail. Tank farms were located near major roadways and the raw crude oil was pumped from the wells to these farms as holding stations for the trucks. To get this oil from the well to the tank farms, pumping stations were built. These pumping stations were of various sizes and construction and were typically utilitarian in design. They ranged from simple wooden structures, brick, and large metal buildings, depending on the need.




The pump station was in a nice area, with a creek nearby. There was some type of structure/dam that spanned the creek, though I don't know what it's purpose was. The pipeline had to cross this creek, and the remains of the crossing still stand. The structures are in fairly good repair. The pumping station consisted two main building, one with the engines, usually separate to isolate the heat and noise, and the other with the control equipment and workspace.


















Some old photos of what some of the equipment in the station probably looked like.






The main building. I'm told by some old timers that there would have been a boiler here to heat the oil so it would flow easier through the pipes. They also used something called a "go-devil", which was inserted into the pipe to clean it out. It was forced along the pipe by the pressure of the oil.




















The old "dam" on the creek. You can see where the creek washed around it.











Various bits and pieces along the creek.














The pipeline crossing next to the bridge. This pipeline ran to a remote station where the trucks would load the oil.




















The remnants of the collection station several miles away next to the old main road. Little remains of it but a few pieces of foundation.




Not many of these old pumping stations survive. This is the only one of about 7 on my old maps that still stands. I've been unable to determine what company operated it, or when it shut down. These old stations weren't exactly something people documented for historical purposes.



Ruins, the fate of all cities.
Astro 

Usually naked


Location: The Delta Quadrant
Gender: Male


Resistance is Futile

Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Ralston Pump Station
<Reply # 1 on 8/15/2011 6:08 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Wow. The house was mediocre and then you get to the water.

Is that an f-ing car!? How creepy.

Do people still use the area?

[02:33:56] <Valkyre> Astro your whole life is ruled by the sentence ' life is better without clothes on'
[22:16:00] <DSomms> it was normal until astro got here
Astro: Patron Saint of Drains
dwtaylor999 


Location: Unassigned Lands, Oklahoma
Gender: Male




Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Ralston Pump Station
<Reply # 2 on 8/15/2011 7:08 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
LOL... I need to get out for some more photo shoots. Been to busy and to damn hot lately. The truck was kind of funky. It was covered with turtles basking in the sun before I spooked them. There is a farm house about 1/2 mile from the creek.

Ruins, the fate of all cities.
Maxflier 


Location: South Louisiana
Gender: Male




Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Ralston Pump Station
<Reply # 3 on 8/16/2011 3:28 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Love the car pic. And the round cement building is very creepy as well.

UER Forum > Archived US: South > Ralston Pump Station (Viewed 362 times)



All content and images copyright © 2002-2024 UER.CA and respective creators. Graphical Design by Crossfire.
To contact webmaster, or click to email with problems or other questions about this site: UER CONTACT
View Terms of Service | View Privacy Policy | Server colocation provided by Beanfield
This page was generated for you in 78 milliseconds. Since June 23, 2002, a total of 737055709 pages have been generated.