World Trip 2002 - PSU
I
visited Pen State University not just to explore their tunnels, but also to
visit Triterus and Sewer Rat who's web sites I have long admired. These are
the fifth complex of steam tunnels I have explored, and some of the best I
have seen.
In addition to exploring the steam tunnels at PSU Triterus showed me some of the many machine rooms, mechanical areas and other secret and hidden spaces of Penn State University..
Penn State university tunnels.
In the steam tunnels. Triterus negotiates the first of many obstacles.
The tunnels suffered from a distinct lack of space in many places.
Unusual in modern college tunnels, the walls look like they are of stone construction.
Triterus explaining how this section of pipe used to have a big huge bulge in it but has now been replaced.
Curve in the tunnel.
Modern cladding on steam pipes.
A typical section of tunnels, with a typical valve.
Communication cables were also laid in the steam tunnel. I am not sure of these are repeaters or just where the cable was spliced together.
This passage used to be an underpass accessible to the public, hence the graffiti.
Section of tunnel that used to be open to the public
The little underground office with it's plush chairs
Storage area in the tunnels
More storage areas. Anyone need a pare pipe? I was amazed by this collection.
Heading down the tunnel we walked under many of these vents. Note the leaves on the tunnel floor.
T junction. Note messages written on the cladding on the right.
Steam spiking station where high pressure steam is inserted into the low pressure steam lines. Note Triterus at the far end in the adjoining tunnel.
This passage was rumored to lead into a dorm. A girl's dorm! Or was that the other passage?
More weird ass pipes and machinery. Lots of valves.
Triterus heads into a section of tunnel leading to a big machine room. Note the exit ladder.
Nice big valves in the tunnel.
Typical tunnel.
Badly corroded pipes and electrical cables. I expect those cables can't last long. This pipe was hissing badly. To tell the truth I can't work out if this picture is upside down or not.
The tunnel descends a ramp into a deeper and cooler tunnel. There were many vents along here.
Ladder to lower and cooler levels
Boilers and pipes
Machinery room in the tunnels
A mufti level machine room.
Ahh, so this was the inspiration for that screensaver!
Heading back up slope into the main tunnel system.
Large valves projected into the tunnel in many places.
Pressure gauges.
Tunnel, valve, Triterus
One of the many corners of the tunnels.
Narrow gap between hot pipes.
We dutifully locked doors behind us.
Triterus and Sewer Rat crossing over some pipes in the tunnel.
Many college tunnels I explore suffer in places from concrete cancer. The concrete peels away from the rebar.
Typical tunnel with a light in place.
This was unusual, a pipe crossing the tunnel.
Me looking half dead after traversing a particularly hot section of tunnel.
Heading out I follow Sewer Rat who in turn follows Triterus. This is the last picture I took in the tunnels. It was searing hot at this point, the last stretch of tunnel. Yet I was grateful to these two for the opportunity to explore what was one of the best college tunnel systems in the world.
There are two web sites I am aware of about the PSU steam tunnels. Sewer Rat's site and Triterus'es currently off-line site.
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