Abandoned Power Plant Urban Exploration
Two Years ago I embarked on an epic solo explore of the largest location I have ever been inside. I have only teased a handful of photos from here over the years, but on the 2 year anniversary of this adventure, it’s time to tell the tale.
The plan was to meet up with RiddimRyder Photography and some other guy and go at it as a team, but those plans fell through, so I had to go at it alone.
I spent the day exploring other locations, watching the time closely as I had to wait for dark to make my approach and very very long walk in.
I parked nearly 2 KM’s away after a few times driving around to scope things out. The walk in was long and very cold and even though I had a general idea of where I had to go for access…it surely wasn’t easy. After nearly an hour of walking and climbing and going wrong ways I finally found the door that took me inside.
I was greeted by the incredible site of massive vacant industrial pipes and steel and stairs and more.
My heart was racing and everyone one of my senses were on full alert. Every sound caught my ears and every slight movement or flicker of a light caught my eyes.
Having wasted far too much time on my approach, I had to get shooting. I really had no idea where I was in the structure, so all I could to was start shooting and exploring and hope I could remember where I came from.
I climbed massive flights of stairs as high as I could go, then back down…over and back up again, then I made my way down and I spotted in the distance the lights of the main hall and the unmistakable yellow of the metal covering the machines in the turbine hall.
Freaktography: Abandoned Places, Urban Exploration, Photography of the normally unseen and off-limits.
Now being even closer to the area where I might encounter security, my anxiety grew and my heart raced even more…but I soldier on and keep exploring.
Freaktography: Abandoned Places, Urban Exploration, Photography of the normally unseen and off-limits.
The worst part of the whole explore for me was when I found the control room, lights still on, computer monitors still on and a window that looks right out to the main hall…if a security guard walked by on a patrol I’d be pinched for sure, so I made it quick.
Freaktography: Abandoned Places, Urban Exploration, Photography of the normally unseen and off-limits.
I carried on and continued my explore, stepping gently and maintain a high state of alert the whole time. At one point I had climbed out on the crane to get an overhead shot of the turbine hall, I climbed down and moved on to another part of the plant when I realized I had left my camera bag at the crane…..I was sure that this is what would get me caught but luckily I made it to the crane, found my bag and moved on.
I had been there a few hours and it was getting late, I still had to find my way out, make the long walk out and back to my car then a long drive home….well, didn’t I get lost on my way out and unable to find the one door I needed to find to leave the same way I came in.
After a good 45 mins of navigation I finally found the door, made my way out and started walking in the shadows back to my car. This is when I spotted a security truck rounding a corner behind me on his patrol. I dove into a ditch and watched as he slowly drove past me and rounded the next corner and continued his patrol…thank god he didn’t spot me.
On my walk out, I spotted something I had seen when I was checking the place out on satellite imagery, a giant coal excavator,…like a huge ferris wheel from the depths of hell, I had to stop to snap one final shot of this huge piece of machinery.
Freaktography: Abandoned Places, Urban Exploration, Photography of the normally unseen and off-limits.
Another 30 minutes later I am finally in my car, I am entirely out of breath, I am exhausted, I am sweating like a mad man…and I have such a great sense of accomplishment. I tell myself…….”I am NEVER doing that again”….well, not until the close down the other plant……
Exploring this massive abandoned powerplant will always be one of my top explores and favourite experiences
This location is deep in the process of being demolished having sat vacant for over 4 years. Built in the early 1970’s this was once the largest coal fired generating station in the world. Concerns over airborne pollutants and greenhouse gasses the government made the decision to close all coal fired power plants, making way for more solar and wind energy sources.