BwannaDon's PhotoBlog

Merry Christmas to All

2010-12-25T17:54:35Z

My Best Photo 2010

2010-12-17T18:47:46Z

Wishing all Peace and Prosperity throughout the coming year. Imagine You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will live as one - John Lennon Browse Best2010 Tag

Ohio Central GP7 1501

2010-12-11T09:08:58Z

Ohio Central GP7 1501 (Ex Youngstown and Austintown 1501) was originally built as Pittsburgh and Lake Erie (P&LE) 5736. The P&LE purchased the unit on 04/28/53. On 12/13/66 the engine was renumbered to 5930, then on 05/31/72 it was renumbered to 1501. In 1975 the P&LE painted the 1501 into a bicentennial scheme and in 1980 the 1501 received it's new image scheme with the yellow stripe down the nose and the big block P&LE letters on the long hood. Wikipedia; EMD GP7 The EMD GP7 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division and General Motors Diesel between October, 1949 and May, 1954. Power was provided by an EMD 567B 16-cylinder engine which generated 1,500 horsepower (1.12 MW)[5]. The GP7 was offered both with and without control cabs, and those built without control cabs were called a GP7B. The GP7B locomotives were built between March and April of 1953. They were the first EMD road locomotives to use a hood unit design instead of a car-body design. This proved to be more efficient than the cab unit design as the hood unit cost less, had easier and cheaper maintenance, and had slightly better vision.

Big Boom....

2010-12-11T09:00:18Z

Maxim crane in place for retarder replacement at Conway Yard in Conway, PA ....once the largest classification yard in the world. Read more about Maxim Crane at Maximcrane.com In rail transport, a retarder is a device installed in a classification yard used to reduce the speed of freight cars as they are sorted into trains. Each retarder consists of a series of stationary brakes surrounding a short section of each rail on the track that grip and slow the cars' wheels through friction as they roll through them. Modern retarders are computer controlled to apply a precise amount of pressure on the wheels so that cars rolling down a yard's hump are slowed to a safe speed for coupling with cars already standing on the yard's tracks.

Cherry Valley Coke Ovens

2010-12-05T06:47:38Z

LITTLE BEAVER CREEK LAND FOUNDATION / Cherry Valley. The Village of Leetonia, Ohio in Columbiana County has many mine shafts running beneath it. The coal extracted from these mines was burnt in ovens to remove the impurities. The result was a material called coke that can be used as fuel for stoves and furnaces. The Cherry Valley Coke Oven site contains 205 brick Coke Ovens that were used for this purpose. There once were many buildings at the site related to the coal mining and coking operations but those were torn down decades ago. Now the only obvious remnant of the operation are the rows of coke ovens and the long railroad beds that run in between the rows of ovens. PDF Brochure PDF Map of Cherry Valley Coke Ovens In 1993 the Cherry Valley Coke Ovens site was recognized in the National Register of Historic Places. An Ohio Historical Marker was placed there in 1999. In terms of tourist facilities there is currently a walking trail leading along the rows of ovens, a parking lot, bathroom facilities, a picnic pavilion, and some wooden fences to keep people away from the top of the ovens where they might fall through. However, aside from the parking lot area, the site is in poor shape. The wooden fences have fallen part in many places. The ovens have been mostly covered in vegetation and in time the site will be entirely reclaimed by nature. The nine foot deep railroad beds in between the row of ovens have been filled with water and sediment. The water comes from an old mine entrance that has formed a large pond above the ovens which drains down into the old railroad beds. Residents of Leetonia are trying to build interest in doing a full restoration of the site to return it to way it looked back when the ovens were still in operation. Aside from the goal of historical preservation the restored site would act as a boon for the community of Leetonia by bringing in tourists the area. Beyond just restoring the ovens other aspects of the project could include a community garden and a connection between the site and the local Greenway Bike Trail which is expected to pass through the area when the new addition to the trail is added. This project is just an idea at the moment and will require significant resources and effort to bring to reality. The next steps are to continue building interest in the project within the community and to find funding for the planning stages of the project. The Little Beaver Creek Land Foundation is happy to work with the residents of Leetonia to make this project a reality. The Coal Mines and Coke Ovens were once the economic heart of Leetonia and hopefully they can once again benefit the Village and its people. If you are interested in this project and think you can help please contact the LBCLF (Little Beaver Creek Land Foundation). Credit for text; LBCLF

McConnell's Mill SP

2010-12-05T06:31:19Z

McConnells Mill State Park, in Lawrence County, encompasses 2,546 acres of the spectacular Slippery Rock Creek Gorge. Created by the draining of glacial lakes thousands of years ago the gorge has steep sides. The valley floor is littered with huge boulders and is a national natural landmark. A gristmill built in the 1800s is open for tours. The park is open from sunrise to sunset, year-round.

Homestead

2010-11-27T07:35:30Z

Located near Salem Ohio, the center of this home is of log contruction with later additions on both ends. Nestled in on the side of a valley it commanded a nice view of pastures below. When we first happened upon it the structures were well weathered having been abandoned in the previous century but in quite good condition. The outbuildings were full of old wagons and farm implements. There were only a couple of mature trees near the house but no saplings. The area around the home had been used to graze sheep.To the north of the house near a tree line sat an assorment of old buggies and in the bottom of a dry well just outside the kitchen was a skeleton! (of a sheep). Today... forty years later it has fallen (literally) into a state of imminent collapse.

36 years...

2010-11-27T07:12:19Z

Same place (The Homestead) and nearly the same perspective 36 years later.

Moraine

2010-11-20T11:03:33Z

Moraine State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on 16,725 acres (6,768 ha) in Brady, Clay, Franklin, Muddy Creek, and Worth townships in Butler County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The main feature of the park is its man-made lake, Lake Arthur, formed by impounding Muddy Creek, which is 3,225 acres (1,305 ha) and is used for recreational purposes. The surrounding park is used for hiking, bicycling, group camping, picnicking, and hunting. Moraine State Park hosts the annual Regatta at Lake Arthur in August. The park served as the location of the 1973 and 1977 National Scout Jamborees. Moraine State Park is at the intersection of Interstate 79 and U.S. Route 422 and shares a border with Jennings Environmental Education Center to the north. Moraine State Park, Wikipedia A collaborative effort with FengXinZi

Brady's Bend

2010-11-20T10:45:40Z

Brady's Bend (autumn) Brady's Bend, also known as Bradys Bend, is named for Captain Samuel Brady (1756–1795), famed frontier scout and the subject of many legends. June 1779; Near this Western Pennsylvania location on the Allegheny River in what was then Seneca territory Brady led a force seeking to redress the killing of a settler, her four children, and the taking of two children as prisoners. The force surrounded a party of seven Indians apparently both Seneca and Munsee killing their leader (a Munsee warrior) and freeing the two children. - Wikipedia A collaborative effort with FengXinZi