Towns and Nature: Rankin, PA: 1884-1978 Carrie Furnaces, Preserved (Rivers of Steel)

(Satellite)

There are so many photos of this facility that I broke it into two posts. These photos are about today's facility and the photos taken while it was still operating are here.

Rick Arnold posted two photos with the comment: "Carrie furnaces #6 and #7 are among the only pre-World War II blast furnaces to survive. The Carrie Furnaces were built in 1884 and operated until 1982; the site is now a National Historic Landmark. 📍 The Carry Furnaces, Rankin, Pennsylvania"

Dave Kuntz posted in Abandoned Rails
Carrie Blast Furnaces near Pittsburgh. Now a national monument. Once had tons of rails around it. You can see the rail structure used to dump coke still in place. To the right you can see a little bit of the Carrie Hot Metal Bridge which may become a bike trail.
Dave Kuntz posted in Steel Mill Pictorial
[The comments have some interesting link. Fortunately, it is a public group so you can access them directly.]

Brandon Peck commented on Dave's post

Fort Frick Photography posted
Carrie furnace from the archives, June 2021
www.fortfrickphotography.com [Carrie Furnace]
Jeff Bowser shared
Carrie Sunset

Adam Piscitelli posted
A view of the top of #7 at Carrie Furnace.

Comments on Adam's post

Adam Piscitelli posted
On top of the hot stoves at Carrie Furnace.

And this is what the bottom of the stoves looked like.

Joe Tarowsky commented on Adam's post

Rick Rowlands posted eleven photos with the comment: "I haven't been to Carrie Furnaces in over three years. The place is looking real good!"

JaQuay Edward Carter posted
ATOP CARRIE BLAST FURNACES
Overlooking the Monongahela River and site of former HomesteadWorks / USSteel.

Jerry Goodwin posted seven photos with the comment: "Gary Hoit and I are both retired from the Blast Furnaces at Weirton Steel but really enjoyed our tour of the Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark. It was scheduled as a two hour tour but Gary and I shared so many Cast House stories that it turned in to three."

JaQuay Edward Carter posted four photos with the comment:

CARRIE BLAST FURNACES: Built c. 1906-07
It is an amazing opportunity to work here! 💛
I love educating the public, leading industrial tours and developing programming to promote the industrial heritage of our Pittsburgh region.
A dream come true.✨️ #GrandsonOfTheMill
I get to honor the legacy of my ancestors who labored in the iron and steel facilities of the Edgar Thomson Works in Braddock, at Home- stead Works, and even here at Carrie Furnaces.

Peter Hess posted
If someone knows the answer, please share with me what the horizontal vessels that are by the three stoves. To me, it looks as if the inlet is from the large cold blast line. I thought they were a preheat to the cold blast. I have toured the complex and it was a puzzle to me. Thanks.
[There are lots of comments about gas purification and heat exchangers.]

1:07 video @ 0:01 (source)

Michael Jones posted three photos with the comment: "a few photos from the Carrie Furnaces in Rankin, PA."

Dan Pinneri posted
Stockyard Carrie furnace

Rick Rowlands posted
In 2013, shortly after moving the 48" mill to the Carrie blowing engine house. As you can see still some assembly required. The mill stand, pinion stand and engine still needs fully reassembled but at least all the big parts are in place.
John Blaine: I love that crankshaft!!!
Rick Rowlands: John Blaine 138,000 lbs.

safe_image for THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF THE CARRIE BLAST FURNACES
This past fall, when the tour season ended at Carrie, construction season began. Working along with Century Steel Erectors, Rivers of Steel has initiated the first of several significant projects that will facilitate the stabilization of the Carrie Blast Furnaces and allow for expanded access to previously restricted parts of the site for visitors.
James Torgeson shared

Randy McCoy posted four photos with the comment: "Carrie Furnace Rankin, Pa."

Randy McCoy posted five photos.

Bubba Dubs posted
Carrie ❤️ 5/22/23 Mavic mini 3

1 of 5 photos posted by Scott Canavan

James Torgeson posted
[There is so many photos of buckets in the comments that I should write some notes on ore bridges. Fortunately, this is a public group so you can look at the comments yourself.]

Todd Sherman posted
Carrie Furnace- Pittsburgh

Phil Jadlowiec posted

Carrie Furnace

Rankin Pa

Taken in the late 90’s

I climbed all over the place that day

More to come

Adam Piscitelli posted
Here's to all of you pipe fitters out there. From the stove deck at Carrie Furnace.
Rich Paskash: Lot of chain operating valves.
Zeke Malt: If it was a pressure vessel. It was the Boilermakers.

Adam Piscitelli posted
This panel is in the No.6 hoist house at Carrie Furnace. I'm guessing it controlled the Otis electric motor that powered the skip hoist and charging bells. If anyone has any experience with the hoist house please enlighten me.
[So many of the comments are interesting, it is better to take advantage of the fact that the group is public and click the posted link.]

Michael Corle posted
Carrie Blast Furnace in Homestead, PA, USA. Now a protected site.
Stephen Wolstenholme shared

I don't remember seeing this car there when I toured.

Michael Corle posted
A “torpedo car” at Carrie Blast Furnace designed to carry molten pig iron across the Monongahela River to be turned in to steel.
Stephen Wolstenholme shared

Timothy J. Tritsch: I'm told on occasion there would be a screw up and welders would work 24-7 to get the cold iron out.

Thomas Fronczek: Timothy J. Tritsch We always used utility men with lances

Brandon Parsons posted
Inside the Carrie Furnace works near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Michael Salvatore: Must’ve been the hoist for the skiffs on the furnaces

Jack Davis shared

Michael Evanick: I would say she has had some copper scavenged ! [I've seen this before. The copper from the stator has been stolen, but the copper in the rotor is too much trouble to get out.]

[I don't remember being in this building when we took the tour.]

Dave Kuntz posted four photos with the comment: "The Carrie Furnace in Rankin PA. Last used in 1978, it sat empty many years and is now a national landmark. The large 3 track structure used to dump coke still remains as well as some other railroad artifacts and it looks like an old engine has been brought back. You can see yesterday's bridge in the final shot."

[The comments contain some more photos.]