#153

[@prinzeugenvansovoyen732]

Can you once go to Russia - to the Ural mountains - there are thousands of mines meny so long and large that they have underground loading stations for railway cars built like large ore shoots where the ore carts dump their stuff into- the tunnels were often dug with pickaxes shovels and bare hand by german POW and Gulak inmates during Stalins era useing very little timbering and very little explosives since they were needed for the war effort most Mines were for Nickel, Mangan ,Tungsten, Chrome, Mercury, Lead, Coal, Asbestos and Copper but also as worthy byproducts they mined Silver, Gold, Platinum, Molybdän, Vanadium and Cobalt and shortly after and partly during WW2 Radium, Titanium , Zirkonium and Uranium ore people to exhausted to work got shot or bayonetted and dead bodys were often just burried under the waste material piles After the war/when the ore was used up in some tunnels workers got forced into the tunnels and trapped inside by detonating explosives to cave in the exit The forest on the mountains got completely used up for trainways, bridges, as war rescource and Timbering as well as fences (often they just had maschinegun posts against inmate riots and the knowledge of certain death by freezing and starvation keeping the prisoners from escaping as well as collective punishment) There were often no barracks - they were often temporarely kept in the mines So the recovery wellness for starving prisoners with lead and mercury poisoning and dust lungs was felling trees with handsaws carrying them with manpower down a 5300ft mountain to manually saw them into boards and pillars by hand and then load them onto trains or staple them for drying exhausted or workunwilling prisoners also got killed by other inmates with pickaxes and hammers or pushed off cliffs after stripping them of clothes and gold teeth there are myths that dead prisoners were fed to the living prisoners and that they made leather straps and belts and very poorly made inmate shoes from human leather and asphalt/tar also they supposedly made candles from human fat and lit tunnels with wood fires and petrol lamps

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Interesting stories. I think maybe they wouldn't want me in those mines telling that story!

[@prinzeugenvansovoyen732]

@@exploringabandonedmines times have changed since the end of USSR and previous destalinization in the 1960s youdhave no problem nowadays as long as you dont randomly ask Russians where their Gulak camps in the woods are and you need a translator and guide to not get lost in the gigantic swamps and regrowing woodland And youd need to hike - or maybe take a dirtbike for several days along overgrown railroad tracks with nothing but thick forrest or swamp or both But some Mines and Prison camps were up til the late 80s with very little change to conditions other than heated barracks and prisoners given leaves to get clean drinking whater and feeding them more and useing more explosives and there has a federal prison been built in the 90s after the USSR collapse by the russian federation so people arrested bc of debt to the state can work their debt off (under workplace like conditions with good equipment) Also ex Gulak inmates stayed there and still today have settlements of ex inmates and their offspring trying their luck with small scale gold mining and primitive ore processing - scaping rest ore from wastepiles and out of old mines they reactivate (=plunder for leftover heavey equipment but moreso unprocessed ore and useable explosives) imagine it like Tschernobyl area - from one day to the next everyone dropped their stuff and left there is tonns of stuff in the tunnels just to name a few ore buckets - airpumps and compressors , drills , post war muckers (often just soviet made tractors with frontloader buckets ), work clothes , lights , shovels and other tools, explosives and even dieselhydraulic + steampowered rough crushers to get the large ore down to at least fist size for railway transport also steam boilers (some salvaged from partly wrecked german WW2 trains) to power tools and make electricity kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2bHXo2BeLCNrrs

[@nj-mike5112]

@@exploringabandonedmines Dyatlov Pass incident

[@Low-Tide]

@@exploringabandonedmines I think we sure would though

[@DaleDuffy]

Very interesting history of an old mining town. Thanks Frank...!

[@williamwintemberg]

Old mines with men using pics and shovels to early machinery and explosives. The machinery used to extract the valuables from the ore and rocks. Early methods of transporting the valuables. Early uses of energy and how to harness it. You are certainly telling the story as it needs to be told. Outstanding Job Frank!

[@johnizitchiforalongtime]

This is an awesome video, just love it. That tunnel is fairly good. Short trip, no big deal. Nice wild life. Rivets, welding came later. cool under ground metal conduit. Tesla's ingenuity, nice bit of history.

[@Jellybeanproject143]

No words to describe the beauty 🌳 🌊 💕 Thank you ☺️ 💝 “Halsville” was filled with artifacts but here the earth is growing through history. So many forgotten past times waiting to be found ! Have a great day sweet friend 🌹🌳

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Hey........you too!

[@bobcalgarycanada8582]

Thanks for the tour Frank

[@JDR1971]

Wow, that canyon looks nasty. Beautiful country up there.

[@willf5768]

Hopefully some day you can get a peek at those turbines that would be pretty cool. Great video ! 😁👍

[@littleman8674469]

I agree!!!

[@willf5768]

@@traveljunky3610 Kudos to you Mike sounds great !!!!🙂👍👍👍👍👍

[@twinturbohenry]

so cool Frank, just love ur videos! Can't get enough! Thank you!!!!

[@guffalump756]

If anyone is interested in old power generation, you should check out the Stave falls power plant in Mission about an hour outside Vancouver. BC Hydro has retained the power plant in near complete condition and converted the old powerhouse into a museum. Its really fascinating stuff.

[@joohop]

Uncle Nikola Gave So Much To Humans Yet He Died Lonely

[@thomasl457]

We all die alone.

[@joohop]

Uncle Nikola Deserves Better Than Being Treated Like Shit

[@orenthalsimpson]

At least he had a pigeon

[@ChillinLikeAVillain1210]

i can only imagine if he had a lady friend..she'd probably wanna be alone after receiving that wireless sex toy that didnt run out of steam 5 minutes in lmao the dc powered ones were shocking bad lol

[@SmallMartingale]

Very cool, I love the history lesson. It adds so much to the video! Like you said, very sad about the floaters. All it would take to prevent those deaths is a sign a couple of hundred yards upstream.

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Yes it is very sad I was thinking about buying a sign myself and putting it up. Just a few years ago a family of 3 or 4 died there going over the falls.

[@budinfield9064]

Another great adventure without getting off of the couch! Nice shots and map. Thanks for the fun. Always glad when you bring a friend, only thing missing was some California wine, Oregon cheese, and a little grub! Stay safe my friend! Bud

[@barbararobinson7980]

Appreciated the plan at the beginning of the show to help us understand how it was laid out. Another video set in such a beautiful place and the drone footage is always spectacular, the picture is so crisp and gives wonderful aerial views. It was good to see the old photographs of the dam and the power plant to show us how it was originally. The power of the rapids in the canyon was amazing to see but very sad to hear that lives have been lost there. It was interesting to hear the history of the place. Loved seeing more of the wildlife; the deer looked like it was listening to you for a moment. It was cool to see inside the tunnel and that pipe. Thank you Frank for sharing another fascinating explore. Take care and stay safe.

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Thank you for your comments. I should get you to write the descriptions for the videos......you do a better job than I do!

[@barbararobinson7980]

@@exploringabandonedmines Thank you Frank. Your descriptions are spot on where as I'm trying to get across how much I enjoy watching your excellent explores.

[@richardbroner9852]

I love how informative you are about historical places.

[@remmiemax3624]

LOVE the HISTORY!! 😎 You even had a 2fer...A cave/mine AND a pipe to explore. Greetings to MS Sandy 🍺 ROCK ON!

[@billseymour-jones3224]

Yet another great video, Frank. Many thanks.

[@skookumchuckreefer978]

That’s some fast moving water. Thanks for sharing the history 👋👀😎👍🍻

[@secoura]

Beautiful video! The historical photo of the powerhouse looks a lot like the old Folsom powerhouse which thankfully was preserved.

[@d2sfavs]

i love old hydro electric power plants.thanks for the awesome tour.you do a great job

[@djspatrick]

Fascinating video Frank. Reminded me of when my dad was a painting inspector. He used to have to crawl through and inspect the pipes supplying water to the Kinlochleven hydro scheme in Scotland. Sometimes he'd hear the water rushing through the the adjacent pipe and think they'd turned the water on by mistake! If you can get it, I recommend a book called Children of the Dead End by Patrick MacGill about the construction of the Kinlochleven hydro scheme.

[@uploadJ]

Very cool - thanks for the tour!

[@TheDisabledGamersChannel]

Those are some of the most vicious rapids ive ever seen,

[@TheDisabledGamersChannel]

@Siglaviking screw that, that's a signed deathwish for sure, i've got kayaking down the colorado allot in my youth many many moons ago and the rapids in this video scare the shit out of me, no thanks, i wouldn't even want to be close to them.

[@melted_cheetah]

Certain Death. That would churn you into little bits long before it spits you out. RIP to the poor bastards that didn't know any better.

[@trevorj79]

People have died here more than once.

[@TheSWolfe]

Agreed. Big water itself would rip u to shreds, then there's the boulders to ricochet off of, & whatever else lurks beneath the surface waiting to yank u down. Roaringly beautiful, but deadly as all get-out!

[@Lalunabreeze]

Beautiful video. Wow, that canyon is wicked. Knew someone that died in water like this. He got caught in trees/branches under the water. The old picture are cool. Thanks Frank 👍🏼x

[@ordinaryeveryday5400]

That was a awesome piece of history thank you!!!

[@HypnoticAbyss]

this is extremely informative and interesting, love the videos, wish youtube brought me here a while ago.

[@exploringabandonedmines]

There are almost 200 vids on the channel......should keep you busy for a while!

[@partsmanjames78]

Pretty neat! Thanks for taking us along on your journey!

[@RadioactiveLobster]

I see she's wearing the mine explorer approved sandals for walking through this tunnel.

[@Legion563]

1 misplaced step and it's bye bye ankle and hello huge rescue bill....

[@Legion563]

Worse case scenario, sure. But to go exploring old mines in such inappropriate footwear is asking for trouble. All it takes is one misstep and you're stuck 100+ metres underground with a broken ankle or a skewered foot on a nail ETC. Whereas if you wore a cheap $50 pair of walking boots that accident would have easily been avoided. If I ever go exploring old abandoned mines you can be sure as hell I'm not doing it wearing shorts and sandals lmao. Better to have, and not need, than to need, and not have.....@@homefront3162

[@stephendecatur2858]

And proper lighting, dust protection

[@SueGirling68]

Hi Frank, at 5:29 there is what looks like a tunnel on the left, I have taken a screenshot and marked it so you know where. A really cool place, nature will reclaim though if an when she can. I really liked that old wooden door there with the little window in, it looks so cool and very historical, I bet that's got a few stories to tell. Thanks for sharing. x

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Maybe I need some better glasses..........I don't see it!

[@Eric_M_R]

Wow that was a trip down memory lane! That entire area was basically my backyard growing up! Been thru both ends of that water tunnel and inside the huge pipes as well, but was too scared to go too far down that pipe :P I do know someone that went down the falls on a tube and lived! Thought it was a good idea at the time and regretted it immediately.

[@exploringabandonedmines]

I didn't know that anyone ever had it must have been when the water was really low.

[@UncleSAMs72]

Nice history Story Thank YOU also thanks for sharing the video new Friend here

[@Pcpguy]

Thanks From Van island love your videos Frank,always appreciate a new video.

[@Lightwish01]

I too think a trip to the aural Mountains of Russia would be a legendary trip for you and for us to watch!

[@bobgilbert4873]

There is a power plant on the Animas river in Colorado called the Cascade Power Plant. It claims to be the first AC powerplant Tesla rebuilt from DC to AC. It is still in operation.

[@grandprismatic]

Historical stuff kicks ass, thanks Frank

[@dubdub5925]

Thanks for doing this for us Frank you are the best

[@izrael2321]

This is one of my favorite videos of all time, this place was missive back in the day

[@ChillinLikeAVillain1210]

thought this was just as exciting to watch as the mine vids. the drone voice overs are great. keep them comin frank. cheers buddy

[@WacKEDmaN]

Cool place Frank...always good to see where Telsa has been... i think you need to put an old cheapy camera on a tire tube and send it down the chute!

[@claycountybrian5645]

Greetings from Clay Co. Missouri, USA! Loved the drone footage. And the OLD photos I guess they figure if they put up signs warning someone NOT to do something, SOMEONE is going to say: Cool, man, we GOTTA do THAT! Frank: Let's go in and see if we can find the turbines! Me: Hell no I ain't going in THERE. Wasn't bad at all, once you got in. Thanks again for reminding me how small my ball's are. Stay safe Happy Hunting Oh, and if I didn't say it before CONGRATS on 60K!

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Yeah things are going well!

[@BIGBADWOOD]

Your videos just keep on getting better and better ... Yep another 5 stars !

[@madmike4128]

Great channel Frank

[@paigelee6321]

Awesome very cool thanks for sharing 😊✌🏻❤️

[@fuzzwack1]

Too bad it was ripped all to hell,Another historical site gone forever!

[@randomrazr]

it was abaondoned. no point of maintaining it, which is why people left it

[@ClaytonCountyHistoryHound]

Shooting that canyon on an inner tube? Nope not even in my young drinking days lol. With everyone hating on coal and other types of fuel driven electricity I wonder why they dont look into places like this to start up again. I can only imagine with modern technology and turbines that would produce an amazing amount of "clean" power. Thanks for the excellent tour and history. Take care.

[@davejohnson3271]

Hi Frank,,you should see if you can get into the tunnel that goes under the slag pile in Greenwood, Deadwood creek flows right under it and comes out in boundary creek,,years ago I went down it and went in about 30 feet then came out,,lol I chickend out,,

[@exploringabandonedmines]

It flows beside the creek I have never seen it going into the slag pile. Maybe it did years ago but it wouldn't be a place that I would go!

[@davejohnson3271]

Yes,,it still does,,smelter pond used to drain into it,,they took out the pond about 15 years ago but the creek still flows under the slag pile,,it is hard to find,,I am coming home for a few days end of august and I will check it out,the entrance is kinda hard to get through because of driftwood,,but I think its good after that,,

[@CaptRich-bi3gp]

LoL, I love how y'all say house! "This where the Powerhoose sat..."

[@richardbrobeck2384]

Great video thanks for sharing

[@klousy58]

Stunning views. Would love to join you exploring some mines one day

[@jeffd6540]

Nice piece of history

[@stevedenis8292]

awesome drone footage .

[@exploringabandonedmines]

I love my drone!

[@David-yt4iw]

Some nice swimming holes downstream, very low water late summer, I can see why it wasn't commercially viable when the area began to develop.

[@Crismodin]

16:39 I was saying no in my head but then... of course... you crazy man.

[@gingerbread6614]

Thank you

[@speedshift5792]

I love the dear shot hey is this the way to the powerhouse lol great vid bro and so glad to see you hit 60k subs stay safe frank BIG THUMBS UP

[@DFDuck55]

Pretty cool to see the site of the first AC power plant. Hope you can find those turbines, those would be interesting to see. By the way... there's no "S" sound on the end of Nikola.

[@powerstrokelife4133]

When are you going to get back into some good mines? That's the video's we really like because of the mining equipment and history,stay safe thanks

[@exploringabandonedmines]

We will be back into mines next week. Going to the Frenchman mine next it is a big one!

[@powerstrokelife4133]

Awesome can't wait

[@olddesertrat8303]

At approximate 11:30 into the video you stated the this was the first AC power plant constructed. I believe this incorrect. Have been interested in Tesla since childhood. Growing up in Colorado Springs, Colorado he was considered a local celebrity though not a positive one at times. He had a laboratory just east of downtown now long gone. A memorial is now located nearby. I remember the dedication of this memorial in 1966. The world's first hydroelectric power plant was commissioned in 1891 near Ames in south western Colorado. This power plant still in operation though with upgrades over the years.

[@rolfsinkgraven]

Interesting story thnx.

[@rdamp2374]

Great video Frank. Thomas Edison wanted dc power for big cities and try to stop Tesla for ac power. Thomas Edison dc power would have to substation every two blocks for dc power to work for lighting powering homes and industrial.

[@olddesertrat8303]

Tesla despised Edison, thought his a cheat and a crook. Tesla was correct. After Tesla quit working for Edison he found a backer in George Westinghouse. Thus starting the current wars. Which ended badly for the king of DC Edison.

[@CutthroatMcRage]

:) TY Frank … GREAT VIDEO REALLY ENJOYED IT ! :)

[@robertbowman1919]

I got real tripped out when you said grand forks because I live like 40 minutes from it, I would love for you to explore more of the Kootenay boundary and maybe head near Red Mountain because there is a lot of old gold mine caves there

[@exploringabandonedmines]

We did videos on Red a few years ago.

[@robertbowman1919]

Exploring Abandoned Mines oh snap, I will enjoy those and maybe I’ll go up soon and check it out myself

[@robertbowman1919]

Exploring Abandoned Mines keep up the awesome work

[@UKAbandonedMineExplores]

Wow, no chance I'd want to go down that george in any craft. They will have blocked all those holes to stop access to the turbines I imagine. Pretty powerful flow that george has in it.

[@TheHungrySlug]

So is this a part 2 to the last video? Either way Still a great occasion when you upload Frank. Thanks for sharing all that you explore.

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Well not really they are 2 separate plants.........we are done with powerplants for a while and back to mines next week at Hedley!

[@TheHungrySlug]

@@exploringabandonedmines Ok, Thanks for setting that straight for me Frank. I look forward to your next video with great anticipation. LOL your companion for the tunnel explore is rather easy on the eyes, She was smiling quiet a bit too I noticed. That and those breakfast shorts, Well that's what my wife just called them, Not sure why though! Great explore never the less. Be good, Stay safe and Cheers.

[@robertsnyder5149]

So this is on the Kettle river? My mining partner lived in Barstow on the Washington side.. We mined and prospected all over the Washington side.

[@daveshrum1749]

Awesome vid as always Frank. And yeah Tesla got screwed. He was a Visionary scientist but a very bad business person. Nowadays at least modern scientists always make sure people know what he did for science.

[@KanadaVCK]

dam look at the size of thos insulators on the power poles, iv never seen one that big befor, one of thos would make a nice souvenir

[@ktmbmk66]

KanadaVCK just a plain old 69 kv insulator

[@cannibus78]

Great stuff

[@overbuiltautomotive1299]

yes Tesla was the man on knowing stuff .it like their ant no gravity as we know it or Newtonian Einstein physics .it more likely light/sound dielectric torridal function that makes things work n build then into hydrogen n so forth .its funny what gets out..another great video frank A+ as all ways be careless n stay n the game

[@camillefulton7709]

LOVE EVERYTHING YOU DO, IM SUBSCRIBED BUT NEVER GET ADVISED, JUST CAME UPON THIS. ILL SUBSCRIBE AGAIN. BE SAFE..THANKS

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Hit the subscribe button and you will see a bell beside it. If you hit the bell it will turn on notifications.

[@bingsballyhoo711]

Sandy needs practical shoes. Cool site.

[@raymondnoya5653]

Awesome !

[@1965Weasel]

Love your videos sir!

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Thanks Robert

[@radarplotextractor3168]

Would those adits have been used to divert the river while the dam was being built?

[@exploringabandonedmines]

No the dam forced the water into the tunnel to power the turbines.

[@joohop]

Wow

[@PirateStyle2013]

That big pipe was like fastfood kids play structure for adults. i wish you climbed up the slide but you would need a head lamp to use both hands.

[@exploringabandonedmines]

The rivets wouldn't feel too good!

[@RunPDP]

"Built around the turn of the century." "The First AC power station (by Tesla)" First in the (NEW) world, that is, I presume... A 14 km (8,7 mi) AC power transmission was utilized in 1893 in Sweden, using AC 3-ph. Inventor was mr. J. Wenström. The compamy ASEA (nowdays ABB) was started upon his works. 400 hp was transferred using 9 500V from a water supply to a mine/mining centre. Wikipedia, in Swedish, has lots of information, but hardly nothing thereof is translated into the English pages :-( In chasing the turbines, I'm not that sure... All stations of that era I have seen seems to have horizontal axes, with turbines inside big houses like steel pipes (1-3 m diameter). Pressurized water would enter from below in one position, low-speed waste water exit at another. Check the concrete slab for old "pipes"/ducts. Bigger turbines might have inlet in each end, outlet at the middle. Have a look at: sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil:Olidan_maskinhall.JPG Turbines to the left, some 10 (11?) machines side by side in this huge station - of its time. From an interesting book, I read that the horizontal axle, being the latest invention, replaced older vertical designs, round the turn of the century! (This reverted again many years later...). This solved some problems with bearings of those days, as power increased on each axle. The inlet "manifold" seems to lead to 4 turbine inlets, and you speak of 4 machines... The main manifold has to carry the water volume for all 4 machines, but as each one is deducted, the amount of water (kg/s) remaining will be less, and to keep water-speed just the same, the area of flow must be reduced by 1/4 of the full area for each one "lost". The "final tube" to just one turbine, should be of the same diameter as the other 3 "outbreakers", each going to one turbine. The pressure of the water will be just the same in all positions (at the same height). The small first outlet might have led to some auxiliary machine, fire posts etc.

[@melted_cheetah]

14:49 Deers like "Da whaaaa.....is whheerrr..... Oh crap, I gotta go to the bank!"

[@pushpushlambert8079]

Lots of DC power used for long transmission lines in Canada ...

[@fie1329]

Yeah, for long distance dc has actually a little comeback. In Germany they build a huge line from Noth Sea all the way to the Alps for example. The technology is really fascinating to me. :d

[@OdySlim]

That is such a beautiful place. How far is that from the U.S. border? I would love to see that. Thank you so much for putting up the video. BTW, I see you brought a charming young lady along for the trip. Regards from Ody Slim

[@exploringabandonedmines]

About a mile north of the border.

[@TheLindkev]

the wood in the cave maybe were tables where they had their company picknics ?

[@beattlebailey5588]

it's hard to believe all that water went thru that small manifold before the turbines.

[@smartmonkey777]

they will usually constrict the flow as it gets near the turbines to accelerate the water even more

[@homefront3162]

Hello from California (again)

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Hello from BC!

[@Bender24k]

"Let's see if we can see those turbines!" Excellent. Thanks Frank.

[@lindasnyder313]

What is the gold "stuff" on the walls of the mine? I know it isn't gold but just curious as to what it is.

[@exploringabandonedmines]

It is Pyrite or fools Gold as the sometimes call it.

[@hillsidehillside3095]

!!!!!!! THANK U !!!!!!!

[@zeberdee1972]

Great video as always , be great if some day those Turbines could be un earthed :-)

[@exploringabandonedmines]

We shall see!

[@aprilgoetz9590]

I'll stick to floating the river here in town. Frank without a flashlight tho? How did that ever happen?! p.s. happy almost father's day

[@manicmechanic448]

Canada geese in Canada? No. Lol. Love the vid, man.

[@ChrisG1392]

I think maybe the timbers were because they tried to support it like a traditional mine when they were digging

[@exploringabandonedmines]

I think that is where it crosses the railway overhead

[@ohgood77]

I have some mines on our property that I’ve always wanted to know what’s in them there vertical mine shafts we’ve had the property since 1880s no one has been in them since if your ever in Utah you should come I will take you to them some people have told me there old Spanish mines

[@idahorunner1214]

what city and state is this located in?

[@exploringabandonedmines]

None Cascade is in BC Canada

[@idahorunner1214]

thank you!

[@Welle1605]

With flip flops in the mine :D

[@keithlea6804]

Though it would be fun to kayak that river then I seen the drone footage and I think ill pass.

[@RaymondL704]

Muskrat Falls converts AC to DC for the dist lines, then converts back to AC for the power grid.

[@ktmbmk66]

Raymond L I work on AC to DC converter stations. DC is great for transmission.

[@nicke1903]

No way in hell I'd Tube that run, I bet those crazy ass Kyackers would do it.

[@timvancura898]

Hello and good day from Tim is Sandy a replacement for Pam.Be careful she might get pms too

[@xboxcrazee]

How long you been exploring these places frank..?

[@exploringabandonedmines]

On my fourth year.

[@xboxcrazee]

Thought you was more if a mine veteran than that....😄

[@gordstevens6521]

Did the explorer do gas testing? Wear a respirator when exploring the penstocks? Safety should be paramount when performing any kind of crevices, caves, mines, or other confined spaces like these.

[@Tekwyzard]

'The Explorer' is called Frank, and he knows only too well of the risks of exploring confined spaces; some of his lessons in regarding such risks as may exist, have been considerately more harsh and painfully learned than anything one could ever learn in any 'health and safety' classes in cosy offices and schools.

[@pR1mal.]

Less buoyancy in aerated water as well.