Huge Abandoned Chicago Power Plant

[@MaxellAdGuy]

This place is the master level of urban exploration. The stereo was a clever decoy. nice of them to leave the lights on, but would have been really cool without any lights...reminded alot of Half Life... btw, you guys should make video about properly outfitting yourself for urban exploring, anonymously of course

[@Free4All]

This is one of those places our Chicago Team said they would never forget! What an amazing place full of history! Thanks for checking out the video!

[@BobotPlayzBobotRebel]

As a child I was always fascinated by this building. It was pretty much a landmark to me since it was close to where I lived and it was next to the highway exit my dad used. When I saw parts of it being demolished I almost cried since it was such a huge part of my childhood. What an amazing building.

[@csxmodeller1]

One of the best videos I've seen of an abandoned power plant, having worked in them for years it appears it wouldn't take much to have it running again as it seems to be intact except for a few things.

[@csxmodeller1]

I thought you must of been lucky and got in before the vandals ruined everything. regards Greg

[@KRAYZIETROOPER]

Great vid... I use to work here.. miss it alot... Brought back alot of great memories... Laughed when I heard the music...

[@NerdologyStudios]

Where is it?

[@loganmcilmoil386]

Nerdology Chicago

[@mattharper588]

Crawford station right off of I55 in Chicago,I’m a retired Union Boilermaker and have worked many jobs their

[@buildinginlawndale7544]

Good work. What you've done here is actually a valuable historical document as the plant is being torn down at this time.

[@davidt1753]

Today this power plant is being demolished and it is causing people to get mad because there are toxic chemicals going into the air and they are said not to go outside but right now this plant might be turned into housing or factorys

[@caspere.8461]

At 7:53 they're in the main hall the Generators are in. There lined up with the closest one to your left. I worked in there about 30 years ago and the place was a super dirty shit hole. they kept the main hall reasonably clean. They are currently demolishing the entire place and dynamited the old smokestack 13:54 last week. Unfortunately it didn't fall straight down instead it toppled over like a tree creating a giant dust cloud that covered the entire neighborhood to the north. The people in Little village are hopping mad, and dusty. Law suits were filed the next day. PS you guys were walking by live transformers at 12:10. You can here them humming. That place was a death trap especially for people that don't know what they're doing. You guys were lucky.

[@CSullivanmeerkatmandude]

The 2 or 3 remaining coal power plants still in operation around Chicago are the Joliet coal power plant on Route 6/7 on Larkin Rockdale and 2 near Springfield.

[@tommeggenhofen224]

C Sullivan it’s so sad

[@Moparbird1970]

I’ve worked contract jobs here a few times. It’s a massive building!

[@ChicagoSirens]

Always wanted to see an urban exploration of this plant. Can you guys do the other one that's not too far away from this one?

[@CSullivanmeerkatmandude]

There used to be a coal power plant on the Illinois/Indiana border. All that is left there is the main entrance wall and a rock for the 2 borders of Illinois and Northwest Indiana.

[@JLanc1982]

C Sullivan imma drive that way later,I know which one you are referring too. I did not know it was gone...

[@greenspiraldragon]

Power company doesn't care if they leave the lights on why would they care.

[@RangerRickTV]

is this place demo?

[@larvale27]

Looks like the plant on Pulaski and I-55.

[@sinking_banana1223]

captain America it is

[@CSullivanmeerkatmandude]

Fisk Power Plant Cermak Road 22nd Street West of Interstate 90/94 in Chicago.

[@kev379]

It must be the Crawford

[@timdodd3897]

Now famous for the smokestack dust cloud?

[@mattharper588]

It is Crawford I’m a retired Union Boilermaker and worked a lot of jobs their

[@infoksnet]

great work guys! love the ambience throught the video!

[@BoratWanksta]

Really nice! Glad to see this one is very untouched. It reminds me when I got into a factory, that was torn down last year. And surprisingly had no signs of graffiti(very rare thing), at all!

[@peterlibretto4517]

Superb lads, great you managed to get in and even better that there is no vandalism or graffiti, when these places are demolished they are gone forever. Great engineering!

[@josephbyrd6642]

visited there 20 years ago to work the mechanical governors on the steam turbines (7 & 8, i think) sad to see those machines being scrapped

[@AmericanExplorer]

I looked this up after another explorer just did an explore there. I'm glad it hasn't been demolished or vandalized. You covered a lot of it in a short time. Great video!

[@Free4All]

American Explorer Thank you so much! Make sure you subscribe for weekly exploration videos!

[@AmericanExplorer]

Already subscribed!

[@rcesar5071]

This just tore it down 2020

[@wm-ux7kc]

At 1314 whats climbing in the rafters?

[@kct1975]

Very Cool Place and Great Video Footage! I am wondering, however, why the lights are still on and the place is abandoned. Strange.

[@Free4All]

Kevin Turner security reasons

[@KingoftheNorth56]

I retired from the Waukegan plant back in 2015 and this station looks identical, at the start of this video I actually thought this was Station 16…Thanks for the memories 👍

[@Free4All]

Thanks for watching! We're glad it brought back some memories!

[@CSullivanmeerkatmandude]

Is it the Fisk Coal Power Plant on Cermak Road West of China Town?

[@bobaab]

This is Crawford Station

[@adrianmartinez-uy9bg]

So much history this building has seen the stories it has to tell us

[@MaddExplorer]

Awesome man! I actully just did the power plant in my town. Love places like this.

[@amazingredkitty3605]

Great video - refreshing to see a place that isn''t all graffitied.

[@diegoelizarraraz99]

Amazing Red Kitty its going to b

[@ronaldmackall1621]

Looks like half of the equipment there wasn't de-energized. Glad y'all didn't have an accident while exploring the place😶

[@CSullivanmeerkatmandude]

There was a coal power plant in Lockport Illinois along the Des Planes River near Route 7. The last time I checked on Google Maps. It is no longer showing up on the map.

[@clort123]

I have been back near that plant, but it was years ago. Looked to be working, but not in great shape back then.

[@hiteck007]

You should have checked out the backup generator, i saw the exhaust of it near the end.

[@mordfustang3033]

I never would have thought this place was abandoned, I pass by it all the time. I ended up exploring the Damen silos instead

[@sasukeluo9313]

Mord Fustang where is this at

[@blazeit6104]

Dont go to silos they have security and hand out huge tresspassing fines

[@nukecity20]

Blaze It Security there is a joke most of the time.

[@thedeadzone9236]

I went to the Damen silos this summer and got kicked out by security

[@billmcelligott7482]

After watching and listening, I would say that this facility was far from abandoned. Mothballed maybe. Abandoned, dont think so.

[@Free4All]

Bill McElligott this facility is abandoned. The power is on for security reasons. Thanks for watching!

[@nukecity20]

Yeah, ive seen this place before its been closed for some time, but is extremely well maintained. They make it look like this to get people thinking what you did.

[@charleslambiase5670]

Well-maintained no graffiti I got you

[@ahhzzy]

Nice video. the plant shut down in 2012 due to competition from natural gas powered plants and high coal prices. Damn good shape for being near a huge city.

[@XeonIsWeird]

I've driven past this place before really sad seeing it demolished

[@kevinpowers599]

I worked there for a couple months removing Asbestos from a huge furnace . It was a crazy job and 1 of the worst but my guys I was working with made it easier n fun . We clowned big time 😊 Lol Great Video !!!

[@Free4All]

Kevin Powers that’s so cool and funny! 😂 thank you so much for watching! Please subscribe for weekly exploration videos. :)

[@hapaboy0808]

Not far from where I live. Its an old coal power plant. I had no idea it was completely abandoned though.

[@denniscurless904]

The company that owns it has a security group there around the clock. Have been in there and the security is harder to go through the main gate than it is to go through the fence line.

[@SchnelleKat]

Where at in Shy town? My Father is from Joliet. would be Amazing too go see this!!

[@sinking_banana1223]

82 Diesel Chi-town not Shy town

[@CSullivanmeerkatmandude]

The Fisk Power Plant?

[@rhettsdad608jv]

Does anyone know how many megawatts this plant produced? I noticed one hydrogen cooled GE generator that was capable of around 110 MW. I spent 15 years as a welder working in gas fired power plants and this video jogged my memory. Lol.

[@frankfromchicago9248]

unit 8 would produce 347 mw, unit 7 about 230 tops MW, was a UO there the last 12 years I worked

[@TracyExplores]

Awesome explore

[@Free4All]

Thank you!!

[@kev379]

Is this Crawford or fisk coal plant?

[@martingiblin768]

That chimney is being taken down by explosives this morning.. Super cool video.. Imagine the amount of money in scrap copper wire alone in this place.. hope the took out any valuable machines

[@ExploringwithJoseCalifornia]

Great exploration, top notch

[@Free4All]

Exploring with Jose California thanks Jose!!

[@bobaab]

This brings back memories. I was an intern here 10 years ago! There is an old research lab behind the office areas which was off limits due to asbestos, but we had access to it while we were interning. It looks like a Frankestein lab and has old electrical equipment. I miss exploring the power plant!

[@JPickettIII]

Nice video, you guys should have done more exploring in the subterranean/lower levels.

[@Phantom1963]

And in other news... 2 trespassers were shot by security guards who thought the intruders meant to harm security, as there have been gang related incidents at the facility.

[@adampoltorak1449]

Cool Video!!

[@cuda7133]

Anyone else pucker up when he went out over the crane handrail?

[@caddyak93]

Is it still possible to enter the plant? It would be cool if someone turned this into a venue a la Berghain instead of destroying it

[@Nino_J]

My grandpa use to work here 60s-1990s

[@thetacomanexperience5036]

There's only two coal plants in Chicago the Crawford on Pulaski and 35 and the Fisk on cermak and Morgan I think this is the Fisk

[@nukecity20]

Crawford.

[@vonrechner9618]

If it’s abandoned why are the lights on?

[@TPACFILMS]

Amazing

[@Qce-i6d]

So, they keep the lightbulbs replaced at an abandoned power plant. How ironic.

[@raybin6873]

So glad I can turn the audio off...

[@NachoTubeChicago]

Wow, it looks exactly as the Simpsons power plant.

[@fb4708]

Isn't this pilsen?

[@Whiteboyairsoft530]

Is this by Waukegan?

[@denniscurless904]

No! South side of Chicago at Pulaski and I-55 Crawford Station

[@CSullivanmeerkatmandude]

This is the Fisk Power Plant near on Cermak 22nd Street. Near Interstate 90/94 near the edge of Chicago near Chinatown.

[@josesalazar6778]

They just exploded the big warehouse 💸💸💸

[@kevinkehlet1543]

I know this plant quite well

[@Chainhandle]

Safe to explore this location?

[@andrewerickson7962]

safe? not in the least but manageable if you think about what you are doing

[@denniscurless904]

Has an active maintenance group and security patrol. Take your chance.

[@lupepineapple9020]

FAM can I get directions pls?

[@Free4All]

lupe Pineapple No sorry. We don't give out locations. Thanks for watching though!

[@lupepineapple9020]

Free4All for that place?

[@CSullivanmeerkatmandude]

Cermak Road 22nd Street West of Interstate 90/94

[@henryberger9057]

lupe Pineapple Crawford , 3501 south Polaski. It’s under demolition currently

[@uselessbox7832]

Sadly, this location is being demolished.

[@plhebel1]

Guarantee that there's workmen in that building , maybe not in any areas you all where in but there is a crew there full time. Another thing, if ya want to be on camera better do more to hide ur face, I mean with the face recognition programs now a days , and with people doing selfies all over the place if they wanted to make an example of someone it wouldn't be difficult. Now for the praise, Kick ass video, That's some true heights up there where you were walking, And ya didn't turn tail and book when you first here the radio. Nice video boss

[@radio40]

if it's the one along 22nd street it's been shut down since around year 2000 they keep shutting them off around the country and the Midwest and saying that we have plenty of capacity it is true if you have a country with no jobs you don't need power plants to turn on light bulbs because the machines these places once powered are gone

[@natehawkins2910]

You’re right. Our industry has moved to China and Mexico and countless other countries. It’s a shame. Hundreds of these places would still be operating and needed if we still had our industrial base. Imagine the GOOD jobs! It’s so sad to me this whole globalization thing. Destructive in every way to every class except the very top. Demand destruction is also coming from LED’s...tens of thousands of previously needed amps going away as tens of millions of led bulbs flood in from China replacing incandescent and fluorescent lighting (and neon signs, which I find very sad).

[@robertmailhos8159]

A massive power plant that is no longer making power but the power left on now how can that be for all power plant,s are self power,ed .

[@Dukers2300]

Plant still connected to the grid, even though the generators are offline and their isolation breakers are open. At 12:08 you can see/hear the medium voltage unit subs online, which are fed from the plant's distribution center downstream of the transformer yard.

[@robertmailhos8159]

@@Dukers2300 okay now I know the rest of the story thanks for your help in this matter young man

[@Dukers2300]

@@robertmailhos8159 No worries! Having the means to be powered from the grid is vitally important for any power plant or factory with cogenerating capabilities. If something trips offline or an accident happens, they can still be "jumpstarted" if external power is still up. Or, in this case, lighting and heating can still persist long after shutdown. The factory I worked in required 28MW to run, and had a small 6MW steam turbine. If the grid went down, the production line would go down with it but at least the lights and control systems would still be up from the turbine. Similarly, if the turbine went down, the grid supply could soak up the additional loading.

[@robertmailhos8159]

@@Dukers2300 thanks for your reply and your info

[@opticmc4195]

heading there tonight wish me luck!

[@thatfellowsam6907]

OpticMC location?

[@denniscurless904]

Probably sitting in jail !

[@nukecity20]

@@denniscurless904 I pulled it off

[@davidz5791]

How u get in?

[@StringerMedia]

This place is to be torn down soon

[@nukecity20]

Yep, so unfortunate, I'm gonna have to check it out soon.

[@thomasjefferson5727]

Huge as in foot print... maybe. In terms of generating capacity? Tiny.

[@cannolikid38]

fisk generating power plant station!

[@marc639]

america always abandons the old and hard working. weather it be machines or people

[@toritaylor1169]

Omg

[@leslesbo4049]

What a load of horse shit, if th place is abandoned then why is the power still on, lights and a radio !!