Inside This 110 Year Old Hydroelectric Plant

This abandoned hydroelectric plant was built in 1910 and used to power to counties in the state of Oregon.
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#abandonedplaces #hydroelectric #abandoned

[@briangarrow448]

Those big pipes are called penstocks. They are built by boilermakers, along with the casings at the turbines, which are called scroll casings. I've been building and maintaining these types of structures since I was 19 years old back in 1978. Did you notice that the pipes were not welded together, but they were riveted. That's really old school. Just a FYI, Pelton is a type of turbine.

[@MobileInstinct]

Great information, thanks!

[@briangarrow448]

@@MobileInstinct I would love to explore that old turbine room. I've done some industrial exploration in the past, but I've been slowed down by arthritis. Thanks for being my eyes. Especially during this pandemic, you, and people like you who post these types of things give those of us a bit of adventure. Stay safe, keep exploring.

[@oldenweery7510]

@Gallant Zodiac You can have arthritis from childhood on. Mine didn't show up until my 50s and, luckily for me, it's just ordinary(!) degenerative calcification, not the rheumatoid, which is Hell on Earth. I always tell people, "If I would've know I was gonna live this long, I would've taken better care of myself!" Stay safe.

[@electronicdawg]

@@oldenweery7510 I'm 71yo and I've had arthritis sense my 20's. Seems every injury to my body has turned into it. Mostly from motorcycles. Yup, I still ride though to this day!

[@oldenweery7510]

@@electronicdawg Good for you! I'm still amazed that my manual dexterity hasn't suffered---much (the !@!!#! shakes bothers me the most). I've been a model railroader for 65+ years and currently have my micro lathe set up in my workshop---about six feet from the kitchen sink in my _"Large_ Studio Apartment (440 sq ft)" while I work on a 1/4" scale model steam locomotive I'm building. I can actually forget that I have to drive one of the motorized shopping scooters when I go to buy groceries. As Mom used to say, "As long as you're in there kickin'." As I used to tell my biker friends, "Stay outa trees!" (We liked the scenes in "Gumball Rally" and the other cross-country scramble where the bikers sailed off the road and landed up in a tree.) Stay safe, Amigo.

[@petsisbest]

I work at a hydroelectric plant, I just find the old plants so facinating. Imagine all the hard work that was put into it without much equipment and technology

[@donnar9864]

Yes, this old tech fascinates me..

[@mikewhipkey6863]

@@Tadfafty I work on Electric Transformers and occasionally we rebuild old ones.. they are mostly Westinghouse from the early 1950's and to be honest they still work without any issues..

[@BoB-Dobbs_leaning-left]

@@Tadfafty I still have my great Grandfather's broom, it has had 9 new handles and 11 new heads.

[@Mountain4]

How old is the one you work at? I work at one that was constructed in 1904

[@RJ1999x]

Allis Chalmers turbines?

[@fritz1990]

Pelton turbines and old generators, flywheels etc. Interesting site.

[@zehabdin943]

@Muckin 4on They have guide vanes installed. no provision for injectors is visible

[@TheMxrrab]

At 7:16 you can see the rotor within what would been the stator (all pillaged for its copper). The rotor has slots where the poles would have but again dismantled for its scrap value. This is the part that would have generated the AC electricity. Behind this is the flywheel and then the spiral casing. The spiral casing contains the turbine which is turned by the water from the penstock. You can see lots of little arms on the spiral casing which are connected to the wicket gates also known as guide vanes. These control the amount of water flowing through to the turbine thus managing speed/load. These wicket gate arms are all connected to a central regulating ring. The longer arms coming from the central reg ring are connected to a governor which controls the entire system. I work on machines of a similar age, 1936, but on a much bigger scale.

[@secoura]

That is so amazing to see. If you make it down to NorCal, there is a similar old hydroelectric power plant in Folsom that is maintained as a state park. I believe you can still walk through it. These old powerhouses are impressive.

[@togowack]

state park so that people can't find proofs of who built it

[@th.h.4947]

I like the tubes with rivets, fairly unusually nowadays. I only know one powerplant still running such rivet-pressure-tubes near the Titlis, central Switzerland. Apparently they had a profound know how how to make rusting resistant steel sheets and rivets. As you can see even in disbanding state for 40 years now, so no repainting at all, these tubes show no deep hole corrosion nor any cracks, despite some small dent damage due to rockfall. Not one single rivet gone. Equal rust of the surface is a sign of very homogenous high quality material! Basically the copper from the generators is missing and the roof, windows, some bearings are dismantled, but a lot still in place. A team of building workers and some good engineers and mechanics, and this beauty could run again, I hear already the sound of the generators and the pelton-turbines. Amazing is the valve from California, locks nearly the same as vonRoll valves of the same time, they can be refitted, just sandblasting, new well and screws and sealings, bit grease &paint etc. and these have metal sealing seats, built for 70 years and more, better for high pressure then this inside new plastic and rubber things. It seems it even was controlled with hydraulic power, may be water pressure itself, guess this was added later, but may be this was from the start, which would again point out how advanced USA-technology was at the building-time. Hope somewhere the original plans are hiding. I mean the cost of rebuild should be brought back by the power produced and may be visitor center income when covid-19🤒 is history. And some "Gas-Station" for Tesla's and other E-cars. But payback of powerplants is usually 30-40 years, so not fast money, but sure money. That is why in Switzerland such things are often half way state and federal railway owned, till they sold all their silver dishes, to get one year better 🤑accountings, but with the loss of this income the following years! 😭🤒 My uncle was building the Rhinefall powerplant of Alusuisse in Neuhausen and several others in the Wallis, where as my Daddy was earlier in cast fittings and valves, not too much separated from Pelton and Francis-turbine-wheels production before he changed to PE, Nylon, PVC, PVDFs fitting and valves for e.g saltless PC-chip production.

[@togowack]

Yes better built than any power plant today, outstanding engineering knowledge, all by a few hundred unskilled farmers without motorized lifting equipment and between world wars famines and epidemics, I have a bridge to sell you. Check Tartarian Mudflood

[@staceyhay1355]

Awesome explore! Love to hear the history of an abandoned places. Stay safe!

[@michaelsassenus3154]

Nice ! I was just there last week, if ur still around the area, I recommend u checking out horse haven, and the surrounding abandoned mines , beautiful county out there! Stay safe man!

[@mystikalhare3460]

Oregon has alot of cool places............

[@rayc.1396]

I was there in 2015, lots of new graffiti. The large snail looking items are called "volutes". They have an impeller inside that turns the shaft that goes into the generator. Water coming down the hill would turn those impellers at a pretty high speed, the were controlled by a braking action of the generators. A very neat place to visit, thank you. Oh, when I was there the water was cold and clear, the falls were beautiful.

[@gregorymotta6628]

Another great video Chris. Always look forward to seeing where your next adventure takes you. Appreciate that you always take time to give us present day scenario of your treks filled in with histories of their past as well. God Bless and stay safe safe out there 👍.

[@janesecaraway3995]

Amazing at the technology they actually had 120 years ago! Amazing! From Montgomery al

[@tashasmith6179]

Hello to you from Cullman AL 🙂

[@togowack]

Better tech than today in every way, in between wars famines plagues, do you really think it was built anytime in the last 500 years. Its a thousand years old, it will only decay for lack of use.

[@markgohl2660]

The Big snail like things are the water driven turbines. They are directly coupled to the generators with a big solid metal flywheel in the middle. Since the generators contained a lot of valuable metals like copper they have been stripped down so that there is very little left basically just the cast frames and the centre of the rotor. 6:43 You can see the slots which look like square gear teeth. That is where the copper windings would have sat. At least one of the generators still has it rotor pole pieces and it looks like some of the wiring has been left. The one at 6:33 looks the most intact. The little set at 7:32 was probably an exciter for the big machines.

[@Bongofurry]

I watch alot of exploration vids you are by far the best. Subtle approach and information is great . Keep up the process till pbs comes a knocking..

[@Hoobz01]

It's brilliant that you're documenting these locations. This one for example will be collapsing in 10yrs or so. Then no one will see it. This way even Aussies like us can look around these interesting places. Thanks

[@harrysmith31]

thanks for another great video. keep up the great content. I've been watching a lot of your videos often.

[@johnrogers9481]

Good stuff Chris. I'm glad to find your channel and to subscribe.! That old site is now 110 y o. Seems a long long time ago. Studying about the US Civil War in school in1965, it seemed like centuries ago, but again just 100 years. Time flies.! It must have been extremely noisy in the building with all that equipment running.

[@briansumner2700]

Very cool site. Love to see that old machinery. Well done.

[@mollybeaglehound9645]

Off the beaten path. Excellent friend.

[@RRaucina]

Great tour. Now lets see old movies of the place in the 40's and 50's working - someone has them!

[@Hadesdetecting]

Been watching for about 3 years now and your videos never fail, just wish we had more places like that in the UK

[@mr.deadman6662]

Nice I’ve lived in Tygh Valley my whole life and spent a lot of time exploring it

[@chadbailey189]

why did it get abandoned!?

[@debbiebynum8086]

What a great Monday. I get to start it out with another of your fantastic videos. Thanks again.

[@bradbrown8759]

This was an epic adventure! Old relics are fascinating. I love that you crawl into the nooks & crannys. I'd want to snoop out those details to. It's like you can hear me thinking, "cool, what's in that hole" or "hey check this out".

[@wendyjohnson8639]

Beautiful river it would look really nice if the water was clear it must be a run off of rain or snow to make it look dirty. Stay warm.

[@rayster57]

Great video! I'm fascinated by the industrial revolution and the way our forefathers worked together for their very survival and to improve their way of life Cubs fan? 🙌🏼

[@togowack]

There was no industrial revolution! Our forefathers didn't built it, when would there have been time? the history they gave us is 100% lies.

[@PowerInOne22]

that's EXACTLY the kind of place I would have hung out in constantly as a kid.

[@timetowakeup6302]

Me and you both... I would have been there at least once a week.

[@johnrogers9481]

Me and my buds would have gone there and puffed on some cigs in '65.

[@RedForeman]

@@johnrogers9481 wacky tabacky or the nasty tabacky?

[@sherylhenk2455]

Great tour! I bet you love your adventurous life! God bless and keep safe! 😇🙏❤

[@cefruin]

I always loved that place, wading into the chilly water is great on a hot day! It is usually clear in the summer.

[@CCWP0251]

The old wooden sluice gates are very neat to me. Working in water treatment now, they're all heavy steel with gearboxes and easy crank handles. I bet those were a chore to move.

[@TerriZandecki]

Wow that is really cool and awesome but I really kind of think it is so much more interesting than the angle that the big Oregon state has a lot of things that Anything to see!!!

[@Carolbearce]

Pretty cool old plant. Yes, that river is really muddy. Thanks for sharing

[@dougscott8161]

Hi Chris, thanks for another beautiful explore. For what I could see of the river it looked like it would have supported twice as much power generation. In a way it's too bad the equipment couldn't have been updated and kept in operation. (They have probably gone to a method of power generation that is more hazardous, unfortunately). God Bless and stay safe.

[@charliechristie2949]

At 6:30 in the video is a very interesting generator. The technology was so ancient only 110 years ago. This little dam and tunneling arrangement actually "fed" electric power to two counties. I am sure there was a far less of a demand back then, but, you must give them credit for their ingenuity in setting up this whole operation in a man made "valley" where they re-directed the water.Incredible !!

[@garybolton7916]

We have 2 hydro plants not far from where I live that are fed by a pen-stock from an upper reservoir to a lower one and then into the Salmon river. The original pipe was wood slat with steel rings about every 2" for several miles. It was about 12' across but was replaced about 20 yrs ago with a fiberglass pipe.

[@MikeBMW]

Awesome, Chris! I always love it when I can take time to watch one of your videos. Always great content! :)

[@garybryan6419]

Super video... Thanks much! Looks to be a three-pass turbine, incrementally smaller, to squeeze as much power from each pass. The tank up top is likely for oil? Thanks again!

[@galaxy7176]

Nice historical video.Keep up the good work.

[@mward8938]

Looking at those ruins it's almost hard to imagine that 60 years ago men were going to work there everyday maintaining electricity for two counties. You really do find some cool old places and I appreciate the fact that I'm able to go along through your camera.

[@adrhynnes]

Before modern controls and automation the plant would have been staffed around the clock. The building also would have been very noisy inside and hearing protection was an afterthought then.

[@togowack]

@@adrhynnes We really don't know how well it ran, this power plant is a thousand years old and built by master engineers, only our stuff runs bad that is unsafe unreliable made of wrong materials and requires computers because of over complicated designs. Was built during time of Tartary.

[@rideoregonfirst]

I forgot what a good time I had going there as a kid. I still live close, I need to walk back down there again.

[@matthewmcfarland4934]

It is just so sad and disappointing to see an old hydro electric plant to let go to ruins like this, what a shame. Old things like this should be funded for maintenance to keep in tact and should be preserved for future generations for people to see and present how earlier hydro electric plants worked with yesteryear technology and seeing this one shows how a general basic PowerPoint works and obviously by the early 60s it probably couldn't keep up with power demand any more or mains power was put through to cater for the region which may have been the reason it closed down.

[@lisad476]

Wow...pretty cool. Really liked this one.

[@jmt97400]

Where I live there are 3 hydroelectric powerstations built from 1914 to 1917 that are always used because regularly maintained! Why when a powerstation is no more used, all the stuffs are left on the site?

[@mystikalhare3460]

I like the lil red devil tag it was cute...........I cant believe that towns electricity came from running water......

[@JChrisTurner1234]

This video is breathtaking...great views of the multiple layered water falls. Beautiful. I like when you reach out and touch objects and it shows your hands. I guess that sounds weird, but whatever. I like it.

[@dezertraider]

THANK YOU CHRIS..SAFE TRAVELS..

[@R118GSiVVC]

Thank you for your interesting videos Chris!

[@SlapNuts4Life]

Mobile instinct: I can’t believe how windy it is Oregonians: New here eh??

[@davidjolley2468]

Oregonians: "just visiting I hope"*

[@SlapNuts4Life]

@@davidjolley2468 😂😂👍

[@N8-T]

That's cool, would have been neat to see it in its day. In my town, we have a hydroelectric plant that has been in operation since 1906, still running the generators from 1906. I was lucky enough to tour it in spring of 2019. I would imagine they won't be touring anytime soon. Glad I got a bunch of pictures

[@catskillwoodgas]

Thanks for showing this!

[@southerncross3638]

They still use penstocks to power the hydro electric plant at Whiskey town lake , the water comes from Trinity lake high in the mountains west of Redding Ca, built in the 30s.

[@GreyRockOne]

Thanks! really enjoyed that. I love mechanical stuff! You need to find a big abandoned hydro plant! Take someone with you though..

[@bluekestral8316]

Pelton made or makes centrifugal pumps. We have a few for irrigation

[@RRaucina]

No relation to the Pelton turbine.

[@mitch5077]

Turbines even way back then paved the way for our Awesome Turbos today! Drag Race Baby!

[@TrainsOhio]

Thanks for sharing!

[@stefantkac2233]

These are horizontal axis Francis turbines, really nice old-school arrangement - exciter, bearing, generator (stator is there, rotor as well but the cooper wiring is already gone - too valuable :):):)), bearing, turbine spiral casing (the runner is obviously missing), final bearing. Judging by the position of the exciter, the first unit seems more modern than the other. Last but not least at the very end those holes are actually tailrace which would explain the higher mud level around them because they are in fact much deeper due to hydraulic pressure. Great imagery, nice job.

[@AvScanNZ]

Thanks for sharing mate, awesome

[@oldenweery7510]

I'm with you, Chris: I love old architecture, particularly brick and stone. Even in industrial, they put beauty into their work, such as the brick arches above the apertures in the walls. There used to be a disused hydroelectric dam north of Merrill, WI, with a much smaller building than this one at its base. I don't remember why, but the authorities sent crews in to remove it, one summer, totally destroying the property values of all the homes and cabins along the riverbanks. That water looks like liquified putty! It's a far cry from the beautiful white, and sometimes pale blue rivers my family visited in Washington, many moons ago. This water reminds me of the Westerners' description of the Missouri River: "Too thin to plow and too thick to drink!" Thanks. You keep posting 'em and we'll keep Liking 'em, Chris! Stay safe, everybody.

[@jensenkimmBA]

You do a great job; thank you !!

[@NaomisAdventures]

That is so awesome. Do many cool things inside

[@williamkuzio5162]

Awesome video as always man

[@tashasmith6179]

An interesting find there my friend. Stay safe

[@AxelG28]

I was just watching a video from Tom Scott of a path between 2 hydroelectric plants in spain from 1906

[@dima97]

Hey I watched that too lol

[@NeilRoy]

Fascinating explore, thanks.

[@gregggoss2210]

Another nice one. Thanks man.

[@scottlambert2949]

I bet that building has some stories to tell

[@johnnodge4327]

Interesting video. It's nice to the old turbines, it's interesting that all the valuable copper windings have been removed, leaving just the much less valuable iron components for future visitors to see. I wonder why it's called White River, when it's clearly brown.

[@electronicdawg]

Another great video. Keep up the excellent work.

[@pookysdad4884]

My favorite things in your vids are made of metal; copper, brass, and steel. I make my living off those.

[@benthomason1926]

I'm guessing that construction of the plant/dam began in 1901 and was completed in 1910.

[@mohawkriver2539]

I worked as a hydro operator throughout New York.I have seen some really old Hydro sights.Whats impressive is seeing old switch gear and motor controll centers mounted on marble and granite that is labeled Edison equiptment built in Schenectdy NY.

[@togowack]

We didn't build the stuff or has it crossed your mind yet

[@dima97]

Hey I live in Oregon! :D

[@orsonboggs7753]

6:27 all the copper windings are gone..imagine that : - )

[@victormanz9451]

Just Perfect

[@timhughessr]

They shut that down the same year I was born. Great video thanks for sharing

[@johnrogers9481]

Shut down the year JFK was assassinated. I was ten and remember it well.

[@eyeonyou3540]

Been there a few times. Was there recently last summer. Water is really pretty in the summer time. I’m from Gresham so not that far of a drive for me...

[@mirza1baig169]

wonderful brother , keep it up.

[@thirzapeevey2395]

So it shut down the year I was born. :) Not so long ago. It looks like there were three turbines coupled to three generators. Small Engine Mechanic on youtube is a great place to learn about old generators.

[@MrTommyboy68]

I can't help but wonder if the decommissioned the dam due to the silt build up. That water looks awfully muddy. May have been different back then. As a side note, I grew up about 40 miles outside of Philadelphia and my neighbor owned an old ice house that was built in the late 1800's or early 1900's. I was last there around 1968 with his wife (she went up to take his lunch as he was working the forest on the property). The building was very well maintained and still had the sluce boxes where the ice was cut from the pond and floated into the building and stored in sawdust. There were still a lot of old ice saws, clamps to pick up the cut ice and other various tools. WAY back then it did get cold enough in the winter for the ice to freeze three feet thick. watching this video made me think of this old ice house. Great videos. I find this sort of thing very fascinating and educational because I also like to know how things used to work.

[@Ganiscol]

Those pelton turbines spinning these narrow generator wheels are quite a sight! The principle is the same but we've come a loooong way from that way of generating electricity from water...

[@MissionFreiheit]

Yes we have come a long way, yet this was far more advanced in terms of environmental friendliness. Its typical for the current generation to perceive itself as being "most advanced" yet the older generations got things right too and they even did some things better.

[@charlesdeilke8364]

Not really, turbines haven't changed much . Those old Francis turbines are still very efficient the biggest change is on the generator side with better insulation and modern governor controls. That plant would still be running today if it wasn't abandoned. Plenty of 1900-1910 vintage Hydro still making power today.

[@togowack]

@@MissionFreiheit Older generations didn't build this. This and all the other stuff, power plants cities water ways that were here, are thousands of years old

[@togowack]

@@charlesdeilke8364 very efficient more than we can model on computer. This from unskilled farmers that for the most part didn't even speak the same language when they were allowed to work the fields in between wars and famine. This stuff brought in on horse and buggy. what a joke

[@georgeorwell480]

1:49 guy on a lawn mower

[@georgeorwell480]

@Strange Dee* Lee haha

[@pmscalisi]

Those are three water turbine/generator assemblies. Looks like most of the copper has been removed from the generators.

[@kennethwallace4338]

Excellent

[@DJLeroueHouse]

that would make a very nice family home

[@alcopower5710]

Can you imagine how this would have looked in full operation? Thanks for sharing

[@johnrogers9481]

Yeah, water turning blades and shafts turning coils of copper wire interacting with magnets and whalah...moving electrons, electricity. Really awesome. , and awesome-more. Top of the line advanced equipment here in 1910. A lot to think about here with these ruins.

[@no_handle_required]

You and Tom Scott should collaborate with all the amazing places you both find.

[@tommysparks6536]

It was probably built in 1901 and updated in 1910 remodeled

[@blipco5]

Pretty cool location. Man made. 👍

[@propdoctor21564]

Another excellent video... It's amazing all the cool places you find.... Curious if you ever run into any creepy people in these secluded areas ?

[@johnrogers9481]

Hey,, I was wondering too. I could feel danger in some of the spots in this video.

[@georgetrains6168]

Very cool video

[@walterlangston7866]

cool find

[@stevelaminack1516]

You have to be OK, you drink DP. Very interesting that the turbines have variable stator vanes, I didn't know that technology went back that far.

[@rnp1785]

A Pelton wheel is an impulse-type water turbine invented by American inventor Lester Allan Pelton in the 1870s.The Pelton wheel extracts energy from the impulse of moving water, as opposed to water's dead weight like the traditional overshot water wheel.

[@ffrreeddyy123456]

Just found it vids. If anyone in the PNW wants to explore like this, hmu! I’m always wanting to do this stuff myself, and end up watching it on YT in my couch haha. Let’s go explore! Safely tho

[@finntjomstol9364]

Unreal 😲

[@MaxZomboni]

It was replaced by the Dalles Dam in 1960.

[@133dave133]

There's hydro plant that looks just like that building where I live. I can't remember the date, but it's around the same date as this one. A company built the dam, then built the building before running out of money. The plant never had the turbines or any equipment placed in it, and was never used for anything. By the looks of that building, maybe they were built by the same contractor?

[@operationskypebbles8583]

I love all your videos. Have you visited all contiguous and non contiguous states of the American Union? Great video as always, and hi from The Blue Mountains west of Sydney Australia 🇦🇺.

[@stlredbirds85]

Love the content, even though you're Cubs fan lol. - A Cardinals fan