Old/Abandoned U.S. Military Base Power Station(mid 50's)

This U.S. military base is located on an out island in the Bahamas. This base has been abandoned since 1979, has been through many powerful hurricanes since the closing, and has seen its fair share of vandals and people looking for scrap copper/aluminum. Though the power station is heavily damaged, you can still see much of what was there originally. Inside you will see (8) very large diesel engines, and more.
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[@jimrojas62]

About 7 years ago, I ran into a huge lot of 40 working MEP-003a 10 KW generators that were inside a 53 foot shipping container that was abandoned at an outdoor storage facility that mostly burned down. The new owner of the property let me have them in trade for removing the trailer off the property, along with a bunch of other burned out heavy useless equipment.. It took me 4 weeks to remove all the generators using a modified pallet jack. I scrapped all the useless equipment. It came out to about 140 tons at 4.5 cents per 100 lbs or $12,000 in scrap. I sold the generators for $1500 each on Craigslist. It took me 3 years to sell them all off.

[@walterkreuzman3802]

Looks like the Power Plant is on the island of Eleuthera that was abandoned by the Navy and Pan-am. If that is so I worked there in 1979 before I was transfer to Antigua by Pan-Am..

[@electronicsNmore]

Correct! Be sure to check out the communications building and school video from that base. Share with old buddies too. Thanks

[@kittyfanatic1980]

shame folks cant be more respectful. the gensets are worth WAYYYY more than the copper. thats our tax dollars at work. if youre stripping stuff id love those old meters and stuff. alot of projects i could get going:) thx for sharing.

[@Fireship1]

This was probably a bad ass place to work back in the day. Shame that it was reduced to crap from scrappers. I too find old and abandoned places intriguing. Especially power plants or substations. Good vid. Felt like I was there with you. Thanks for sharing.

[@iaagg]

Those square plates on the side of the engines give you access to the pistons and rods. On the big cargo ship engines, the diesel engines are so big, the mechanics can crawl into the engines via the same square plates.

[@timekeeper46]

Excellent tour....thanks for sharing!

[@electronicsNmore]

Your welcome.

[@Bbendfender]

These look similar to the diesel generators that were in the old Titan II missile sites. I was a Titan Crewmember and we had to run our diesels on occasion. These things make lots of noise. I think our diesels were White brand.

[@JG-mp5nb]

Worked at a Mace Site in Germany and a subterranean generator building had an identical layout of generator/diesel combinations. The Diesels were MAN however. Like these abandoned in place to the elements and moisture underground. Go figure. Oh, and plenty of asbestos!

[@NOBOX7]

pisses me off that we allow people in charge to let things like this happen, this stuff should have bin sold or donated

[@electronicsNmore]

NOBOX7 I agree. Big waste.

[@boryskaminski5670]

Total loss

[@coopertommawaski1071]

With some work these old Detroit engines will start back up they are still pretty good condtions with the three phase the 2nd phase is the high power other two is still pretty good

[@HobkinBoi]

Someone should restore the engines.

[@vidiarcheology782]

Great video.

[@electronicsNmore]

Glad you liked it. Be sure to check out and share my other videos as well.

[@joblessalex]

Looks like a cool place to be!

[@electronicsNmore]

It is. I have more video from different buildings. Also came across a room of HV insulators.

[@apocyldoomer]

Nice work..

[@electronicsNmore]

+Apocyl Doomer Thank you! Be sure to share my channel with others and rate Thumbs Up.

[@mattmattelig]

i would be curious to see the cooling segment of this installment. same for the fuel storage etc. stuff like this fascinates me.

[@electronicsNmore]

Hi Matt. I no longer live on that island. Thanks for watching! Check out my other videos from this military base, rate thumbs up, and share.

[@buddyanddaisy123]

When the base closed, all the property was probably put out to bid-no takers, most likely. Transport in Bahamas is very expensive, and junk isn't worth much. Had this been a populated area, someone would have come up with a use for the buildings. But as you can see, nobody did.

[@bikerbri327]

Thanks for sharing this and taking the time to document all that killer 50's equipment. Ditto all the other comments...What A Darn Shame!!! I've been checking out a lot of your other videos and really have enjoyed learning more about making/modifying old stuff and how simple you make it to repurpose easily obtained items(gonna have to load up on microwave ovens! Lol)...Anyways, Great Job Buddy! Just curious, how did you end up in the Bahamas as I assume that you are a full time resident, how does the overall cost of living there compare to the U.S., and what is your background in,etc? Thanks Again for All Your Shared Knowledge and Experience in your videos!

[@electronicsNmore]

Hi Brian. My parents bought a home here 12 years ago which I renovated, and still maintain. It is not cheap living here. Anything you need must be shipped in, and you pay hefty duty rates. Food is 2-3x as much money as the States. Besides that, it is beautiful here, and you have the freedom to say and do whatever you like. A higher level of freedom compared to the USA, especially today. People are very laid back and could care less, You also get ripped off because of the tourists. Thanks For Watching!

[@bts845]

How'd you get their?

[@Ignignokt5150]

Where in the out islands is this ? It's a shame seeing what happened to that old hardware . I think I saw Caterpillar on the 50's sets , but am not sure which powered the 60's CP sets . Would love to have one of those vintage freq meters .

[@joohop]

at least its not consuming and churning out tons of filth ! plenty of sunshine there so hopefully you've all got solar panels strapped to your back good vid man thanks

[@owensrayfeilds6800]

thankyou...

[@electronicsNmore]

+Owens Rayfeilds You're welcome! Be sure to check out my other videos, rate thumbs up, and share. Thanks

[@GeraldMcKee]

That was a nice tour. The siding is probably asphalt which was very popular at that time. As for the interior you really should have lung protection. Thank Youi

[@electronicsNmore]

Thank You for watching. I looked at the siding close up, certainly looked like asbestos boards. It was very hard, and had tiny fibers, almost like the "fake" wood decking/planks made today. . Since the building was open to the outside for constant air circulation, and I was not creating any dust, I felt it was safe.

[@MrShobar]

+electronicsNmore It's called Transite. A mixture of cement and asbestos.

[@electronicsNmore]

MrShobar I never touched any, disturbed any, or cut it. :-)

[@iknowsstuff]

thats great stuff id love to live somewhere with cool stuff like that

[@electronicsNmore]

I'm totally into going through old buildings, ghost towns, gold/silver mines, and military bases from the past. Glad you liked it!

[@bobordewald1367]

do you live down there?

[@MoosesValley]

6:10: Ohhhh those guages ... talk about guage pron !!! 7:23: Also: Ohhh those brass machine plaques ...

[@electronicsNmore]

LOL. Thanks for watching!

[@MoosesValley]

@@electronicsNmore Wow, that was quick reply, only sent the message a few mins ago. It's such a shame to see such waste, but like @Bobby Tectalabyss said in another commenter here: "It's easy to throw away money,when you don't have to bust your butt making it. Or be held accountable for wasting it. ". About 10 years ago, I went to the auction of an old pumping station on the Fitzroy River (Qld, Australia), and there were huge pumps and machines and panels of guages in there .... all with beautiful brass plaques on, and also asbestos everywhere - the asbestos dust was thick on the floor and every surface. Some people purchased it and I believe turned it into a house - wonder how on earth they managed to do it. Need to drive back out there and check one of these days ... Anyway ... now watching the military school and the parts you salvaged videos. +1 LIKE always and needless to say +1 SUBSCRIBE. Greetings from Australia. Have a nice day ! :)

[@stephenchester9769]

yes

[@RODALCO2007]

Great video, what a shame that these nice machines were destroyed.

[@electronicsNmore]

Thanks! Unfortunately there are a lot of brainless people in this world. I would have restored those engines/generators.

[@babyboijeremy]

electronicsNmore You have the money to restore those engines hats off to you. Obviously no one else saw the use of these old engines.

[@electronicsNmore]

You seem to forget that those engines were handed over to the Bahamian govt in WORKING order. The govt could have used and maintained those engines, instead they were trashed by vandals looking for scrap metal.

[@babyboijeremy]

electronicsNmore There was no Bahamian govt in the 1950's the bahamas was run by a bunch of white merchants, in a party called UBP this was pre independence, those guys could careless if they were given awesome machinery or not. Anyway after indepence there was much more important things for the govt to worry about i.e reform.

[@electronicsNmore]

The base was closed in 1979. There WAS a Bahamian govt in place.

[@fathershand]

Were you visiting the Bajamas or do you live there? It is so sad to see how that station has gone to waste. The locals probably didn't have the $$ to maintain the power station so they scrapped it to get $$.

[@electronicsNmore]

Live in the Bahamas. They could have used that power station for the entire island. That power station was handed over to the government in perfect running order. Not exactly smart people.,

[@innFahrTwo]

it maybe because the Bahamas uses European or Bahamian specific standards. The Bahamas gained political independence in 1973, and would have been using all British standards and had no use for the American equipment as the British equipment would have been considered more superior. Also because they preferred the British way. Not because of lack of money. The currency was the British pound, Bahamian pound, which was and still is worth more than the US dollar. Would you put down a Jaguar for a Chevy?

[@josephjames259]

innFahr Two A Chevy will start daily. Jaguars are unreliable money pits.

[@stanshelton923]

Now, imagine when it was new.

[@electronicsNmore]

Already imagined. :-) I have many videos that cover a wide range of subjects, so be sure to look over my extensive video playlists below for other videos of interest to you and most importantly share my channel with others. Thank you! kzbin.infoplaylists

[@jimw83296]

that machinery is in a sad state of dis-repair..........the guys who worked on it would cry if they saw this vid.

[@electronicsNmore]

You're 100% correct! Be sure to watch my other base videos below and share. Thank you kzbin.info/www/bejne/iprJlKp7fbprsK8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYCqinluZaqgZ9U

[@MissilemanIII]

What a shame.

[@lydiahaytack4267]

Do those engines run

[@electronicsNmore]

+shaistan and trick shoot noob No.

[@lydiahaytack4267]

oh well

[@markduncan6690]

I get your point!!! If in fact these generators were intended to be used by the local government..... Point taken!!! It appears to me that this was not the intention!!!!

[@tl2797]

That was very hard to watch :(

[@electronicsNmore]

Yep, all a big waste of money and equipment.

[@JamesRReser]

at 11.06 you can caterpillar on the engine block

[@electronicsNmore]

The older engines from the 50's, yes. The newer engines from the 60's shown at the beginning of the video were another popular name.

[@spongehead1354]

Those motors could still be rebuilt and used. The heads and blocks will stay good for almost ever.

[@electronicsNmore]

Yes, they could have been restored.

[@NOBOX7]

the scrappers did a horrible job , theres still thousands left there, those gauges are worth money

[@electronicsNmore]

NOBOX7 I know, I thought of removing them before someone goes in there with a hammer or rocks to smash them.

[@NOBOX7]

electronicsNmore good point i never considered that

[@MrJeep75]

How sad

[@electronicsNmore]

Yes, it is. A huge waste.

[@banedicaprio5003]

You should put some crepy post-apocaliptic music in background 😱💀🎶🎶

[@electronicsNmore]

:-) LOL I considered doing that. Be sure to watch my other base videos, especially the old school with bats.

[@hartstudebakerkid]

You could clearly read that old diesels were Catepillar others GE

[@gooseknack]

Typical government agencies hey.... It's a shame to see these old beauties sitting like this. I guess, at the time, it was more economical for the locals to strip them than convert them to 50Hz and run them.

[@rayford21]

+gooseknack Most of the western hemisphere use 60hz power. Where did this 50hz conversion idea come from?

[@doorguner01]

waukusa engines?

[@electronicsNmore]

No. They look like a Waukesha, but it was another name which was well known. I may have mentioned it in the video.

[@doorguner01]

+electronicsNmore ok thanks ive should of read the description we had a Huber static road roller it had a so called white motor we couldn't find a head gasket for it so we wound up scraping it but later I looked it up on the garglar AVE quote and found out it was a rebadge Hercules engine that we could bought parts for this is why I hate rebadge name plates

[@booneherald7446]

Would be a good spot to shoot a scary movie.

[@electronicsNmore]

LOL. No, I have a better place here. Underground caverns.

[@booneherald7446]

Awesome, this could be a alternate scene then.

[@mrmatt2525able]

electronicsNmore make a video about that

[@electronicsNmore]

I think I will.

[@joecollinsworth6988]

The transformers probably had pcb's in them

[@electronicsNmore]

I'm sure they did. I was careful in that place. Those PCB's probably soaked into the ground a very long time ago from all the rain/storms. The entire area was open to the outside, which was good.

[@TugboatMatt]

crap, if I could I'd love to take those engines

[@MrJl40]

I guarantee the stator windings where asbestos too.

[@electronicsNmore]

Not too sure about that. I think the insulation was a different material. Thanks for watching!

[@MrJl40]

The insulation was made of asbestos at least the ones I use to run as a power plant operator.

[@electronicsNmore]

The good thing is, I never touched them. I only looked up close.

[@MrJl40]

To bad there where just left there.

[@pankajsharma-hu2kt]

insted of it should be supplied india it will be of great use

[@jjsaunders9636]

Doug is that you

[@electronicsNmore]

Yes, who is this?

[@MirceaD28]

The engines might be good. Someone should salvage them

[@electronicsNmore]

MirceaD28 I'm sure they're completely trashed by now.

[@ArcsandSparks315]

triclad ac gen, were made in Schenectady ny

[@fadiasosah9456]

i think these generators are cost a lot of money its costly expensive high price even these days

[@electronicsNmore]

Yes. Very expensive.

[@rayford21]

+electronicsNmore newer and more efficient engine/generator technology has rendered this old equipment obsolete. Even if it could be overhauled no one would buy it.

[@electronicsNmore]

Disagree. When the US Navy left, the Bahamian govt back in the day could have used these generators for years to come, instead of allowing them to be trashed by vandals.

[@moonfther]

wow....such a waste.

[@electronicsNmore]

Tell me about it. The govt could have sold those engines/generators if they did not intend on using them, instead they ended up trashed. Unfortunately, the govt in the Bahamas is like the blind leading the blind, and not to mention highly corrupt. Besides that, it is a very beautiful place to live, and the people(Natives) are very nice.

[@moonfther]

electronicsNmore would have loved to have some of the old time equipment out of that place or even seen it all when it was up and running. Well, now it is ready to be pushed into the graveyard with a bulldozer.

[@electronicsNmore]

I stood there looking at everything, then imagined if I was standing in that exact spot 50 years ago to see what it would look like, and all the activity there.

[@markduncan6690]

I have no problem with people salvaging scrap metal!!! Why not?? They have bills to pay too!!!!

[@electronicsNmore]

mark duncan You are missing the point. These generators were handed over to the Bahamian govt in working order. You do not tear apart good generators for scrap.

[@JPickettIII]

Mankind is the only animal that will trash histor so no one else may enjoy it.

[@electronicsNmore]

It would've been nice to see everything restored and working. I'm lucky I went at that time, I think it was demolished.

[@mikewilliam5315]

VERY IMPORTANT FOR ANYONE! GOING INTO ABANDONED PLACES. PLEASE WEAR A RESPIRATOR! and throw away clothes.You DON'T want to take anything home to your family. A dust mask is NOT enough and putting on shirt/sweater does less.The reason it may be abandoned, is because of lead, asbestos and other toxic materials. The cost to mitigate / clean the property could be in the multi millions.

[@electronicsNmore]

+Mike William The reason why it was abandoned was because the lease expired and it was not renewed. Lead is the least worry. I guess you never went fishing. All the sinkers are made out of lead. People have handled lead sinkers for years with no issues. Asbestos is a concern. Since the building was open to the outside, nothing was greatly disturbed, and there was no cutting going on to create dust, the risk was at a minimum. The only time exposure becomes a problem is when it is repeated over and over. One or 2 exposures will not kill you.

[@mikewilliam5315]

Lead Paint IS a concern. Touching lead paint or lead paint dust or being exposed to ANY amount of lead or asbestos IS a problem. Not only for the people in the building but for anyone in contact with their clothes or the vehicle. Small children and pregnant women should NEVER have ANY exposer to lead or asbestos. These people walking around these abandon buildings could bring home lead or asbestos to their family or leave it in the vehicle. They SHOULD ALWAYS! wear a respirator and a ty vec suit. Why it's true, it will not kill you quickly, but it could, over time, kill you and your family.

[@electronicsNmore]

Mike William What is important is that you DO NOT create any dust.

[@mikewilliam5315]

I agree, but just walking around can create dust and touching/ lifting things up, can create dust. Any of that dust they may bring home, will be a problem.

[@electronicsNmore]

That is true, but I am very careful not to create dust. There is adequate fresh air always moving through this building.

[@leeduncan1592]

Each one of those engines would fetch 2000 dollars in scrap because of their sheer size and load. scrappers leave shit they can't get but all you need is a flat bed with a arm and oxy setolin and you laughing all the way to the bank.

[@artm5294]

Poor photography. Too much repetition looking at the same thing plus too much panning around and jiggling. Very hard to watch.

[@electronicsNmore]

+Art M Let me get this right, you are knocking my video which 98% of people liked, A video which you get to watch for free. You have ZERO videos uploaded to your channel, and you have the nerve to complain about my filming? When you have a channel with videos on it, then complain. Some people truly amaze me. Have a great day

[@artm5294]

Cry Baby !

[@electronicsNmore]

Art M Far from it. Good advice, learn to post polite comments.

[@artm5294]

Learn to stand up like a man and take constructive criticism.

[@electronicsNmore]

Art M Far from constructive criticism. Learn to stand up like a man and accept that you should not have mouthed off, especially since you have no videos on your channel showing your expert camera skills. I never claimed to be perfect. :-) The good thing is that you do not have to watch my videos if you have a problem with them. Many other channels for you on KZbin.

[@michaelmcavoy8620]

Great use of Tax Payers money, eh!!!

[@dmoore7519]

Lost me with the tax dollar comment.

[@electronicsNmore]

D Moore You don't like hearing about tax payer dollars being wasted? This was nothing compared to what the govt really throws away.

[@dmoore7519]

electronicsNmore look at the waste in the US with taxpayer money wasted on social programs, free school lunches, etc., designed to keep people in poverty.

[@markashcraft9624]

I bet with all those fired up, you would not be able to hear yourself think, much less anything else. My US tax money good and working !

[@electronicsNmore]

Mark Ashcraft Yes, I bet it was extremely noisy. I found some ear muffs laying around.

[@hollickrichard]

+Mark Ashcraft I agree I was wondering if it was for emergency power because I sure wouldnt want to try and use a work bench right there next to the engines if they were run full time.....