Imperial Sugar refinery demolition

[r_i_straw]

The refinery that I built a model of for my NTRAK modules was closed down a while back. The property will be redeveloped but first they had to demolish many of the old industrial buildings. The big red brick Char Filter House will be renovated and turned into a residential and retail property. This morning they set charges to bring down the metal buildings around it.




The first building went down without a problem but the charges under the second one failed to go. After they reset everything they tried again an hour later. The charges all went off but the building just leaned a little and stopped. Finally about 20 minutes later it suddenly collapsed. My camera was turned off so I missed the second building toppling over.

[r_i_straw]

Here it is still standing after the second charges went off.

And after it fell.

[r_i_straw]

Here is a photo of the refinery in 1953.


And a photo of my model.

It has been many years since this wall was visible before being hidden behind the metal addition built in the early 1960s.

[r_i_straw]

Here is the video of the first blast. You can see a few flashes under the building that did not come down right away. I guess they all did not go off or something.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmrLrdcdFEM

[OC Engineer JD]

When can we expect the charges to go off on your module? :tb-tongue:

[r_i_straw]

Nah, I put too much into them to destroy my models. A few M80s and there would be nothing left. I only blow up small buildings out at the ranch.

This video has a good view of charges going off under the building that did not implode right away.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQHwwSF2ZR4

[fitz]

Jerry beat me to it. I was going to ask if anyone had ever done this on a model railroad layout. If anyone, it would be you, Russell. Thanks for the posts showing the real thing. It looks like the old building is fine and just like it was back in '53. :tb-biggrin:

[r_i_straw]

Five minutes into this video you can see someone was able to film the final part of the second building falling. It caught everyone by surprise so nobody had their cameras on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57RS3sUexv8

[r_i_straw]

This shows one of the old railroad bridges that crosses Oyster Creek.

[rray]

That's very interesting Russell, thanks for sharing photos! I have always loved your Sugar Land module! :D