Photo Discussion
Category: Where Was This Made?

To discuss a photo, sign up as a BetterPhoto member or log in.

 

Coal Pier River View


 

BetterPhoto.com Editor's Pick  
Coal Pier River View
Coal Pier River View

----
----
Was taken to this incredible place last week, between two news shoots in the Port Richmond Area of Philadelphia.
-----
Extending 875 feet into the river, Pier 18 was used for loading of coal and ore from river barges to railroad cars. As recently as 1968, the pier sprouted a six-story steel tower called a McMyler side car dumper, which has been demolished.
--
It was once the primary terminal for Pennsylvania’s vast coal output.
In 1981, a Historic Resource Protection Plan by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission described elements of the Richmond Coal Wharves site as candidates for historic status, including piers like Pier 18.
-----
This was a scary place and I would not recommend going there alone--but what a haven for graffiti artists and photographers!
------

----
In this shot you can see part of the graffiti-encrusted former elevated railway where coal from river barges would be loaded onto railroad cars.
-----

Michelle Alton

 
  Another River View
Another River View

---
At the Port Richmond Coal Pier.
---

Michelle Alton

 
  Pier's End
Pier's End

---
Jutting 875 feet into the river, this is the end of the pier. The Ben Franklin Bridge (connecting Philadelphia with Camden, New jersey) is seen in the distance. Note, even the bollards (there are dozens of them on the pier) are "decorated."
---

Michelle Alton

 
 
 

Michelle Alton
 


---
Two more views, for perspective.
---


To love this question, log in above
March 20, 2012

 

Jack Gaskin
  Great Inner City shooting
Reminds me of that special AFTER HUMANS.
What the world will look like once we are gone and stop taking care of the infrastructure ...

Jack


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 
robinsonphotoart.com - Jeff Robinson

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Jeff Robinson
Jeff Robinson's Gallery
  Excellent set of images Michelle!


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 

Gord MacEachern
  Love these urban decay images Michelle, and the info is great also. Not a place for night pictures.


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 

Danny B. Head
  If I ever come back to Philly, you will have to take me to this place. I love old railroading structures. Great shots!


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 
- Ken Smith

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Ken Smith
Ken Smith's Gallery
  Those places are gems...I'm glad you found it, and returned safely! :-)


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 

Gary Enloe
  Interesting info and a cool capture Michelle. Would not go alone because it does look a little unsafe


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 

Michelle Alton
  Definitely not somewhere to go alone. Even in broad daylight, there were some shadowy-looking men (dressed all in black with woolen caps and grungy beards) building a noxious-smelling fire in a pit under the "EL." No idea about the purpose, but there was TONS of smoke.


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 
karenemichaels.com - Karen E. Michaels

Contact Karen E. Michaels
Karen E. Michaels's Gallery
  Wow, no fear, good for you, Michelle.
You got some good graffiti art.


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 

MELODIE C. ROBERTS
  I have met and befriended several people who once lived by railroad tracks as part of the homeless population

Amazing people with some incredible stories as to how they got there

Wonderful finds and captures Mickey
They definately tell a story


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 

Monnie Ryan
  Wonderful job capturing this amazing graffiti!


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 
- Carol Quina

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Carol Quina
Carol Quina's Gallery
  This is awesome! What a find!


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 

David Phalen
  A great series of urban images that you'll never see in a chamber of commerce brochure!!

There is a similar area in Columbus under a hidden section of a freeway where I visited alone a couple of years ago. I recognized some gang symbols and was VERY nervous. Got some interesting shots. I've never been back.:)


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 

Jyri Vissak
  Well seen and presented!


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 
- Ann Coates

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Ann Coates
Ann Coates's Gallery
  A terrific shot here of the graffiti Michelle. I would not go there alone either.


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 

Barbara Waldoch
  You make derelict look beautiful, Michelle!


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 
- R. J. Laudenbacher

BetterPhoto Member
Contact R. J. Laudenbacher
R. J. Laudenbacher's Gallery
  Wonderful set of shots, Michelle. It looks like a wonderful place to go and shoot.


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 

Thomas E. Hinds
  Wonderful perspective, Michelle. The graffiti has given us color, and the composition that includes that graffiti, renders a story of the now, and the what- once-was in a terrific blending. Love it!


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 

Rona L. Schwarz
  A marvelous find and fantastic urban masterpiece, Michelle! Love this one and your previous capture as well. Glad to see you were not alone - but what a cool place! Great info as well!


To love this comment, log in above
March 20, 2012

 

Graham Robards
  Wow what a find Michelle, I can;t say I have seen anything like that over here, not even long piers like this.

I love graffiti, plenty of that though!
Interesting story too, thanks for that
Pat


To love this comment, log in above
March 21, 2012

 
- Robert K. Bemus

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Robert K. Bemus
Robert K. Bemus's Gallery
  Great urban capture and comp, Michelle!!


To love this comment, log in above
March 21, 2012

 

Neal D. Hatcher
  Beautiful urban capture


To love this comment, log in above
March 21, 2012

 

JO ANN CLEVELAND
  Fannnnn....tastic Michele!

jo ann c.


To love this comment, log in above
March 21, 2012

 
- Lindley Johnson

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Lindley Johnson
Lindley Johnson's Gallery
  A terrific image of this colorful graffiti, Michelle - excellent composition and an interesting story, too.


To love this comment, log in above
March 23, 2012

 
Log in or sign up to respond or interact.