Digital Ink'd

This short exploration video contains an abandoned railway line stuck between two properties abutting a major highway in the northeast. The line crosses three city street blocks on one side and one street block situated over a river into another neighborhood. You can almost say that the train line divides the poor from the rich.  I wish I could have crossed it without causing unwanted attention from the highway patrol. Maybe I will cross it one night sometime later in the year when no one is around. A short but satisfying exploration involving two abandoned properties and a rail line. 

Upon driving along the winding road heading to my designated parking address, this behemoth stands out like a fallen giant. A black rusting heap of metal. It just sticks out like a sore thumb. If you were an eagle you could spot this facility with ease. Once so full of energy and endearing to the men who once worked there. This railroad facility is no longer able to unload huge tons of black gold. Getting onto the property was very easy. Getting there was the hardest part due to the long walk. After getting onsite, all my tired worries were washed away as I stood at the beginning of the tracks looking towards the belly of the beast. She was beautiful in every way. Sadly, history and time have not been kind to her. All the old mechanical parts were still there as it was on the last day. The wooden track beams were cracking, splitting, and weathered. The landing zone for the train cars was still there but the side rail shoot was no longer a part of it any...

Explored two stadiums in one day. This was the first one I explored out of the two and the second abandoned place of the day earlier in July 2016. Upon entering, tall weeds and bushes dominated the framed crowd control columns seen at the beginning of the episode. This stadium was larger than the other football stadium. Instead of one sweeping stadium seating, this one was more oval and more designed for the immersion of the crowd towards the action in the center. The concession stand, bathrooms, and commentator’s box were all neatly located behind the seating area. This was once a grand stadium when it was open. It’s rare you can explore an empty stadium once teeming with screaming supportive fans, fresh beer, and juicy hot dogs. A few still remain in the United States in Detroit and Ohio. Although, the one in Detroit is to be demolished soon or is already fallen to the demolition crew. This stadium once hosted local football and baseball games but f...

  Explored a very sketchy part of town to explore this once sports-centered athletic stadium. Various locals and teenagers seem to inhabit the place as a chill spot even though this property's soil is contaminated due to its previous use as an industrial site by Celanese that once stood here. It is one of the reasons that it fell to the wayside once contaminates were found in 1986 on a portion of the site during excavation for a community center next door. I didn't take any photos here due to the association of gangs and criminal activity in the overgrown back lot. One of the sketchiest places that I have ever explored. It even beat out a textile mill I visited the same day where locals and amateur explorers seemed to waltz around on the banks of the river next to the mill. In that place, the paths were enclosed on all sides with various weeds, grasses, and trees. Straight inner city jungle. Update: Nov 2019, the Ironbound Stadium is now the Eddie Moraes Stadium home...

Inside the factory yard. All images have been tweaked in Lightroom 6. This industrial building complex houses a mix of former businesses that all started from nine tenants built and started in the 1800s before being taken over by one company 89 years later. The various three-story buildings housed and manufactured various products such as cotton, buttons, embroiders and steel. A once booming business tenant centered complex now just sits decaying. This site is perfect for the urban explorer trifecta and a few more. Easy access, far from residential houses, little to no foot traffic, surrounded by commercial businesses, abuts a train line and every now and then vehicular traffic. However, the property still has an existing power line service to the right uppermost building. How did I know this? The buzzing emanating from the electrical meter was very telling. This building is locked and may possess past chemical storage, business assets or industrial equipment.  The security...

Update : A full research write-up of International Silver Company's former Factory H boiler house .  This abandoned northeastern factory sits in the back of a quiet residential street surrounded by nature. Next to this two-story building remains another abandoned medical complex boarded up to the gills. Stay tuned for upcoming flicks. Getting into this building was quite hard. We hopped a perimeter fence in the middle of the morning just before a police car was sitting taking a quiet break or making their due diligence check on the property. This property is down the road at a current asbestos abatement medical hospital by the local town/state agency. Once on the property, it offers a mix of old machinery and pipework from this little factory which was probably much larger before residential developers took over. In addition, the building was free of graffiti and its brick-walled facade still looked like the day it was constructed. The only giveaway is the wide-open away roof...

Corner of Times Square Times Square is locally known, as a tourist mecca for native New Yorkers. This eclectic and neon tourist zone is always crowded from sun up to sundown. Packed in with arriving and departing citizens of the world picking over the same spots as they cajole, and prostrate themselves for the perfect family snapshot. You will find many individuals taking abundant selfies and group shots everywhere. If they are not taking photos, they are being harassed by desnudas and touchy cartoon-sized characters hustling for tips. A place only visited by natives once and never again. One thing you can find in this tourist zone is various shades of characters hustling.