Pour in Blast Furnace 'C' in 1995

These pictures taken in 1995 in blast furnace 'C'. It was 3 months before the Bethlehem plant closed. We had arranged a daytime tour with the night supervisor of blast furnace 'C' and he took us almost everywhere in the plant. We were allowed to take as many pictures as we wanted and I know I took several rolls of film. As a matter of fact I think I used a whole roll just during this pour. We stood on a small raised landing in the cast house and watched as the pour took place. It was an experience I will never forget.

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The first 3 shots show the workers setting up for the pour. They are moving the machine that will drill into the tap hole and release the hot metal. The tap hole is filled with a type of clay that hardens and stops the flow.

Here the drill starts to break through.

There are sparks and fireworks as the hot metal comes pouring out.

On the bottom of this shot you can see the top of the torpedo car as the hot metal fills it.