Received the following via email from a railfan correspondent located in Greenville, PA. First is his comment, then an email that he received concerning the demise of a steel plant in Warren, OH, which is located just northwest of Youngstown, OH.
Former Warren, Ohio Republic Steel Company plant's demise. This was the last Blast Furnace to operate in the Mahoning River Valley (Struthers/Youngstown/Warren) which, for many years, produced more steel and iron tonnage than any other region in the world, outside of the Pittsburgh District.
just received in the mail, a 16 page auction flyer for RG Steel in Warren, OH. Includes 3meg+ lbs. of rolls (for rolling mills), roll chocks, 1meg+ lbs. of plate inventory, bridge cranes, machine shop, vehicles (trucks, slab haulers, giant forklifts, etc.), 17 Pollack hot metal/slag cars, 1000+ electric motors, annealing lines, coil lines, galvanizing lines, lifting magnets, 75+ coils of crane cable, hook blocks, shop tools, etc.
The only excluded items are those pertaining to the hot strip mill. Don't know if that has been sold, or if there is a chance it may be re-started at some point.
With this auction, and the previous statements on the condition of the blast & steel making furnaces, it looks like most of the facility is done-for.
Anybody wanna buy a RR??? (former Erie thru Cortland..............) Lotsa new ties!