This is a pix I took yesterday (2/3/2011). It was taken in Centralia PA and yes, if you look hard enough you can see green grass in the background, just below the smoke that is coming from the ground. For anyone who's not familiar , Centralia has had a mine fire burning underground since I think 1961. you can find alot of info online, or vid's on youtube about the Centralia Mine Fire.

We stop at Centralia almost every year on the way back from ECXC...its pretty much a tradition.

Did you stop by that section of hwy that cracked down the middle, and now looks like a steaming mini grand canyon?

yes TJ, I've seen that spot many times, watched its progress as it grew bigger, I only live about two miles from it. Back before they closed that section of road (in the early 80's), when we would drive by there in the car at night, you could actually look about ten feet off the side of the road and the rocks would be glowing so much that it would actually look like the inside of a coal stove.

LOL


You live 2 miles from there?

Holy Crap....that's awesome.

I have always wanted to visit there.

Looks like a great location! Can't wait to break mine in in a place like that. Just purchased 05 with only 40k!
Nice pic!

Here's another pix taken Near Centralia PA today (3/1/11). This one is on what used to be Route 61. This section of the road was shut down in the early 80's due to the fire causing it to sink in places, at first they tried just putting new blacktop down on top of the old to get rid of the dips in the road, but it kept sinking a few weeks later. At one time when driving on this section at night, you could look at the bank on the side of the road, where they tried to backfill it with stone, and it was like looking into a coal stove the way the stone was glowing so bright. This section of road is about a half mile south of the town of Centralia. If you look close at the pix you can see smoke/steam coming out from the crack in the road. The one thing this pix doesnt do justice , is how far the road sank here, if you look from the X to the side of the road, the shoulder of the road has actually sunk about 3 feet there, which is what caused the crack. It took about 8 months for the crack to get that big from the time it started to crack. Over the last few years, it doesnt look like it got much bigger.

Also, for anyone who uses Google Earth, you can actually get a better idea of the size of this crack in the road by zooming in on it on Google Earth. Just go to Centralia PA and follow RT. 61 South . There are also some pix on there from other ppl of that area.

No, you wont see my X in the image from Google Earth though !!

That is cool

This is an awesome set of pics.

TJ, . .great pix,... . . do you know what year this was? I'm guessing by looking at the road maybe 2008 or 2009?

2005

cool, i've lived in pa all my life and never knew about this...

nice pics TJ lol

GrimmOne, what part of Pa are you from?

TJ next return trip from ECXC You should make time to stop by the Pionner Tunnel and take the Mine tour, If my X is parked out front, I could be your guide! lol . . If you get enough ppl to do it, call ahead, and you could probably get a group rate for it.