So after running around this morning doing errands, I thought, ok...let's do it. I grabbed my camera and some extra batteries, and down to the railroad tracks I went. During my time sifting through the UER website, I had seen suggestions about how to find good abandoned locations: one was "follow the railroad tracks" and the other was use Google Earth to find locations by air. So, according to Google Earth, there looked like there might be some places down by the railroad tracks around what was once Ashburn station long before NoVA swallowed it up. Conveniently enough, the old railroad bed has been turned into a bike trail, so no worries about 'needing a reason' to be there. Sounds like a perfect plan, but alas, none of the hopeful buildings turned out to be worth it. There are indeed a handful of old homes / warehouses along the trail, but all of them are occupied still. Oh well...it at least gave me my workout for the day.
As I got back to my car, rather disappointed, I thought, fuck it...I'm gonna take a chance. Both me and Corrie had noticed an abandoned house right on Belmont Ridge while driving. Definitely abandoned, but right out in plain view (which was what had been deterring me from going over). So I went ahead and drove by. I as I approached the house, there was no traffic in either direction, so I pulled right on in. AND, bonus! The land had been cleared away around the house, and there was a big "For Sale" sign up now, so perfect excuse if I was stopped: obviously, I was looking to buy some property, eh? (Minus the fact that I have pink hair and look like a teenager in my band hoodie and steeltoed boots.)
Anyways, I pull around back, get out and snap a few outside pictures before disappearing out of public view and into the house. Really freaking cool! Untouched by vandals, though mostly cleared out. Still, the appliances were still intact, and there were a few neat objects around, most notable a very nice ornate mirror as well as some unknown mechanical object lying in the middle of the floor. Also some expected paint peels galore, along with some neat woodwork around one of the staircases. I didn't try getting up to the second level, nor did I stick around too long since I didn't want to push my luck, but I managed to take a few dozen pictures, four of which I've deemed viewable.
So here's the ever essential paint peeling picture, along with a picture of the outside of the house, the kitchen stove, and the non-itentified mechanical piece in the middle of the floor. Fun times.
I definitely enjoyed this. I think I may snoop around Leesburg and Purcellville next week one day and see what I can find. It also makes me itchy to go back home and hit the things I know of...like that abandoned cabin behind my old house in Lynchburg, along with the N&W train trussel. Not to mention the Hotel...I know that if my buddies in Security still work there, I could get pictures that only others could dream about...
