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The Blast Furnace: A Tribute

This map is quite possibly the largest project I've ever made. I have put lots of time into this map to make it as detailed and realistic as possible, and spent the last 4 months making it. I wanted to do this map right, as I felt that I needed to represent these mammoths of industry correctly, and truly make this map a tribute to this historic Blast Furnaces that are being, lost every year. Not only this, but I've taken inspiration from 4 historic furnaces around the world and tried my best to represent some aspect or another within this map (These furnaces are listed below, as well as their history). I hope everyone enjoys this map.

The Historic Blast Furnaces I've Taken insperation From:

Redcar Blast Furnace (Teeside Steel):
After around 150 years of operation, in 1979, the Teeside Steelworks completed construction of their newest furnace, Redcar Blast Furnace. At the time, it was the second-largest furnace in all of Europe. The furnace operated under British Steel Corporation for around 10 years, before the privatization of the British steel industries in 1988. Corus Group eventually assumed control over the site, and it operated for another 20 years before Corus Group mothballed part of the site. Eventually, the site was purchased by SSI for 400 million pounds in 2015, and soon after the site entered liquidation, and shut down for good. The final demolition of the site was completed in October of 2022, ending an era of British steel.
Features from Redcar in this map:
The characteristic "T" shape at the top of the furnace, as well as the admin block.

Blast Furnace HFB “Blast Furnace B”:
With most construction of the site in 1962, the steel industry in Belgium once formed one of the largest industrial complexes in the world. Blast furnace HFB located in Leiege Belgium along the river Meuse was one of the largest furnaces in the area. The site had operated smoothly until 2008 when an economic recession in Belgium meant the site was no longer profitable, and Blast Furnace HFB was abandoned. As of 2023, the furnace and surrounding site are under demolition.
Features from Blast Furnace HFB in this map:
The skip, and most of the furnace back, as well as the top of the furnace, cokery, and the stoves.

Weirton Steel Mill:
Founded and constructed as an integrated steel mill in 1909 by Ernest T. Weir. The Weirton steel mill was soon integrated into the National Steel Corporation. The site was chosen for the abundant nearby water supply, and the easy access to shipping hubs, not only this, but the steel mill gave way to the town of Weirton. The site operated its 5 blast furnaces for around 70 years, until 1980 when the company filed for bankruptcy. The site was eventually bought by ArcelorMittal Corporation and sat dormant until 2019 when demolition of the site was completed.
Features from Weirton in this map:
The power plant is very similar to that of Weirton's

Carrie Furnaces:
The Carrie furnaces (6 and 7) were first constructed in 1883 as a part of the Homestead steel mill in Pittsburgh, the furnaces operated among 5 others as a part of one of the largest steel making facilities at the time, pumping out thousands of tones of steel daily. Due to their date of construction the technology used was quite primitive, with iron being cast on site, and re-melted at the steel mill, and very rudimentary coke ovens. The Carrie furnaces however operated until the late 1980s when Carnegie Steel failed. After this the site went through a period of abandonment until it was eventually turned into a national historic site and is currently under restoration and preservation.
Features from the Carrie Furnaces:
The casting house has taken inspiration from that of furnace 6, and the ore crane is extremely similar to that at the Carrie Furnaces. (The last pictures are ones I took during my visit here)

The map contains 4 versions:
- Standard, (no snow too) the furnace is currently being re-bricked, but the surrounding industry is operating as normal.
- Light, the surrounding buildings are all gone, and as many unnecessary shapes as possible have been removed.
- Museum Mode, take a stroll through the site, with helpful signs located throughout to teach you about some of the components of a blast furnace.
- No Borders (things don't look good the farther away you go).
- Abandoned, after over 60 years of operation, and hundreds of thousands of tons of steel produced, the historic site was abandoned, after an economic recession, leaving the huge complex to rot.

IMPORTANT: I RECOMMEND RUNNING THE FULL VERSIONS ON MEDIUM GRAPHICS!

Easter Eggs (Only in the normal, and light versions):
Sandwich
Strv103/S tank (This is quite hard to find)
Cat
Tractor
Treadmill

Credits:
Zapsplat - some sounds used
Teardown - some small assets used