An abandoned '*Gas Station*', or as we say here '*Petrol Station*' is usually less than exciting. My stint in the USA has worn holes in me and my diction at times. ![IMG_0907.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EqhLuKyHaTQytWsAuT2UJBJ9aHJMFAak3baKRmetG8KDeHm38Wc7Rcifiid76ERzPng.JPG) For this one... parking was the biggest issue. When your target is on a dual carriageway, you can't simply pull up, park, and visit. Think of it as a mini-freeway, but with only two lanes in each direction. ![IMG_0909.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/Eq5C4WbGgzsEHj2SR3TsB6wJVJ4fz4b3ButBsMjWk7Y9nbnKkQVnNonD9D2th7bMccA.JPG) After finding a spot, a short walk took us to a low wall, easily leapt over, and on the wrong side of this leaning 'herras' fencing. Finding a break was not too difficult and we found ourselves in the grounds of the exciting '*The Gas Station*'. Having done a little research, there is concrete evidence '*The Gas Station*' was in a similar state in 2010. The abandonment is nothing new, and yet inside, some finds were remarkably fresh given the period of being empty is closing in on 20 years. ![IMG_0906.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/Eqf9Cfvv9VoP4b6VVbZvgQbpasJCcCdC8youFCToLjVEhKH5evyAAM4hUq9CE2Fb423.JPG) This big, squarish-looking hole was likely a car wash; in this section, little was left. It was all about the shop and kiosk where the punters used to pay for their fuel. ![2_IMG_0892_2.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/Eo6KWKjnfB5tjhPYV4XpZX2YCLo3TMeDrFpQ48DnPV7Q3itLbyJ62mKjX46skngXGwF.jpg) Getting in, as you can see, was hardly causing us nightmares. The inside had been thoroughly vandalised, with glass abundant underfoot, empty ice cream fridges and a suspect looking 'silver snake' hanging down from the ceiling. ![3_IMG_0893_3.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoErW9hdQjyj8Xwj9DWHaAEY7xhcbURwtRoT3RBgKHC6TFfBCXKcaaFz2Zz8MPziVcc.jpg) '*Any 2 for £1.20*' says the sign fixed to what was a fridge. What can you get two of for that price now? Inflation has seriously increased in the United Kingdom since 2010. ![4_IMG_0894_4.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoGzJbd4pKU2mm5wmGjUYoTtCkHufjFSMRyS37QUQepXGEkmToASWmi3R9RKmLYFYPD.jpg) Here's a example of something '*fresh*' considering how long '*The Gas Station*' has been empty. The O2 leaflets are of no interest to the vandals, cannabis farm grow investors, or anyone else, so they remain untouched. ![5_IMG_0895_5.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/Eo6LSphKxDwMa52eWt7gDFr7BtDdySPHpdaRqnbZB3ithYoiNLB3aPyDTjBJ7V772B2.jpg) So it was a 'Total' garage once. I did wonder about applying for 'Store Manager', and handing the application form to a different 'Total' garage. Would that work? ![6_IMG_0896_6.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoeFuH2rzAXteQ2wdtd5H3Yx6fapx1CyyDeca8tQj3b1fZAVrpKmvjHangYsSZpv7Ts.jpg) The note made me chuckle, so hastily scribbled down and yet for the attention of all staff. Non-payers are a big problem for a 'trusting' country such as the UK, where you can fill up and pay at the kiosk later. Most of us do, but some do a runner. This one damaged a pump and did a runner. What does that mean exactly? Smashed into the pump, wrecking it? ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/23ydTDAP5RSJpjrsNhyh8FFFKwX2qkq8hfyCyoEaPgotrKpXYbTNj7KMSNaN9kvVFsDGr.png) The plate number caught my attention, as 'R' registered vehicles were produced in 1997-1998. This yellow Ford Transit van's MOT expired in 2009 with 75,000 miles on the clock and a **LOT** of fail points. I think that might have been the end of its life. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/23wCdA55GGnzh1i7hC8DjUJoGhfk8hV4syQsRmkscvG5QpTW7yguRc7qE3Hac7CRQgzbw.png) ...***' in other words, the vehicle is fucked and too expensive to repair. It would have been sold to a scrapper the next day'...*** The cigarette stand, very empty as you could guess, but in lovely condition. I note a pack of 20 fags (not that type of fag) costs around £4. ![IMG_0897.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/Ep1XPvQkeGyKTSjq75p46NPgjcXtjKiymqzeAe2jKs92gLh3oKpBX3xqGd7dYWy8G89.JPG) According to AI (it has its uses), this would present a date of around 2003-2004. So that is a more genuine abandonment date. ![IMG_0898.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoeFpMYz2mUFku9fAZe7a79MFEineVHp3zyhTU9vuBXW4QUjzKYrS3YuMbWGHKZi5Mb.JPG) A quality control disregarded sheet dated November 2003 confirms this. Just poke around a little, and you can find a lot of information. ![IMG_0899.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EonjcigNczy3S7cpC5pDkABD4QbXDbjep58w4qRVMykEDfbYCjWEvRR8WmKLQBTcghK.JPG) As for the rest of it, it looked like a horny bull had been rampaging through the middle of it, in pursuit of a herd of cow honeys. ![IMG_0900.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EokdeJfQ8CsDKZf38R2J5ZbyCAUHg6GWxhvN9xEV1FatPssxHSDF4y315TBbyauKChQ.JPG) It's hardly state-of-the-art, and the reason why nobody has nicked it. Even the local thieves have an embedded quality control 'steal' level. ![IMG_0901.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoK7D5bpoKMiejbddo64QtFFN1vBvhYfWbCjVagD1dqFjGEM4tttyP7gzn3AWTTE5P2.JPG) Do you want to win a personal CD player? It's marginally better than a personal tape player, I guess. '*Every litre gets you closer to £5*'. In 2003, digital reward accounts had not made it yet. Forget the IOS / Android application; it was all done on paper. ![IMG_0902.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoCieJQWrya5L2aVvjMBtxy6kdNmoezWJGZK626qm3pXDzU3wUMx746bCyu1GxfdtT8.JPG) Looking back at '*The Gas Station*', I am surprised at what was left behind. This was no shell explore, and I have a clearer picture now of closure and a little drama. ![IMG_0904.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/EoGwWjzHSHE6TG7DGi68LhGaUvh8ksivafTn9tjXoZAoxxcdeHk6ygN9df8rAmVKAU8.JPG) What the 'Water' sign signifies is a little lost on me. Not personal showers, methinks. ![IMG_0891.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/Eo8TEC6VCvgL5XW5pdGV644bwXRVqzfT16hVaEHfPWLitZNiV1FRXLqRJSUVbM6RreC.JPG) In this grisly-looking room, there has been water. Damp, dank and stinky, I was not going to touch that stuff and look deeper into what the significance of '8' and '2' was. When starting to write, '*The Gas Station*' I was thinking, is this worth bothering with? Many of my more recent explores are hardly your lost in time 'Capsules', but each tells a story if you take some time to digest what you have snapped. ![RedLine.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/BqIuXs6C-RedLine.png) Do you like posting your Urbex content and photography for **FREE** on Facebook and YouTube? I like to get some form of reward for my work and every time I create I do just that. Take a look at **[The Urbex Community on HIVE](https://peakd.com/c/hive-104387/created)**. If you want to keep creating for **FREE** then ignore what you are reading. If you want to be like me and gain something other than **BUGGER ALL** for your work then click **[here](https://youtu.be/0pnFg4igYuY)** and learn about posting on the HIVE blockchain. My Urban Exploration Tales can be found directly on the internet via my Website: '[Tales of the Urban Explorer](https://talesoftheurbanexplorer.co.uk/)'. ![RedLine.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/BqIuXs6C-RedLine.png) ![TalesLogo.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/23tbkz42cJ8HwULaL9SPMgb78qc5GL7ZBfC4nrsp2sk8ytmsQa4NJAhupa8zpu19gUgZ1.JPG) ![RedLine.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/BqIuXs6C-RedLine.png) ![CurieCurator.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/f5zec6UG-CurieCurator.jpg) ![RedLine.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/slobberchops/BqIuXs6C-RedLine.png)

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Infrared Gas Station