tarboat's photos

The Songhua River at Harbin becomes a plaything for both locals and visitors when it freezes over each winter. With a background of one of the railway bridges a mother and son slide across the ice on a sled comprising a couple of chairs attached to runners. These can be rented for a small fee from a number of entrepreneurs to be found trading on the ice.

The Shibanxi line in Sichuan is the only steam operated narrow gauge line in the world providing a daily public service. The Chinese have realised that this is something special and are now promoting it as a tourist line and this is beginning to work with large numbers of Chinese tourists riding the line. The early morning train does not have any tourist coaches and is filled with locals and agricultural produce. On this day the sun had yet to rise as the train left the reversing point at Mifenyang and photography was only just possible at a high ISO setting. The two girls watching the train had been asking me on the previous evening about why I was staying there and were amazed that anyone should want to travel so far just to photograph their train. I did notice that later in the day they were recording the steam action on their mobile phones. :-)

Setting green bricks in the kiln at The Furness Brick & Tile Co Ltd. The business has been established for over 145 years and remains family owned. The works can manufacture a vast range of standard and bespoke bricks to order. The transverse-arch continuous kiln has twenty chambers and is coal-fired.

This is another example of the type of holiday homes that were once common in Britain and Ireland. Here at Dromineer on the shore of Lough Derg there are several decaying homes that are not likely to survive much longer.

Sinclair's was once one of Belfast's most prestigious department stores. The first part of the store on Royal Avenue was built in 1926 in the classical style faced with a yellowish terracotta. As a consequence of the troubles, the department store closed and on 1 September 1972 and the building was sold off to a Japanese company for just £60,000. Today it is occupied by a cafe, with office space above. The building is listed Grade B+, the equivalent to Grade II* listed status in Britain.

Sinclair's was once one of Belfast's most prestigious department stores. The first part of the store on Royal Avenue was built in 1926 in the classical style faced with a yellowish terracotta. As a consequence of the troubles, the department store closed and on 1 September 1972 and the building was sold off to a Japanese company for just £60,000. Today it is occupied by a cafe, with office space above. The building is listed Grade B+, the equivalent to Grade II* listed status in Britain.

The two entrances to this drapers and outfitters in Ilminster both have mosaics advertising an earlier owner. The name is repeated in the etched glass in the door.

The last train of the New Year's Day service awaits the uncoupling of Black 5 45407 after arrival at Bury Bolton Street on the East Lancashire Railway. If you look really close a short distance to the left of the moon you can just see Venus.

Poster seen at the East Lancashire Railway.

Winter is biting in the colliery yard at Dongchang as SY 1340 makes a steamy departure on the Chengzihe system of the Jixi Coal Railway.

A staff member awaits the first train of the day at Froghall on the Churnet Valley Railway this morning.

This small draw kiln is situated on the south side of Batson Creek near Salcombe.

Freight in the snow west of Consall on the Churnet Valley Railway.

Nancha Bank with QJs 2144 and 2420 heading a heavy timber train with another QJ banking. Well worth getting to this remote spot on a cold October morning. The action on this single line was almost continuous as there was so much traffic.

There was once a time when office premises made a statement at the entrance that wasn't the latest company slogan or mission statement. St Peter's Square, Stockport.

They couldn't have built this kiln much nearer to the sea.

Slack Breaks Mine near Winster. This lead mine shaft is over 300ft deep.

Very much of its time is the Wesley Hall in Whitby. Plenty of terracotta trim with 1901 date and named over the door.