tarboat's photos

Seen on a fence at the Thomas Bolton copperworks in Froghall. William Bain and Co Ltd started business in 1859 in the old Lochrin Distillery in Edinburgh as Lochrin Iron Works – producing iron fencing and gates for estates in Scotland. In 1888 the works was moved to Coatbridge. William Bain Fencing Ltd continues in business today, having moved the Lochrin Works to Cumernauld where they still supply palisade fencing to a range of designs.

Heading into the dusk are a pair of QJs on a westbound freight between Chabuga and Lindong on the Jitong Raiway. It doesn't seem to be easy to make a successful going away shot of a train. I am quite pleased with this one and I think it works because the line curves away out of the shot and the exhaust is blowing in the same direction.

During the last few weeks of Deltic services 55-022 is seen on a snowy day at York whilst the enthusiasts make their close-up shots.

Screens building at the Resavica Colliery in Serbia.

The station may be long gone but the signal box survives on the line between Crewe and Chester.

A special two train service for shareholders was running on the Churnet Valley Railway today. Many of the trains were well filled and a good time was had by all. This is a late morning departure from Froghall blasting past the remains of Bolton's copperworks.

Not many of these left in situ. So often stolen by collectors or scrap men. :-(

A selection of corrugations and colours at this Cheshire farmstead.

A relic of the cultural revolution seen on the wall of a building close to the Huangcun Mine at Bagou. I don't know what the message is in this case - all translations welcome.

In autumn 2004 the diesels were just beginning to arrive at Daban and within months steam over the Jinpeng section of the Jitong Railway had ended. A few days after the first diesel went into service on this section a long train of oil tanks is seen west of Yuzhoudi as the line climbs towards Jinpeng.

Loaded coal train leaving the intermediate station and passing place at Xiahua on the Huanan Coal Railway. A train of empties can be seen in the distance. This line continues to hang on in spite of deteriorating locomotives and intermittent traffic requirements.

The eastbound passenger service departs from Chaganhada on the Jitong Railway soon after sunrise. Regular locomotive, QJ 6911 is in charge. The same train is seen looking the other way here just after passing my position .

As the sun dips below the horizon the swifts are flying in huge numbers just before going to roost in the extensive reedbeds below Meelick Lock on the Shannon. It was actually pouring with rain too!

Traffic was sometimes light during spring 2005 on the Jitong Railway. This particular morning a single QJ was making easy work of a few wagons of timber on the climb west of Chaganhada.

The collapse of the face on this level of the Dinorwic slate quarry has made reaching the delights on the far side rather more challenging than normal. I declined to use the track as the only things holding it up over the abyss were the rusting bolts on the fishplates.

A pair of QJs on a westbound freight are seen heading in an easterly direction on the second level of the loops above Reshui as they climb the JInpeng section of the Jitong Railway.

Defending the coast and the steelworks. Pillbox on the dunes/slag outside the Redcar steelworks. The brick facing was, I believe, initially used as a form of shuttering for pouring the concrete. It was then left in situ as extra protection.

45407 in the shed yard at Buckley Wells on the East Lancs Railway.