tarboat's photos

Quenching tower in action at the Corus South Bank Coking Plant, Redcar Steelworks.

JS6243 with cylinder cocks open, heads off the Jinxi shed onto the main road level crossing. In the background is one of the cement works that is served by the Huludao Coal Railway bringing limestone down from the quarries at Yangjiazhangzi.

J.F. Collier & Co Ltd., engineers and founders, King Edward Street, Macclesfield. Lamppost on Rodney St. An iron working business had been operated adjacent to the Bate Hall Hotel for many years and became known as the Courtown Ironworks. In 1825 a foundry was established on the site by Benjamin Harlow and this operated until 1914 under the management of the family. They specialised in making cast iron central heating boilers, radiators, pipes and fittings. The direct male line of the Harlow family died out in 1914 and the foundry and engineering works was purchased by Mattew Collier and his son Fred. About 1960 the firm was sold to Parmiter, Hope and Sugden Ltd of Longsight. Production continued until 1966 after which the buildings were demolished and replaced by Stuart House which was occupied for many years by Macclesfield Borough Council.

M H Watts, engineers and founders, Regent Iron Works, Catherine Street, Macclesfield. Lamppost on Rodney St. The business started in 1810 when Messrs Stringer and Green opened a machine shop in Catherine Street. A foundry was added to the works c1816/1820. Martin Watts married Anne Green and in the early 1840s was manager of the works, subsequently buying the business in 1847. Watts' foundry produced iron castings up to 30cwts from the cupola furnace and a variety of non-ferrous castings in a pit furnace. The business finally stopped production in the 1970's by which time it was in the ownership of Peter Allmand Smith, the son-in-law of Percy Watts. The premises have since been converted to apartments.

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.