tarboat's photos

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.

Originally known as the Adlington Mission Church, St John's church on Brookledge Lane, Adlington, Cheshire is also known as the tin tabernacle. It was built in 1892 at a cost of £150 with the kit probably supplied by Francis Norton & Co., Liverpool. The walls are corrugated iron, lined with pitch pine. The vestry came as an optional extra and has since been extended. The church originally had a small spire which housed a single bell. At a later date the spire was dismantled and the bell was moved to its current turret above the porch.

Originally known as the Adlington Mission Church, St John's church on Brookledge Lane, Adlington, Cheshire is also known as the tin tabernacle. It was built in 1892 at a cost of £150 with the kit probably supplied by Francis Norton & Co., Liverpool. The walls are corrugated iron, lined with pitch pine. The vestry came as an optional extra and has since been extended. The church originally had a small spire which housed a single bell. At a later date the spire was dismantled and the bell was moved to its current turret above the porch.

Just like a big dipper fairground ride, conveyors at a disused limestone quarry.

Don't attempt to take photographs of moving buses with a camera that isn't up to the job. Tiger Cub KDB688 heads out of Charles Street depot on its way to a school contract run. The 'A' suffix to the fleet number indicated conversion to one man operation.

In late afternoon sunlight a pair of QJs head a freight out of Chabuga towards Daban on the Jitong Railway. It was also late afternoon for steam on this line and by the end of 2005 it was all over.

North Western Timetable Winter 1968-69

Romney Hut at Hoyland. Spotted from the car whilst heading for Elsecar Engine. The Romney Hut, introduced at the end of 1941, was essentially an enlarged and improved version of the original Nissen Bow Hut. The semicircular shape was retained, but with a stronger frame: two inch-thick tubular steel ribs replaced the T shaped originals and the wooden purlins were discarded in favour of one and a half inch angle iron. The Romney Hut measured 96 feet by 35 feet (The Bow Hut was 27 by 16) and saw service in the North Africa desert campaigns.

Entrance to an extensive colliery working that was developed along this particular drift in the early 1940s. More ochrey fun for the adventurous.

One of China's many coal fired power stations seen from the air on a flight to northern China. I have no idea where it is apart from it might be in Liaoning Province.

62-633 at the loading bunkers of the Zenica Mine, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Today I read the sad news from China that diesels had started work in the section of the Sandaoling Coal Railway between the CNR exchange yard at Liushuquan to Nanzhan. December 2009 saw this JS class locomotive with the morning empties and the Tian Shan range as backdrop.

If you want to see good old-style running kilns then China is the place to be. Many areas there still operate the stone faced kilns seen long-disused across Britain. Having said that, this bank just outside Beipiao is particularly large, comprising eleven kilns in all. These kilns seem to be operated on a seasonal basis, being shut down overwinter. A source of limestone can be seen top left. Best viewed original size .

USA 5197 between Consall and Cheddleton at the 2009 steam gala.

There aren't many hotels where you get a view as good as this. Looking from my room in the hotel at Wernigerode I could see the yard of the Harzquerbahn locomotive shed.