tarboat's photos

Linghe Colliery, Nanpiao, Liaoning Province, China

Coal mining 'slants' at Dalu in Hegang, Heilongjiang province, North-East China.

Office entrance of the Caxton Mill in Hyde. I have not been able to find out much about this mill and would welcome any information.

Bennerley Viaduct. A good viewpoint but not necessarily ideal for fishing.

Aerial ropeway to the dirt tips from the Vreoci coal washery, Serbia.

Derelict steam locomotives stand amongst the weeds at the Zenica steelworks in Bosnia-Herzegovina. One day they will be fed into the blast furnace that is soon due to restart production.

Shutlingsloe viewed from the moors above the Cumberland Brook in Wildboarclough.

Drawing off slag from one of the blast furnaces at the Baotou steelworks in the Mongolian Autonomous Region of China.

Mobile street trader in Huanan, Helongjiang province, North-East China.

Another day on the Huanan coal railway. Business is brisk with the mobile apple trader as C2 043 approaches with coal empties having just left the Huanan terminus.

C2 044 heads the empties alongside the main road on the early part of the journey from the unloading point on the Huanan coal railway.

Limekilns at the Buxton Lime Industries Hindlow Quarry. The stone for burning is brought in by rail from Tunstead as quarrying has ended here.

A favourite place for me is the Magpie Mine near Sheldon in Derbyshire. A very atmospheric set of remains.

Sitting at my computer as the rain lashes down outside, my mind turns to sunny days when walking in the Peak National Park can be enjoyable rather than just damp. On one such walk I passed Lumbhole Mill in Kettleshulme. This is a fine survival of a textile mill located in a fairly remote place to take advantage of water power. Erected during the 18th century as a candlewick (tufted cotton fabric) mill, the breast-shot wheel was connected to a steam beam engine c1830. This engine, built by Sherrat's of Salford, and the wheel both survive in situ. It has had a number of engineering and storage uses since textile manufacturing finished.

A long cold afternoon was spent on the bridge over the China Rail main line waiting for a coal train on the colliery line that never came. Xinhua power station is served by block trains on the colliery system whilst the coal on the train in this view is destined further afield.

Seven steam locomotives at the morning shift change at Dongchang Colliery on the Chengzihe system at Jixi, Heilongjiang Province, north-east China.

Spoil tips near Qiaonan Mine, Tiefa, Liaoning Province, China.

Towards sunset on the Nanzhan dirt tips of the Jalainur opencast coal mine, Nei Mongol, China.