 |
| Aaron
and bid the group farewell and flew into Baotou, settled into the hotel and
went looking for something to eat. The recommended place didn't
look so hot so on the way back we stumbled upon a Pizza Hut.
Yes, I'm not ashamed to admit that after three weeks of eating
local food that Pizza Hut was not only a welcome change, but was
damn tasty to boot. Annnnd, it had started snowing. Things were
looking up after the rotten train-picture-luck I'd endured over
the previous three days. Next morning we're up before the birds. |
|
 |
| We
take a few shots in the dark around and inside the depot, with limited success
in fairly heavy snow. Here SY 1293 is being dug out as the day
gets lighter |
|
 |
| And
it's stuck fast! Forward, backward. It just won't move... |
|
 |
| After
plenty of wheelspinning, it eventually becomes mobile so it can be
coaled |
|
 |
| Fill
'er up |
|
 |
| Gosh
it's nice and warm in here |
|
 |
| But
outside, there's
snow all over, so everyone is mobilized to begin the clean up |
|
 |
| And
I mean everyone... |
|
 |
| The
quick and the dead. The quick on the right |
|
 |
| Shot
of the day? :) |
|
 |
| Stuffed
and mounted tank engines |
|
 |
| Our
steelworks supplied "guide" takes us to watch some
diesels, but I thanks to my previous visit I remember enough to
point him to where the steam locos are. SY 1696 is doing most of
the work at this end of the complex |
|
 |
| The
snow gives everything a fairytale appearance. Not. |
|
 |
| Well
it does pretty things up a little. |
|
 |
| Its
nice and warm in here too... We take a break to warm up bodies
and batteries |
|
 |
| SY
1517 shuffling about |
|
 |
| I
do like that nice crisp snow. |
|
 |
| It
makes everything look very tidy |
|
 |
| Meanwhile
inside the blast furnace... You want me to stand where?
And prod molten steel with what? |
|
 |
| Little
inclined channels are dammed with sand barriers and this diverts the
molten slag off down particular pathways |
|
 |
| At the end of
each channel is a chute and below the end of that
lies a crucible wagon, ready to be filled |
|
 |
| When
a wagon is filled up, the dam is broken down, which allows the
molten goop to run down the channel to the next wagon |
|
 |
| As
seen from the safety of the overhead crane. Those face
masks and hard hats are a good idea. Makes mental note... |
|
 |
| And
seen here from closer to the action |
|
 |
| On
the outside, although there are diesels at most other locations, a small fleet of SYs remains employed at this
furnace to move cars about. Here SY 1696 arrives to pick up
loaded crucible cars |
|
 |
| SY
1293 brings in coal as some mild slag pouring occurs at left |
|
 |
| Lunch
is a spectacular Mongolian Hotpot served by this elegant Dragoness |
|
 |
| After
lunch, it's time to visit the slag tip. The crucible cars are
towed to the tipping area a few miles away from the furnaces and the loads of
impurities are dumped down a bank |
|
 |
| This
is even cooler than it looks. Figuratively. Even though the air is
freezing, you can feel the warmth from these things as you're
clicking away from a distance |
|
 |
| I
could watch this for hours... |
|
 |
| ...because... |
|
 |
| ...it's
quite... |
|
 |
| ...spectacular. |
|
 |
| A
rare double-dipper. SY 1676 in charge |
|
 |
| A
quick visit back to the depot now that the snow has stopped.
Decorated SY 1631 is all dressed up with no place to go |
|
 |
| (Probably
mortally) wounded SY 1521 |
|
 |
| Another
nicely
deco'd SY - 1748 built 9/1993... |
|
 |
| ...sits
out in the cold. That's some nice raised lettering on the cab
side. The brass plate has a phone number at the bottom and a lot
of Chinese characters above it that must read "If found
please return to..." or perhaps "How's my driving?
Call..." |
|
