I


‘ *' V '•I


VALLEY PEOPLE


Two engines at the washery at Jarlainuer start away volcanically on their way to the China Rail exchange sidings. (S)


One of the local


doctors. Perhaps the cigar has medicinal properties!


Three trains pass at Jarlainuer, two full and zigzagging upwards towards the washery, one


returning to the pit bottom with empties.


The station master at Shixi seems to be having a serious conversati on, despite finding time to pat his dogs.


The centrepiece of the Beijing Railway Museum is these colourful "SuperShine" engines, decorated according to the patriotic taste of the "top crew of the year" in their shed.


The


astounding 6km X


3.5km X 650 feet deep Jarlainuer Open Cast


Mine works steam on ten or a


dozen levels. It is possible to see 16 or more steam trains


working at any time. It is to be


converted to road


haulage. r sse K


In the valley above Shixi there is extensive terracing, growing a range of crops, as well as rice, y/ith more rain and less sun than Manchester, the valley is green, with mist often hanging in the air.(S)


Young sisters (with


proud Mum just


out of the picture). The tiny


tot seems to be in


folk dress


in contrast to her


"modern


miss" elder sister. Near Xianren- jiao. (S)


Repres­ enting


modern


China, this sculpture park is


between


the stadia on the Beijing


Olympics site. A young


visitor Is posing for


a souvenir photo. (S)


b i j


Sharp timing by the motor­ cyclist, just beating the train to the tunnel! (S)


en GEDDES is one of those people who was perhaps born that little bit too late.


Two of his consuming passions (and he has many


others) are photography and working steam railways, but the opportunity to combine those two in England has slipped into history. Now the only opportunities to photograph steam engines in action are the restored and preserved examples still running at a few historic lines, sustained by tourism and nostalgia.


All well and good, but Ken hankers for the real-life


soot and grime, the everyday sweat and toil oi genuine working railways, lines which must pay their way in hard cash, it was that hankering which first took him, several years ago, to China, where steam power was still widely used, and which has taken him back many times since. Now, as China catches up with the west, it too


is sending steam engines to the scrapyards, although they still operate on many industrial lines. But Ken's visits there have broadened his interest in this huge landscape of so many cultures, his lens capturing more than just his


beloved steam engines. He has just returned from his latest trip with some 3,000 images stored on his digital memory cards - perhaps one of the advantages of being born that bit later! Ken, who is the secretary of Ribblesdale


Camera Club, writes; "I started railway photography at the age of around 12, but was always interested in general subjects as well. "At 16,1 did milk rounds and worked various


places to save up for a 'Vito B', then the top amateur camera, which I still have. "My first success was second place in the


annual photographic competition at University, with a night picture of St David's station at Exeter. Subseguently I gained the Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society. "I have been a member of Ribblesdale Camera


Club for about 35 years, the last 30 on the committee in various positions. My recent trip to China was billed as the 'Last Chance' to see working steam on industrial lines, mainline China Rail steam having disappeared several years ago." Here is a selection of prints from Ken's latest Chinese adventure.


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8 the Valley -- *,v \ rm - The"up"


passenger winds


around the reverse curves


high above the valley.


'• ’V . ■! -■-Y


A far less privileged young lad at Gong- wusu. He was a lot less


serious than he seems,


despite the desper­ ately


deprived


area where he lives.


Family


breakfast at Mifeng, half way


along the 20km


narrow


gauge line up the


valley from


Shixi. In the background the Station Master sets the points for the


engine to run round its train.


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