The Greatest Steam Show on Earth - Tipping the Spoil

The spoil lines are spread over a large area, necessarily those which are most photographed by visitors are those which are more accessible, ie nearest the pit itself.

This first tip is south-east from the main pit, before Nanzhan (although trains have to reverse from there to reach it).

In November 2007, one attraction of this tip was seeing the spoil bouncing into a large near-completely frozen pond.

The tip immediately south-west of the pit was exceptionally busy, trains in and out often passed in the loop between it and the junction with the main line to Nanzhan. Note the large steel 'tongue' attached to the bucket to clean the inside of the wagon:

I was a little surprised to see a donkey cart pass by...

In fact, once parked, it was clear that it was a vital part of the local economy which sees coal of all quality 'taken to market'. The proximity of this tip to the town makes it a natural magnet.

• Introduction to Jalainur

• Coal trains

• Spoil trains

• Unsung heroes - the steam cranes

• Shed and works

• The people thing