Mining railroad in China, where one wonders how the locomotives stay on the track.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=673_1315167217

Amazing.

Aach! Not just bad, track, but fast running on said track, what looks like link and pin couplers, no air, poorly maintained engines, and running locomotives well within the ten-minute limit that was permitted in unblocked territory.

It wasn't just on that line. When was the last time you saw operations like this?

http://www.youtube.com/user/gondangbaru ... 7dyreIrLy4

Do we need a translation of what the boss had to say?

http://www.youtube.com/user/gondangbaru ... 3aie80dXqk

Sometimes you have trouble even without involving locomotives:

http://www.trevorheath.com/livesteaming ... mamiao.wmv

I have often lamented that I live in the wrong time. At the same time, I look at this clip, and I see both of my grandfathers, and for a time, my own father, all of whom once were coal miners:

http://www.youtube.com/user/gondangbaru ... KLvVk37CbQ

How much of the US once looked like this, perhaps in the 19th century?

You should see how they drive!

Wow, that's some scary stuff...

You want scary? How about throwing a little electricity to the mix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unhXEQQk8G8&feature=feedrec_grec_index

In Communist China, Trolley Pole you!

So, on that electric line would that be a HANDTOGRAPH ????

Sorry, I couldn't stop myself...

Nice throttle action by tapping the live wire...

YIKES

Cheers, Kevin.

Egads!! What I found looks normal by comparison. Human trolley pole, indeed!!

It's also interesting to look at the peat locomotives, and note the good condition they seem to be in, despite the rough appearance of everything else. And that's the first time I've seen a temporary track switch in use like that; read about such things on trolley lines, but never actually seen one until today.

More of how we used to be--link and pin couplers, disconnect logging trucks, rough track, mud, and wood-burning steam power (with diamond stacks!)--in Romania:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC4URuKeR5s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWnKgMpFSX0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcnQkuAAFD0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lod9407AoDU

Trackwork in the woods--could have been on the Elk River Coal & Lumber in West Virginia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENCczlfbmb8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jeyv3wcdH28

Trouble with diesels:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9-gDIZDOkE

Wheel slip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsiFoW55Ch0

Horrible track, slipping, and using the syphon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdTzJUfdeEo

Loading in some of the most awful mud you've ever seen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP9ehXOHeMY

Derailment, rerailing, and more trouble with a diesel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4uBCW2iSm4

Back with the timber:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5Pf_IGySGU

Another overview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vk908oRTDw

In winter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZgjU5Y_ ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzoCkkBSWmY

How much of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, California, Washington, or Oregon once looked like this?

Before loading equipment, there were men and horses:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw0jEDf6 ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0yl4nL- ... re=related