Chinese Steam 2011 - Beitai steelworks 2

In the gathering gloom an SY pulls a rake of empty molten iron ladles from the foundry and rolling mill. Another loco waits before slowly pushing its load to the mill.
It is now completely dark, an SY pushes back towards the slag tipping area. The slag is first tipped into a cooling pond. The instant quenching of the slag produces copious quantities of steam. The red glow from the molten slag produces a spectacular effect giving the impression of a large fire. Not all the slag is tipped into the pond. The train moves a short way forward and the remainder of the molten slag together with the hardened crust is tipped into a dry pit.
Tapping the slag and molten iron from the blast furnaces. The slag is relatively 'calm' but the molten iron produces showers of sparks.
It is difficult enough dodging the trains and the sparks during the day but in almost complete darkness extreme caution is needed.
Filmed December 2011
Track accompanying the slag tipping: 'Why" by Greg Beaumont
Track accompanying tapping the furnaces 'Fire Dance' by Scattenfell
Both tracks downloaded from Jamendo; www.jamendo.com