Machine pictures from Dartmoor China Clay Works

[JimM]

I am going to share my personal pictures with you . Many are my own but some are what I've acquired from other people over the years and have their permission to do so. I do have a lot from the local China Clay Industry here on Dartmoor as that's where it started with me pretty much. Many are from the 70's / 80's to the present so this is where i'm going to start

 

[JimM]

More

 

[JimM]

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[JimM]

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[JD450A]

Absolutely awesome photos Jim, thanks for sharing.
Where there many of those Faun's floating about. I know ECC Quarries at Torr Quarry had a Faun Dumper and Shovel in there dying stages.

 

[Monkeybusiness]

Was everyone constantly pissed at Lee Moor in the 80s?
Ace photos, thanks for sharing!

 

[JimM]

I'm not even halfway through with this section of pictures, so when I get 5 I'll add some more, glad people are liking them

 

[diggerjones]

Excellent. Hoe many of the accidents were you involved in

 

[JimM]

Excellent. Hoe many of the accidents were you involved in

None, these are 1980's accidents. The 773B that's upside down I remember as a 7/8 year old driving pass it one day with my dad as our farm was owned by the quarry and our sheep roamed the waste tips

 

[Storrsy]

None, these are 1980's accidents. The 773B that's upside down I remember as a 7/8 year old driving pass it one day with my dad as our farm was owned by the quarry and our sheep roamed the waste tips

Super pictures. Must be quite nostalgic looking at them. Which farm did you grow up on?

 

[Furniss]

None, these are 1980's accidents. The 773B that's upside down I remember as a 7/8 year old driving pass it one day with my dad as our farm was owned by the quarry and our sheep roamed the waste tips

Great photos

I bet that gave your spring lamb a certain " je ne sais quoi" flavour wise

 

[JimM]

Great photos

I bet that gave your spring lamb a certain " je ne sais quoi" flavour wise

Fresh Dartmoor air and grass and a little clay dust . Tbh with you I can't stand the bloody stuff never have liked it even the smell of it cooking

 

[topkit]

Fantastic photos and thanks for sharing them some lovely kit there, Reminds me as a youngster spending a fair bit of time in Cornwall and travelling around St Austell heading to Nanpean seeing the big cats working there everything was Western Excavations if i remember correctly, We went round the China clay works and the someone asked the guide what products is china clay used in the guide replied China clay is used in so many products that it would be easier to tell you what its not used in! My early adult years were spent on the railways and i used to travel down west to see the China clay trains usually worked by the awsome Class 52's with their twin Maybach engines the last diesel hydraulic locomotives worked by British Rail (if you have never seen one you have missed out big time) But travelling all around Parr and Fowey there was so much China Clay industry it's my favourite part of the world,

 

[JimM]

Fantastic photos and thanks for sharing them some lovely kit there, Reminds me as a youngster spending a fair bit of time in Cornwall and travelling around St Austell heading to Nanpean seeing the big cats working there everything was Western Excavations if i remember correctly, We went round the China clay works and the someone asked the guide what products is china clay used in the guide replied China clay is used in so many products that it would be easier to tell you what its not used in! My early adult years were spent on the railways and i used to travel down west to see the China clay trains usually worked by the awsome Class 52's with their twin Maybach engines the last diesel hydraulic locomotives worked by British Rail (if you have never seen one you have missed out big time) But travelling all around Parr and Fowey there was so much China Clay industry it's my favourite part of the world,

Great reply Topkit, yes Lee Moor area was the same as St. Austell but not on such a scale but still pretty big. Yes clay goes into lot's of things mind blowing really. Western Excavations or Western Ex as it was known was ECLP/ECC own plant hire company / division and it was a sad day when that all finished back in 1999 I think. I know a lot of operators that worked for them and all had to come back working for agencies.

 

[OBL]

Great pics! kit from before my working life but absolutely fascinating, thanks.
I predict this will be a busy thread for you as we study them

 

[JimM]

Super pictures. Must be quite nostalgic looking at them. Which farm did you grow up on?

Yes it is that's how I remember it growing up sat on the bump banks waving to the 773 driver's as they went past, I'm just that to young to of experienced it

 

[JimM]

Great pics! kit from before my working life but absolutely fascinating, thanks.
I predict this will be a busy thread for you as we study them

Cheers I hope so

 

[Bob]

This photo was taken when we went to Lee Moor to pickup a 657 to drive to Cockermouth took a few machines in and out of Lee Moor for Wyatts

 

[Lancs Lad]

This photo was taken when we went to Lee Moor to pickup a 657 to drive to Cockermouth took a few machines in and out of Lee Moor for Wyatts

That's some drive

 

[Bob]

That's some drive

Normal in 60s and 70s I driven them over most of England and up to Glen Farg /Bridge of Earn M90