Back Up

We miss Griffin Coal &  Mining. Don’t worry Ian I’m not getting sentimental.

We passed through Collie on the way to the start of the last post, Collie being the home of Griffin Coal & Mining, an ex employer of both Ian Geddes and me. Pleased I am to report that there was no sign of Rick Stowe, but the locals remember him as the person who sold Collie to the Indians and do not hold him in great stead. Collie is the coal capital of WA and we are told the major producer of electricity for the state. Quite an historical town. Near the information centre are a few mine-rail relics, just a few of the 53 locomotives that were originally parked up here when they became redundant……..

 

 

 

 

 

 

The mines are a scar on the landscape

 

 

 

 

 

 

but there is hope of eventual reclamation as these arty farty shots of Stockton Lake, apparently an old mine, show…….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We overnighted on the shores of this most picturesque mine site……….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were quite surprised that the tourist shovel didn’t chase us but it might have been because the extension cable had been disconnected. Yes, this shovel ran from a lead – 850 tonnes of digger at the end of a 6600 volt power cord.

Anyway, on to Wagin as previously reported.