Kuhn Mines Ltd, railway(s) at Ma On Shan mine – any information needed!
HF: On 4th November 2024 Tony Whitehorn sent the following message. ”I lived in Shatin in 1966 and clearly remember the large Kuhn Mine sign on the hillside near the shore off Ma On Shan. I also took note of it when I saw the film ”Sand Pebbles in Manila in 1967. Tolo Harbour was used to film the Yangtze River scenes.”
HF: Ma On Shan Iron Mine 1906-1976 – biggest mine in HK is one of the most read articles on the website. This is a sister piece about the company that is supposed to have supplied and/or operated an underground railway(s) at the mine.
I said when I posted this article in May 2014 I could find nothing out about Kuhn Mines Ltd and I still can’t. Am I am searching in the wrong place?
I have attempted to contact Douglas Beath, writer of the letter below, also without success. As can be seen by the comments below the main article.
IDJ has sent the letter shown below. This links Ma On Shan iron mine with Kuhn Mines Ltd. The writer Douglas Beath mentions 25 photographs taken in “about winter 1966”, which appear to have been lost after being sent to the Hong Kong Railway Society.
The letter mentions two battery powered locos. And an overhead traction powered railway. All very intriguing.
IDJ suggests “The KUHN name would presumably appear in contemporary HK business directories or government company records/listings etc.”
These two photos appear to show a railway powered by overhead cable at the mine.
hongwrong.com
This article was first posted on 20th February 2015.
Related Indhhk articles:
Given the shared location in Tasmania and interest in trains, the writer, Douglas Beath, is quite likely the same person who frequently corresponds with Edinphoto.org.uk:
https://www.google.com/#q=%22douglas+beath%22+%22tasmania%22+site:www.edinphoto.org.uk&safe=off
An email address for the site admin can be found at the bottom of each page; perhaps he can put you in touch with Douglas directly for more information. (Or perhaps copies of the missing photos.)
If not, there can’t be too many Douglas Beaths in Burnie, Tasmania (population: 20,000). There’s contact details for a Douglas Beath in Burnie here:
http://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/_assets/main/lib310122/individual_submissions_a-k.pdf
There is a few seconds of film of the mine in the movie the sand pebbles.
Mike
Thanks for your suggestions.
I tried the second one but the email address given is no longer working.
I have emailed http://www.edinphoto... and await a response.
The Hong Kong Railway Society doesn’t appear to be currently active. Can someone please correct me I’m wrong.
Or if you are/were a member can you assist in our efforts to locate the Douglas Beath photographs?
Mike
Peter Stubbs who runs the http://www.edinphoto.org.uk site wrote to me saying he hadn’t heard from Mr Beath for over a year and that the last time he did he was using the email address found in your second suggestion which appears to be no longer in use.
Hugh
I was watching the movie “The Sand Pebbles” with Steve McQueen. The San Pablo steamed up river and passed a huge sign on the mountain that said Kuhn Mines.
Took a look on the internet and found this page.
Anyway, really like watching these old movies. Never know what you will find!
R/
Yup, I just saw that myself.
Hi, I enjoy browsing this site as I worked in HK for short periods in the 1970s. I managed to take some pictures of the KCR in the New Territories which I have posted on my website ‘Images of Railways Elsewhere’.
Regarding the Ma On Shan mine, I spotted a reference in the Hong Kong Standard of 1 April 1977 which was headlined ‘Mine firm hopes to sell five engines’. I still have the cutting which I found recently, am happy to send you a copy if you don’t have it.
I lived in Sha Tin in 1966 and clearly remember the large Kuhn Mine sign on the hillside near the shore off Ma On Shan. I also took note of it when I saw the film “Sand Pebbles” in Manila in 1967. Tolo Harbour was used to film the Yangtze River scenes.