Apart from coal, Batu Arang was also known for its bricks and pottery manufacturing
which utilizes the abundant supply of coal as a source of fuel.
Today it no longer supplies coal and holds no significant role.
There are presently 5 chimneys of various height up of to 20m still standing.
The site have been abandoned for quite some time and some of the chimneys
are on a verge of colapsing, besides being infested with snakes,mosquitos
and planks with nails and some hidden underground smoke tunnel
so please pay your visit here in jeans,long sleeves and shoes
to be on the safe side.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batu_ArangA BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT AND ACTIVITIES AT BATU ARANG AS A GUIDE TO VISITORS
Malayan Collieries
Malayan Collieries 2
Malayan Collieries 3
Malayan Collieries 4
Malayan Collieries 5
Chimney no:1
Chimney no:2
Chimney no:3
Chimney no:4
Chimney no:5
3 small roof chimney
Inside kiln no:1
My son Leon, always like to follow me
Downdraught Kiln
----------------------
'Firing by Downdraught Kiln The downdraught kiln was far more efficient than the Scotch or Suffolk. Firing was much easier to control. They were often circular in structure with about eight fire holes.
Inside the fireholes were baffles or 'bag' of firebricks. It had a domed roof and a perforated floor under which ran a flue leading to the chimney stack. The circular or 'beehive' kiln had a capacity of about 12,000 green bricks. Coal was lit inside the firehole grates and hot gases were directed upward from the baffles and then downwards from the underside of the dome and through the stacked bricks by the draught from the chimney. Altogether it took fourteen days or so to operate, with two days for loading or setting, three days for 'curing', two days for heating to full temperature, one day at full heat, then another three or four days to cool down and a further day to unload '
'Firing by Downdraught Kiln The downdraught kiln was far more efficient than the Scotch or Suffolk. Firing was much easier to control. They were often circular in structure with about eight fire holes.
Inside the fireholes were baffles or 'bag' of firebricks. It had a domed roof and a perforated floor under which ran a flue leading to the chimney stack. The circular or 'beehive' kiln had a capacity of about 12,000 green bricks. Coal was lit inside the firehole grates and hot gases were directed upward from the baffles and then downwards from the underside of the dome and through the stacked bricks by the draught from the chimney. Altogether it took fourteen days or so to operate, with two days for loading or setting, three days for 'curing', two days for heating to full temperature, one day at full heat, then another three or four days to cool down and a further day to unload '
Fireplace
Inside kiln no:2
The end products
Underground smoke tunnel
leftover pillars of the factory
Brick factory enterance,beware of snakes.
View Batu Arang Brick Kiln Chimneys in a larger map
Batu Arang small town
Town field
mosque
This is so interesting.
ReplyDeleteToo bad the area couldn't be made safe and used for something with a bit of hiustory as a sideline.
Actually something could be done by the owner of the Brick Kiln,
ReplyDeletei am not sure who it belongs to,
from my observation,the old coal mine and the Kiln is of tourism material and could bring in lots of visitors and business to the people of the area if is plan nicely by the goverment or local council.
Hi Thomas, Thank you very much for sharing. I was born in Batu Arang, but had not gone back to the place in 60 years. I am now living in New Zealand. I wish to go back to my birthplace early next year to have a look. Is it safe to go there? Are there any interesting places to see there besides the Kiln and the old coal mine?
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for sharing.
Cheers,
Leong.
Hi,Leong
ReplyDelete60 years,that was a very long time to leave a place.Safety wise,it is only the kiln which is a bit creepy,other than that everywhere else in Malaysia is safe.
Kuala Lumpur will have a lot of new things for you to see since you have not been here for a while.
There is a story on this Batu Arang Industrial Park that is related to the Old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, and the setting-up of the first Tea(BOH)Plantation of Cameron Highland.
ReplyDeleteCheck the chronicles of old Malayan Annals.
"JA or John Archibald Russell is recorded in Malaysian annals with colleague AB Milne, for pioneering the Cameron Highland’s tea cultivation that established the Boh Tea Plantations on 23rd April 1929."
[http://sites.google.com/site/ravisionsofmalaysia/oldkualalumpurrailwaystation_history]
Hello, Mr.Lee, I Would like to talk to you regarding making a new chimney at my factory in klang. Please call me at 012-5081009 Steven Ng.
ReplyDeleteHi,I don't build chimneys,i only blog about it.
DeleteHi nice blog,yesterday i make same video about this abandoned chimey,and will be uploud soon,follow me at www.youtube.com/sprt69
ReplyDelete