TSS Earnslaw
A beautiful display of engineering from the age of steam, or a polluting relic? Love to hear peoples thoughts on this?
An Edwardian steamship built in 1912, the TSS Earnslaw is a 1912 vintage twin screw steamer. It is the sole remaining commercial passenger-carrying coal-fired steamship in the southern hemisphere and is seen here crossing Lake Wakatipu. Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand.
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Robert Downie
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What incredible pollution! I bet it's very fun to ride on that ship and watch the thick smoke trail away overhead, without having to breath too much of it in.
Now I'm no expert here, but the blacker the smoke, it may not always mean the worse environmentally... just a gander, this steem engine probably isn't 100s of times more detrimental than its diesel successors, although it sure does look it.
Well the black comes from microscopic soot particles. So it depends on what you mean by "worse environmentally" . From a global warming perspective your right it is not much worse. From a PM2.5 particulate emissions perspective it is much much worse for the people who breathe in the soot as it can cause cancer and other lung issues. This is why in Europe they are starting to ban diesel cars in cities due to escalating health related PM2.5 issues (https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/925353/Germany-diesel-ban-fuel-Europe-cars). It is the contrast with the pristine alpine environment here which makes it interesting. As a process/chemical engineer I love the fact this steam unit is still operational ; but in this day and age it is hard not to see it as environmental vandalism I think.
Interesting question. I was able to smell the TSS Earnslaw from miles away last summer (standing near the start of the Greenstone Track, while the TSS Earnslaw was still a tiny dot on the lake), so I can image that there is some impact to the alpine ecosystem. However, I don't think we will save the world if the TSS Earnslaw may no longer sail. In my opinion, other forms of polutions should be tackled first. In New Zealand, for example, you see litter even on tramping tracks in high alpine environments. It hurts seeing a kea walk with a plastic bottle...
Yes the rubbish is sad to see. From my experience it is normally the transient travelers rather than the locals who litter on the hiking trails as they don't have the same education and respect of the land that the people who live there do. This is a problem with increasing numbers of adventure travelers to previously remote places. It makes you wonder what impact adventure photographers like myself are having; if it is positive or negative. Getting people off their TV and computers and into the wild will encourage them to be more aware of the plight of our fragile ecosystems however some of these popular yet fragile places are becoming overun. South island of NZ, Iceland and Tasmania are small native population areas which which have been hardiest hit by this wave of Instagram led tourists and photographers.
There is so much pollution in the sea that some more smoke from a beauty like that, doesn't really make any difference. I am more concern about chemicals and radioactive leftovers than the smoke of an old boat!
Yes true to some extent. But this is a pristine alpine lake in a fragile ecosystem and it does seem to hit you in the face when you see it.
Didn't realize this boat operated on an alpine lake... not ideal. Did you get any shots that capture more of the lake's surroundings?
Hmm. Perhaps I did. I would have to go back and look . It was a while ago .
Yes, you got a point. Maybe it is better to turn it into a museum that stands still!
Interesting and original view.
Like it
Thanks
Being the only one left, I guess I don't see much of a problem with it. I like the idea of new generations being able to see and experience technologies of the past. Great photo though! Was this taken by land or by air?
It was taken from a mountain top overlooking the lake.
Very cool!
Crazy cool shot! It looks like a toy!
Thanks guys !
Howdy sir intrepidphotos! Well sir, at first I thought the pollution wouldn't be a big deal just from one old ship but then when I read that it is on a pristine alpine lake that made me question it. I suppose the issued has been studied down there though so it may not be a big threat?
I doubt it has been studied much; it is a tourist attraction so I guess the revenue is good.
yes sir, the money probably is irresistible.
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