Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5

Tin Dredge No. 5, Tanjung Tualang, Perak (18 June 2011)

Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5 (GPS: 4.39664, 101.05316) is a non-operational tin dredge in Tanjung Tualang, Perak. A relic from the tin-mining industry of Perak, it is today moored within its own mining pond off State Route A15 between Batu Gajah and Tanjung Tualang.

The T.T.No. 5 tin dredge was in operation until 1983, when falling tin prices forced the closure of the local mining industry. Today it sits within its own rectangular pool. Since February 1, 2008, the dredge reopened its doors, this time to paying visitors who come to catch a glimpse of a piece of history.

The Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge carries the serial number T.T. No. 5. It was built in 1938 by W.F. Payne & Sons. During that time, there were at least forty tin dredges in operation in the Kinta Valley. T.T. No. 5 is believed to be the biggest of them all. Today, the landscape of the area is characterized by a series of mining pools. In Tanjung Tualang, many of these tools have been turned into freshwater prawn farms.

Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge is on the Map of Tanjung Tualang, Perak

Getting there

Exit the North South Expressway at the Ipoh North Interchange (Exit 141). Head south on Federal Route 1 until junction with Ipoh-Lumut Expressway (E19). Take E19 until Pusing, then exit the expressway to Jalan Pusing (State Route A15) heading east. This road takes you through Batu Gajah, and then continues south towards Tanjung Tualang. You will see the tin dredge before you arrive at Tanjung Tualang. It is visible from the main road. There is an approach road with place to park your vehicle.

Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge (18 June 2011)

Front view of the Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge (18 June 2011)

Rear view of the Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge (18 June 2011)

Travelogue to the Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge

On 18 June, 2011, I visited the Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge in the company of Law Siak Hong, the President of the Perak Heritage Society. I was there as one of the participants in the Ipoh heritage tour organized by the Penang Heritage Trust. Mr Law took us into the tin dredge and provided a comprehensive explanation of how it worked.

I was awed by the size of the dredge. I am glad that one of the biggest tin dredges in the country is still standing. It has the height of a four or five storey building. To see it as a museum relic, rather than a working facility, reminds me how far behind the country has left its tin-mining days. I was told that when it was in operations, it makes quite a cacophony of rattlings and ramblings.

The cavernous interior of the Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge (18 June 2011)

Looking up at the ceiling of the tin dredge (18 June 2011)

At the time of our visit, the tin dredge has not yet undergone restoration. It was listing to one side, but according to Mr Law, the dredge will not sink further, as it was already sitting on the lake bed. Water entered it from one side, and I am concerned this will result in rapid deterioration and corrosion.

The Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge is in a poor state of repair. Or should I say, the government need to do something to save this precious relic. It provides a fascinating glimpse which, if lost, will be gone forever.

A massive funnel within the tin dredge (18 June 2011)

The giant dredging buckets (18 June 2011)

The vast interior of Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge (18 June 2011)

A view of the outside from the inside (18 June 2011)

Gigantic roller coils of the tin dredge (18 June 2011)

The man-size budgets (18 June 2011)

Bird's-eye view of the Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge interior (18 June 2011)

View from the rooftop of the Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge (18 June, 2011)

Flooded interior of the tin dredge (18 June 2011)

Safety First in the Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge (18 June 2011)

The filtering jigs sieving the tailings (18 June 2011)

Timothy Tye at the Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge

Here I am at the Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge (18 June 2011)