If anyone has ever wondered what happens in the engine room when the Captain on the bridge rings ‘Full Ahead’ on the telegraph, then this book will enlighten the reader. This is a story of one man’s life at sea, from his beginnings as a lowly cadet to his qualification as a Chief Engineer. There are many anecdotes about his experiences – some amusing and some terrifying – together with pen portraits of a few of his fellow seafarers and the places he visited.

In the Treacle Mine starts in the 1960s when steam power was still the preferred option for larger and more powerful ships but over the following decade, the availability of ever more powerful and more fuel-efficient, diesel engines sounded the death knell for steam propulsion. Now there are only a few preserved steamships left as a reminder of how things used to be down below in the ‘treacle mine’, which was how Geordie marine engineers described the engine-room. 

Despite the fact that steam power has disappeared from everyday use, there are still a great many enthusiasts from all walks of life who are prepared to give up their spare time to ensure that steam lives on. This dedication means that heritage steam railways, steam traction engines and even the occasional preserved steamship, can continue to operate and give pleasure to millions of visitors every year.

One whole chapter is devoted to a voyage with an 'up and downer' (a steam reciprocating engine) and although the remaining steamers were all turbine vessels which may lack the same visual appeal, there will still be much that will be of interest to any steam enthusiast.

Following his experiences with steam, the author eventually began working on motor ships but these were also not without incident and there is much in this book that will spark the interest of anyone who enjoys stories of the sea and seafarers.

Readership: this will be of especial appeal to all steamship enthusiasts, seafarers and anyone with an interest in the Merchant Navy and sailing.

'...good reading and value for money'. Maritime press clippings 

'Book of the month'. Sea Breezes

'...a very good and informative read. ... John sets out his life and experiences in an attractive presentation, which includes his own interesting personal story'. Freshspring Magazine

'John Richardson has encapsulated this mining life in myriad ships from steam to motor propulsion, during a seagoing career spanning some 29 years. ...the author has carefully balanced the story with skill... Richardson's descriptions bring to life the routine of the seagoing life with colour and panache. This is a great read and very hard to put down. I recommend it to all those who love the sea and the seaman's life.' Dog Watch

‘…reads like the transcript of an extended oral history interview, making it an authentic primary source for maritime social and labour history research. It can be easily recommended to any historian interested this topic for the post-Second World War period. It would also appeal to anybody who served in the maritime industries during that time. … With a comparably modest retail price, the book might even be considered as additional reading for a university class studying the maritime history of the second half of the last century, if only to provide students with access to an authentic set of experiences by a professional mariner during that period’. The Northern Mariner

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