The steam trains still working in China are rather impressive.... 

These photographs were all taken just south of Shuozhou on a cold (-21^oC) winter's morning.  The train operators were knocking icicles off when we arrived.  

On cold mornings, you can see the steam from miles away . 

The following series of photos are from a morning (11 March 2000) spent on the railway.  

We arrived at Shuozhou West station by car to find two QJ class locomotives in full stream, waiting for their next run.  One loco was built in Datong in 1983, whilst the one seen here was constructed only in 1987.  The trains are used to haul coal between the towns of Shen Chi and Shuozhou in Shanxi Province.  

We asked the driver whether we could ride on the footplate, but were told that it was against regulations... 

However, after some polite negotiations with the station staff through our translator, we were allowed aboard after all and started our 1 1/2 hour journey.   We were pulling a long line of empty coal trucks .  The efficiency with which the crew drove the train was truly impressive.  Each knew their job intimately and continual adjustments were made to the myriad of switches, levers and taps.  The principal driver used both hands and feet to control the loco.  

The heat was incredible when the fire-box doors were opened.  Our journey took us up into the mountains and over a pass.  Through the tunnels, breathing became rather painful as the cab filled with acrid smoke. 

Our locos at the end of the journey at Shen Chi South station.

On arrival at Shen Chi we took the opportunity to explore the depot.  We counted 10 QJ class locomotives, all but one in steam. 

The gantry structure in the background is for re-coaling. 

A particularly well maintained loco. at Shen Chi (built in 1974).

Apologies for the lack of technical detail to any steam enthusiasts reading this!  I've added a few notes below that may be of some help, based on my observations and a quick chat with the station staff before going on our jolly:

• The line was opened in 1995

• It is single track with passing places

• On our run, we passed a fully laden coal train running from Shenchi to Shuozhou.  This was diesel hauled.

• The operation has two sets of diesels (three units in each set) in addition to 5 pairs of QJs we saw

• There are usually about three or four return trips per day, but they are not scheduled and depend upon demand

• I'm not sure if steam operations continue beyond Shenchi, but this would seem likely.

• Full coal trains leave from Shenchi, heading northeast to Shuozhou.  On reaching Shuozhou West Station (1 1/2 hrs), the locos uncouple from the train, reverse back along an adjacent line, cross over and pick up a set of empty waiting trucks to return to Shenchi.  The full trucks are picked up by a single diesel to continue their journey to Shuozhou main station.  What happens to them then I don't know!

• The line is currently being electrified (as you can see from the photos).  No one knows whether this will mean the end of steam, but it is obviously a possibility.  The rail staff said that steam was far more economical (there is much coal in this part of China!)  than diesel but didn't mention electric.  They had not been told whether steam would be discontinued but seemed to want it to carry on

• The sheds, coaling facilities etc are all at the Shenchi end.

• There is a huge amount of railway construction in this area.  Some QJs are used to haul works units, cranes etc.  (photo).

• If anyone wants to visit the steam operations, they would need to travel from Beijing to Datong (51/2 hrs on the express train) and then head south to Shuozhou (about 2 hrs).  From there, I'm not sure whether there are passenger trains to Shenchi, but there may be.  Otherwise it would be a bumpy taxi ride (about 1 hour and probably about RMB200 for the day).  Overnight accommodation would have to be in Shuozhou or nearby Pingshuo.

• All the rail staff were very welcoming, but an interpreter would help.  They probably wouldn't be too thrilled to be overrun with people, but I shouldn't think that they would mind a few casual visits.

• A few numbers for the real enthusiasts:  QJ 7160, 6542, 6698

• Contact me if you have any more questions! (Richard Elmer).
  

• Footnote:  Steam appeared to be all but finished at Shenci by the time we left China in 2001.

By the way, we're now selling our house in Southend-on-Sea, so click here to have a look:

The Elmers in China Photo Gallery produced by Richard Elmer.   If you have any comments or want to use any photos, drop me a line!  Revised: 16 Jul 2007 09:42:23 +0100.