20-23 July
We arrived here on 20 July and settled into the Xinghe Hotel (and bath house) located close to Xiaomiaozi Junction on the line to Sanjiazi. Our room offers a view back to the station and a long view of trains to Sanjiazi as they climb through the trees to Shaguotun. It took until the second morning to get a classic steam shot from the window but it was worth the wait. Where else in the world can you see real working steam from your not-too-shabby hotel room window? The second shot is the sunrise on day 3.
On chatting to the loco crews, we understand that 2 SY and 4 BJ diesels are in action and that steam will be retired 'by the end of the year' (whatever that means). The crews explained that the steam is life expired and without full overhaul facilities on the system, will be replaced by more diesels.
One SY is due to work both morning and afternoon passengers to Sanjiazi. On 20 July, the morning working was reported steam but in the afternoon, we found both SYs at Hongshila waiting to take coal down to the power station. We saw 1.5 return trips before our 17:20 return diesel train to Huangjia (Nanpiao). On 21 July, SY 0754 worked both passengers as planned. SY 0366 was missing for part of the day (repair?) but by late afternoon was at the power station. We have seen steam on the line to Linghai (probably only to Zaojiatun) but haven't worked out any pattern for any steam working apart from the intention to use steam on the Sanjiazi passengers. After 3 days I can report that the only reliable steam turn is the morning passenger to Sanjiazi. On our final morning, this working was a BJ! Catching a steam-hauled coal train to the power station is all down to luck.
On 21 July, we rode the afternoon train to Daguopu, expecting the loco to come back to the washery at Weizigou with coal from Sanjiazi but that didn't happen. Morning and afternoon passenger locos normally do this duty as required. On 22 July, the morning steam working did return with 2 wagons and took back empties to Sanjaizi.
The mine at Zaojiatun was not working normally on the morning of 21 July and we returned twice on 23 July to get it in action. In the morning, repairs were going on, in the afternoon it was working normally with two locos on trains. This photo shows overhead wire being replaced in the morning.
The removal of rocks from the coal loading plant at Sanjiazi to the slag heap beyond the village is still by ng railway (cable and then electric haulage). However, on the morning of 22 July, this was also not working and the need to return to Zaojiatun on the afternoon of 23 July precluded another visit.
John Raby
Nanpiao