Left Heathrow at 16.40 (26.12.98) on British Airways flight BA039, arriving Beijing at 10.15 (27.12.98). Also on flight was group led by Mike Tyack heading for Baotou and Jingpeng. Met in Beijing by our Chinese guide, Mr Li Weishu, whose expertise and organisation was outstanding throughout the trip. +6øC at mid-day with hazy sunshine due to pollution.

Drove by minibus to the Dahuichang Limestone Works on the outskirts of Beijing (journey time of approx. 45minutes). Apparent total inactivity on arrival but shortly after 14.00 work re-commenced on narrow gauge. Lineside was easily accessible without payment but we were advised that we should not go beyond the engine shed or into the works theselves.

Two engines in use - C2 class 0-8-0 No.4 plus second loco without clear identification believed to be either No.2 or 3. Engine No.1 out of use on shed. Overnight sleeper to Baotou.

28th December - Wanshuiquan to Daliuta line

Arrived Baotou at 08.48. Three unidentified locomotives in steam on Baotou Dong shed. Drove down the notorious coal road' to Shabazi ( Singing Sands Gorge'). -10øC at 09.00 rising to 0øC by 12.00. Clear blue skies, little or no wind. Light rail traffic all day.

09.30     southbound     QJ on passenger (reported)

10.20     southbound     QJ on empty wagons (reported)

11.30     southbound     QJ - light engine 

13.30     northbound     QJ on loaded wagons

16.25     southbound     QJ on empty wagons 

Further 2« hour white knuckle' ride south on the coal road to the excellent Tian Jiao Hotel (3*) in Dongsheng. The practice of using private lorries to transport coal instead of using the railway is beyond belief. The road is being torn apart, congestion is intolerable and there would be far more trains to photograph!!

29th December - Wanshuiquan to Daliuta line

Drove down the river bed from Dongsheng to Aobaogo. -6øC at 09.00 rising to 0øC by mid-day. Sunny but slight haze in morning increasing throughout day.

08.00 northbound    QJ 2670(?) & 6711 + 6248 (banker) on coal train 

09.08 southbound    QJ 1892 & 1611 on empties  

09.25 southbound    QJ 3068 - light engine

10.05 southbound    QJ 6743 - light engine

10.00 northbound    QJ 6289 & 2586 + 3068 (banker) on coal train

10.20 southbound    QJ 3068 - light engine

10.47 southbound    QJ 1269 on passenger

11.25 northbound    QJ 6248 & QJ ???? + QJ ???? (banker) on coal train

12.40 southbound    QJ 2586 + brake van

13.35 southbound    QJ - light engine

14.05 southbound    QJ 3068 - light engine

15.49 northbound    QJ 1611 on passenger 

16.10 southbound    QJ 6018 & 2634 (?) on empties

16.25 southbound    QJ - light engine

17.00 northbound    QJ 1891 & 1892 + 3068 (banker) on coal train

Visited Dongsheng depot c.17.45

Outside        QJ 2977, 1611, 6017, 

Withdrawn      QJ 6020, 6662, 6040 

Stored         QJ 6194

Repair shop    QJ 7044 & 3161

Inside shed    QJ 6014 & 6248 

30th December - Wanshuiquan to Daliuta line

Dongsheng depot visited by Chris Brookes at c.09.00

QJ's Nos. 6247, 7044, 2586, 6285, 1969, 1891, 6473 & 3068 in steam QJ 2586 northbound on coal train to Baotou

-16øC at 09.00 rising to 0øC by mid-day. Clear skies and excellent light all day

Aoboago area visited by rest of group:

 0903 northbound    QJ & QJ + QJ (banker) on coal train

 0907 southbound    QJ 1891 on empties

10.47 southbound    QJ 6289 on passenger

11.05 southbound    QJ 3068 - light engine

11.58 southbound    QJ 6018 & 6247 - light engines

12.30 northbound    QJ 6017 & 1611 + 3068 (banker) on coal train

Departed Aoboago at 13.00 and drove to Singing Sands'

14.58 southbound    QJ 2586 on empties

17.35 northbound    QJ on passenger 

Overnight at Baotou Hotel (3*) with excellent cabaret and nightclub!

31 December - Baotou to Jingpeng

Very misty start to day with -20øC at 9.00am

09.15 southbound QJ 6248 crossing Yellow River bridge on passenger

By road to Jiningnan (approx 330km) to catch Train No.711 Galadesitai (Jingpeng line) Departed behind DF4 at 15.03. QJ 7162 + 2 others seen on Benhong Shed. QJ 7118 took over train at Benhong. Crossed freight hauled by QJ 6633 going westbound at 16.37hrs QJ 7118 replaced by QJ 6483 at Zheng Xiand Baiqui QJ 6483 replaced by QJ 2645 at Haloukou

New Year celebrated in traditional style by tour party with train somewhere between Yalagaitu and Sanggendalai on the stroke of midnight. Disembarked onto bitingly cold and windy platform at Galadesitai at 05.51 - a method guaranteed to achieve almost instant sobriety - and then by road to the Reshui Hilton' for brief wash'n'brush-up followed by breakfast.

1 January - Jingpeng Pass

Bright and sunny day with increasing wind. Temperature of -15øC at 09.00 rising to -10øC by mid-day. Suggestions that New Year's Day might bring light traffic were rapidly dispelled:

06.50 eastbound     QJ + QJ on train at Reshui    

07.45 eastbound     QJ + QJ on train at Reshui

10.30 westbound     QJ 7012 & 6828 on train entering Tunnel 6

11.30 eastbound     QJ 6639 & 6274 on train at Km 511

12.00 westbound     QJ 7037 & 7041 on train at Reshui level crossing

12.45 eastbound     QJ 7040 & 6760 on train at Summit Tunnel

13.30 westbound     QJ + QJ - light engines - Km 479

14.10 eastbound     QJ + QJ on train on curved viaduct between Km 481 & 482

16.15 eastbound     QJ + QJ on train at viaduct to west of Jingpeng

16.40 westbound     QJ 6996 & 6884 - light engines - Xiakengzi station loop  

2nd January - Jingpeng Pass

Bright and sunny but becoming increasingly hazy on west side of summit - east side much clearer during afternoon. Little wind. Temperature -20øC at 8.00am

07.50 westbound     QJ + QJ on train near Shangdian

09.03 eastbound     QJ + QJ on train at Brickworks Viaduct

09.40 westbound     QJ 7041 & 7037 on train at Km 480

12.25 eastbound     QJ 7018(?) & 6876 on train at Km 483

13.55 eastbound     QJ 6274 & 7010 on train exiting Tunnel 3

14.50 westbound     QJ 6389 & 7002 on train at Summit Tunnel

16.55 westbound     QJ 6735 & 6135 on train at Reshui Viaduct

3rd January - Jingpeng Pass

Bright and sunny - warmer than previous day with minimum temperature of -10øC

07.07 eastbound     QJ + QJ on train at Reshui

08.55 eastbound     QJ 7018 & ???? on train at Tunnel 4

09.45 westbound     QJ ???? & 7041  - light engines at Km 491

11.00 eastbound     QJ 6274 & 6763 on train at Km 491

11.39 westbound     QJ 6576 & 6389 on train at Summit Tunnel

12.20 westbound     QJ 6687 & 6135 on train at Reshui level crossing (w)

13.05 westbound     QJ 6998 & 7002 on train at Reshui level crossing (w)

13.55 eastbound     QJ 6110 & 6828 on train at Shangdian

15.40 westbound     QJ 7137 single-headed on train of 47 wagons + brake van 

4th January - Jingpeng Pass

Overcast at start of day but clearing by 09.30. Rest of morning sunny but clouding over during afternoon. Temperature at mid-day was -5øC

08.30 westbound     QJ + QJ on train at Reshui

10.15 westbound     QJ 6389 & 6576 on train at Shangdian

10.45 westbound     QJ 7009 - light engine at Km 492

11.45 eastbound     QJ 6687 & 6135 on train at Km 492

12.45 eastbound     QJ 6998 & 7002 on train exiting Tunnel 2

13.40 eastbound     QJ 7137 & 6274 on train at Shangdian

15.35 westbound QJ 6876 & 7012 on train at Liudigai

16.35 westbound     QJ 6577(?) & 6884 on train at Km 502

16.55 eastbound     QJ 6763 & 6886 (?) On train at Km 503

17.25 westbound     QJ + QJ on train at Reshui Viaduct

Bank at Reshui robbed during the afternoon. 40 - 50,000 yuan stolen with two employees killed and another seriously injured!

5th January - Jingpeng Pass

Morning started overcast but again brightening by 10.30 to 11.00. Relatively mild with temperatures at -5øC at 9.00am rising to -1øC at mid-day.

07.25 eastbound QJ + QJ on train at Reshui

07.55 westbound     QJ 7041 & 6576 on train at Reshui

08.45 eastbound     QJ 6735 & 6884 on train at Jingpeng Viaduct

09.55 westbound     QJ +QJ on train at Jingpeng

11.20 eastbound     QJ 7010 & 7002 on train at Jingpeng Viaduct

12.20 westbound     QJ 6876 & 7009 on train at Shangdian station

13.00 westbound     QJ - single light engine near Tunnel 4

13.55 eastbound     QJ 6998 & 6763(?) on train at Tunnel 3

16.15 westbound     QJ + QJ on train at Reshui

6th January - Jingpeng Pass

Very cold and clear morning - overnight cloud all gone. Temperature at 09.00 was -20øC with strong winds

10.10 eastbound     QJ 7012 & 6735 on train at Jingpeng Viaduct

10.20 westbound     QJ + QJ on train at Xiakengzi

11.05 westbound     QJ 6839 + QJ ???? on train at Shengdian

14.30 eastbound     QJ + QJ on train at Xiakengzi - train used to convey ballast wagons

                    to the station and waited whilst wagons were off-loaded

By road to Chifeng and then by overnight sleeper to Anshan - arrived 10.30 on 7-1-99

7th January - Anshan Steel Works

Following locomotives observed between Shenyang and Anshan QJ 6321 near Shenyang JS 6469 near Shenyang QJ 6552 (Shenyang South Yard) QJ 6602 (6802 ?) - on freight train between Anshan and Shanyang QJ 6945 near Anshan QJ 6536 near Anshan JS 5752 near Anshan

Met at Anshan by another Mr Li - the local guide and taken into Anshan steelworks by mini-bus. Weather sunny with clear blue skies and temperature -10øC at 10.00

Repair Shop Area         Inside Repair Shop         Derelict Outside 



  JS 5806                    SY 0437               PL2 242   JS 6003

  SY 1037                    SY 0834               XK2 51    JS 5801   

  JS 5807                    SY 0441               JS 5808   YJ 238

  JS 5247                    YJ 290                JS 5809

                             SY 0130               JS 6004



  Slag Tip                 Works Area               Blast Furnace



  SY 0440                   SY 1587                SY 0571

  SY 0436                   SY 0089                SY 1035

                            SY 0433                PL2 244

                                                   YJ 289

												   

Left Anshan as skies became increasingly cloudy/polluted and drove to Shenyang to catch overnight sleeper to Chengde

8th January - Chengde

Arrived at Chengde at 06.01 and drove to Huilong Hotel for shower and breakfast. Greeted by the bizzare sight of a full-size Father Christmas in reindeer-hauled sleigh (single-header) surrounded by artificial snow and palm trees in the main lobby! Weather very sunny and cold with excellent visibility. Temperature at 10.00 was -10øC

08.45 downhill      SY 1753 with empties at Banking Station

10.00 downhill      JS 5723 + JS 6403 & SY 1639 on empties at summit

10.55 uphill        SY1753 +  JS 6403 & SY 1639 on train at summit

11.45 uphill        JS 5723 + JS 6403 & SY 1639 on train at summit

13.30 uphill        JS 6403 + SY 1753 & JS 5723 on train near summit

14.10 uphill        JS 5723 & SY 1639 (no banker) on train at Banking Station

15.35 uphill        JS 6403 on train crossing Wulie River bridge

                    Departed from banking station at 16.15 with JS 5723 & SY 1639

9th January - Chengde

Left hotel at 07.30 to visit engine shed beyond summit. Weather bright, clear and sunny with steadily improving visibility. Temperature at 09.00 was -10øC

08.15          JS 5723 with empties from engine shed sidings

Locos on shed SY 0532 SY 1639 JS 6403 SY 1753 SY 0872

10.00 uphill        JS 5723 + JS 6403 & SY 0532 on train at summit

10.48 uphill        JS 5720 + JS 6403 & SY 0532 on train at summit

11.30 downhill      SY 1753 & SY 1639 on empties near summit

12.35 uphill        SY 0532 + JS 6403 & SY 1639 on train at summit

13.45 uphill        JS 6403 & SY 1753 double-heading from river bridge to banking 

                    station.  Departed at 13.57 with SY 1639 as banker

15.00 uphill        SY 1639 on train approaching banking station

15.40 downhill      JS 5723 on empties at level crossing in Chengde

16.10 uphill        JS 5723 on train crossing Wulie River bridge

10th January - Beijing to London

Left Chengde by road at 06.00. Arrived at airport at 09.30 and met up with Mike Tyack and party once again. Huge queues and chaotic scenes at Immigration/Emigration led to long hold-ups and flight delays. At busy times it would appear sensible to arrive at least two hours before departure simply to ensure that there is time to get through this bottleneck. Due to these delays and the need to off-load excess cabin baggage, Flight BA 038 departed one hour late at 13.45 (local) but arrived on time at Terminal 4 at 15.50.