Bad news about San-mao steam:

These are my observations at Sanshui on 1 Jan '99:

The local SanShui MaoMing Dong steam passenger service has been cancelled. If there is no other all-station pax service on this line, at least 10 stations effectively closed for passenger traffic as a result.

Sighting of a 'new' (built in 1965) Diesel - DF2210 at Sanshui. The number of Diesels on the San-mao now increased to 7 (DF 2201-6, 2210)

Temporary passenger service operates from 17 Nov on the San-mao line: Train #427 GuangZhou - ChongQing (dep GZ at around 1310, arr Sanshui 1410 dep SS 1422 w/ Engine change over). All hard class seat non-airconditioned service. The destination plate reads 'LinKuai - Temporary Fast' service.

Return service Train #428 DaXian (or DaChuan?) to Guangzhou (arr Sanshui at 0625, dep S.S. 0635)

Last Chinese new year (end-Jan 1998), an additional pax service running between MaoMing Dong and Guangzhou and it was steam hauled. I'll keep you inform if there is any steam hauled pax service this year.