Pingzhuang stabling point at shift change.

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Eric Campbell
5 years ago
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1 Final 'Linesiding with John' China Real Working Industrial Steam Tour - 11 March - 3 April 2017 Updated 2 November 2016 Part 1 shortened by 1 day. Tour starts 11 March (not 10 March) Pingzhuang (only) is the target for Part 1. Fuxin steam revival now looks unlikely. BA stop flying to Chengdu in January KLM is your only direct option back to Europe. Pingzhuang stabling point at shift change. Real, working steam is going fast around the world but China still has the largest number of real steam sites. As you are probably aware, steam often goes out with a whimper rather than a bang and a site with one loco in steam which occasionally does something can continue for years. The aim of this tour is to visit the remaining steam locations where steam does more than that; where regular steam movements are over a distance of kilometres not metres and where the locos have to work hard in interesting scenery. For that reason, this tour will visit Pingzhuang, Sandaoling and Shibanxi. Pingzhuang, I must admit, is a substitute for Fuxin which suddenly stopped using steam at the end of August. However, with 2 SY in use regularly, it is a good introduction to Chinese industrial steam. Should Fuxin resume use of steam, we will consider visiting Fuxin instead of Pingzhuang.

2 Sandaoling is simply the last really good standard gauge real working steam location in the world. Shibanxi, the only narrow gauge steam line left in China, is a mix of real and tourist steam but is a wonderful, rural Shangri-La that will entertain you for days (or weeks). These 3 sites are the best real steam locations left in China. My general feeling about this tour is that as this will be my last for real, working steam it will go ahead. I'm encouraged by a small group of people who would like to be there and they accept any necessary changes even if at short notice. As a small group we have agreed to go ahead 'whatever' and will be booking our flights shortly. The need for flexibility is important just in case there is a further reduction in steam lines and I'd like to suggest the following things will help to allow for flexibility: - Participants should sign up for Part 1 and 2 not just Part 1 or Part 2. Signing up for Parts 1, 2 & 3 would be ideal. - Participants should not book Beijing - Hami - Beijing internal flights (until February 2017 at least) just in case there is no point in visiting Sandaoling. If that is acceptable, the period of Part 1 & 2 (11-23 or 24 March) will be used to give participants the best remaining Chinese real, working standard gauge steam while allowing for flexibility. In an ideal world, Parts 1 & 2 will visit Pingzhuang and Sandaoling. If either of these locations are no longer worth visiting, we have 4 other real steam locations east of Beijing which may become part of the itinerary. We also have railway museums (although these will never be our first priority). There are also non steam activities which may become part of the itinerary if steam gets very thin on the ground. For example, at Nanpiao we may still find 1 or 2 narrow gauge electric coal railways in action and at Pingzhuang we may try to visit the Yanjing brewery located next to the loco stabling point. These are not the first priority if there is enough steam action but may become part of the program if there is a further decrease in steam. I recommend that anyone who signs up for this tour accepts that nothing is certain and embraces the need for flexibility.

3 An alternative view of the big curve at Caiziba on the Jiayang Coal Railway with a tourist train passing. The tour will be in 3 parts. Part 1 Pingzhuang, Inner Mongolia south of Chifeng Pingzhuang is still using 2 SY steam locos. We will be able to see the locos being serviced in the morning, shunting and trip working to the collieries and we have also been promised steam on the long, heavy coal trains to Pingzhuang Nan and the return chimney-first, uphill working with empties. Part 2 Sandaoling, near Hami/Kumul, Xinjiang Autonomous Region Sandaoling still uses up to 10 JS locos of which 4-6 are in use on the heavy coal trains out of the open cast mine. In addition to the the open cast traffic, the deep mines also have 6 steam locos potentially active but this is not the main attraction as access is limited and trains infrequent. When the mountains are clear, there are possibilities here as well, though. When Jun visited in October 2016, 4 JS were in use in the open cast pit, 4 more serving the deep mines and 1 loco was under repair. Part 3 Jiayang Coal Railway, Shibanxi, Sichuan Up to 6 C2 ng steam locos will be operating along with one centre cab electric on the coal trains on the lower section.

4 JS loco at morning shift change blows down in the headshunt at Dongbolizhan, Sandaoling. With one loco struggling and the line short of power, double heading was a feature of the 2016 March visit.

5 Day Date Weekday Location/Transfer 10/03/17 Friday Leave the UK or arrive Beijing 1 day early 1. 11/03/17 Saturday Meet up in Beijing for start of Part 1 Transfer to Pingzhuang 2. 12/03/17 Sunday Pingzhuang 3. 13/03/17 Monday Pingzhuang (and Yuanbaoshan, Fengshuigou mine ng electrics visit if this can be arranged) 4. 14/03/17 Tuesday Pingzhuang morning shift change, then drive back to Beijing Overnight Beijing - end of Part 1 / Start of Part /03/17 Wednesday Overnight train Beijing - Hami 6. 16/03/17 Thursday Train arrives Hami Option to fly to Hami to join tour Transfer to Sandaoling for first look 7. 17/03/17 Friday Start of 6.5 days at Sandaoling 8. 18/03/17 Saturday Sandaoling 9. 19/03/17 Sunday Sandaoling /03/17 Monday Sandaoling /03/17 Tuesday Sandaoling /03/17 Wednesday Sandaoling /03/17 Thursday Sandaoling Option to fly back to Beijing to end tour /03/17 Friday Morning at Sandaoling Transfer to Hami - end of Part 2 Overnight train to Chengdu (2 nights) /03/17 Saturday Day on train /03/17 Sunday Arrive Chengdu - start of Part 3 Collect any new arrivals at Chengdu Airport Transfer to Shibanxi - Jiayang Coal Railway Hotel in Sanjin /03/17 Monday Start of 6.5 days at Shibanxi Transfer to Bagou /03/17 Tuesday Bagou /03/17 Wednesday Bagou or Sanjin /03/17 Thursday Sanjin or Transfer to Sanjin /03/17 Friday Sanjin /04/17 Saturday Sanjin /04/17 Sunday Morning at Sanjin Transfer to Chengdu Airport to be in place for

6 departure home Option to fly out same evening (at your own risk) Overnight hotel near Airport /04/17 Monday* Fly home from Chengdu Notes Part 1 is relatively short and on its own is not really worth the expense of the flight to China and a Chinese visa. You are recommended to join for at least Parts 1 and 2. Part 2 is designed to also work for those who wish to fly to Hami the closest airport to Sandaoling rather than take the overnight train. You can leave Part 2 by flying back to Beijing. You return to Beijing on 23 March (book your own flight) and after an overnight near the airport, fly home next day. If you join for Parts 1 and 2 and prefer a relaxing or sightseeing day in Beijing while the group are on the train to Hami, you have the option of flying to Hami next day to rejoin the group (all arrangements away from the group at your own expense). No Beijing - Hami - Beijing flights should be booked until midfebruary 2017 just in case! Part 3 starts with a transfer from Chengdu to Shibanxi and we can pick you up from the airport if you would like to join Part 3 only. We have almost a full week at Shibanxi for daily narrow gauge real and tourist steam action. On Sunday, we return to Chengdu after lunch to be in position for flights home next day. Both KLM and BA used to fly direct to Europe on Mondays. BA will stop these flights in January 2017 but the KLM flight continues. If you would like to join the tour for part 3 only, you will be charged for 9 days with the group. There is the option to take an evening flight home from Chengdu on Sunday evening but I recommend the final night near Chengdu airport to be on the safe side as I cannot completely guarantee what time on Sunday we will arrive at our airport hotel. * Return home date is a Monday when KLM flies direct to Europe so 3 April is the last day of the tour. + I will be away until 12 February so have chosen a start date in March four weeks after I return to give enough time for me to sort out visas and any last minute changes.

JS 8081 on an engineers train including a steam crane at Dongbolizhan, Sandaoling. As the tour divides into 3 parts, I will be happy to accept booking for parttours.

7 JS 8081 on an engineers train including a steam crane at Dongbolizhan, Sandaoling. As the tour divides into 3 parts, I will be happy to accept booking for parttours. To reward those who sign up for the whole tour, a discount will be available for those signing up for 24 days (or similar). Travel between locations will be by long-distance sleeper trains with our own minibus for shorter distances.

8 The scene at Mifeng reversal, Shibanxi with chickens, railway staff and tourists. Train of coal empties departing Pingzhuang Nan The tour is priced at Yuan 1400 for each day of the tour you sign up for. Those signing for the full tour (24 days or similar) will be offered a discount price of Yuan 1300 per day. I can also offer a discount for previous Linesiding with

9 John China tours if we reach 8 or more participants (please contact me to ask). Examples of tour prices: Parts 1 & 2 - Day 1 - Day 13 (fly out) or Day 14 (train out) = Yuan 18,200 (13 days) or Yuan 19,600 (14 days) (Tour starts Beijing and end Sandaoling - everything after Sandaoling is your own cost but assistance will be give with transfers to Hami (plane or train) and train tickets. You are recommended to buy your own plane ticket but not until we are sure about Sandaoling after Chinese New Year in February 2017.) Shibanxi only - Day 16 to Day 24 (9 days) = Yuan 12,600 Full tour (24 days) = Yuan 31,200 (with discounted daily price) Should you wish to fly to/from Hami to join or leave the tour at Sandaoling, this can be done and the tour dates have been adjusted for the Thursday and Sunday only flights. We can discuss a price for collection from Hami airport and transfer back there. You can book your own Beijing to Hami flights online and pay just for the days in Sandaoling. Should you wish to join the tour in Shibanxi, our tour bus can collect you from Chengdu airport on Day 16. Should you arrive on another day or at a time that doesn't work for collection with the tour bus, we can arrange transport for you by limousine car (own expense) from Chengdu airport to Sanjin on the Jiayang Coal Railway. Tour terms and conditions will be very similar to previous tours and you can read the general terms here The tour is for land arrangements only from when/where you join up with the tour - Beijing, Hami or Chengdu - and includes single rooms, all meal, all transport and permissions and the services of local Chinese guides and a British tour leader/organiser. The main tour guide is expected to be Jun or Alan with Mrs Guli in addition looking after us at Sandaoling. You can sign up for this tour with a refundable deposit of 400. Signing up will give you the chance to participate in discussions about any itinerary changes. I will consider the wishes of those signed up first in any changes that may be required. Please see for details of when your refundable deposit will become partially- and non-refundable. Please contact john@rabylee.uk with any questions and for details of how to make a deposit payment. John Raby Updated 2 November 2016

A JS 2-8-2 with 11 loaded coal wagons powers

10 A JS with 11 loaded coal wagons powers its way away from the blue loader at Sandaoling towards the pit exit More double heading at Shibanxi as 2 C s drop down to Sanjin Station

11 Just before morning shift change with the sun rising above the cloud, a JS propels its train of empties back from the unloading point on what is normally referred to as 'The Washery Branch'.

December 2018 Sandaoling Winter Visit II. The Vision for December 2018?

December 2018 Sandaoling Winter Visit II The Vision for December 2018? Sandaoling - a JS hauls a coal train of 13 wagons including a guard's signalling compartment on the back of the rear wagon climbs