Late Autumn for Steam in China

China: 18./21.09. – 12./17.10.2008

Lixin (Huanan)

You may ask yourself whether this guy got crazy to offer a four weeks China steam parade after six tours in 2008 before this one? Yes – I am! It drives me mad when I’m seeing a “MEGA Steam Gala” advertised where eleven super clean, preserved locos are around a weekend or so. How shall I call an event, where you can see eleven real hard working locomotives from one spot alone. It drives me crazy when I see the decline in steam operation in the world and people think the one and only line in the world is their preserved line in front of their door. You’re going to miss the last real spectacular steam. It’s not magical, it’s real, authentic, money-earning daily use of steam – under good and not so good conditions, in dusty steelworks, dirty mines and lovely as well as spectacular mountain scenery.

This tour is designed by the desires of travellers, who have been for several times in the last stronghold of steam. They have seen quite a lot there, and they know what’s good – and what’s needs more time to be covered. So this is a rather unusual tour – with no chance to repeat it a year or so later! This is unusual because we’ll stay at several destinations much longer than usual to get the most out of it. To inhale steam at its best. To see super-shine locomotives as well as filthy coal mine locos, to see shunters with a few wagons as well as locomotives almost struggling in steep gradients.

It was not possible to put all steam centres in the tour as it was the wish of several people. There is still so much action around that’s not possible. But the chosen places will offer a good survey. It’s late Autumn for steam. If you miss it now you may mess your chances to be part of the last spectacular steam show forever. The shot below will be history by December 2008, Baotou will be fully dieselised by then!

Baotou

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Itinerary

Date

Extras

Itinerary

 

18.09.

Flight to Beijing

 

19.09.

Morning arrival in Beijing, transfer to Beijing Xi and by express train T1 to Zhengzhou, dep. 15.48, arrival 21.50 hrs, continue by charter bus to Pingdingshan, hotel in Pingdingshan

 

20.09.

Linesiding around Pingdingshan (passenger trains, QJ line to Yüzhou), hotel Pingdingshan

 

21.09.

Linesiding around Pingdingshan (passenger trains, QJ line to Yüzhou), hotel Pingdingshan

 

22.09.

Morning visit to the depot, mid morning by charter bus to Zhengzhou, boarding train D136, departure 12.19, arrival Beijing Xi 17.22 hrs, transfer to Beijing main station and continue to Chifeng by overnight train.

21.09.

 

Flight to Beijing

22.09.

 

Morning arrival in Beijing, Visit to the Forbidden City and the Tian’an Men square, overnight train 2559 from Beijing to Chifeng, departure 21.20 hrs

23.09.

 

06.38 hrs arrival Chifeng, charter bus to Pingzhuang, visit to the coal mine lines, hotel Chifeng

24.09.

 

Morning visit to the coal mine line of Pingzhuang, late afternoon continue to Beipiao, hotel Beipiao

25.09.

 

Visit to the coal mine lines around Beipiao. We’ve ask for the use of their JF, but no confirmation so far. In the evening we’ll continue to Nanpiao, hotel in Xiamiaozi

26.09.

 

Linesiding around the coal mines lines of Nanpiao, hotel in Xiamiaozi

27.09.

 

Linesiding around the coal mines lines of Nanpiao, evening continue by charter bus to Fuxin, hotel Fuxin

28.09.

 

Visit to the stabling point of Fuxin. Linesiding along the lines to the deep mines of Fuxin, hotel Fuxin

29.09.

 

Linesiding around Fuxin, evening continue by charter bus to Shenyang, airport hotel in Shenyang

30.09.

 

Morning flight CZ 6455 Shenyang – Baotou 08.35 – 10.35 hrs, Visit to the Baotou steelworks including night visit to the slag dump, hotel Baotou

01.10.

 

Visit to the Baotou steelworks, afternoon by charter bus to Huhehaote (Hohhot), flight SC 4807 to Manzhouli 18.45 – 20.55, charter bus to Zhalai Nuoer, hotel Zhalai Nuoer

02.10.

 

Visit to the lines around the open cast mine of Zhalai Nuoer (Beixie, Tiebei, Daqiao, Shengli, Shiyijing and Liuquan), hotel Zhalai Nuoer

03.10.

 

Visit to the lines to the underground mines, the workshop Cheliangchang, Daqiao, Dongfanghong and Nanzhan, hotel Zhalai Nuoer

04.10.

 

Visit to the open cast mine, hotel Zhalai Nuoer

05.10.

 

Visit to the open cast mine, overnight train N58/60, departure Zhalai Nuoer 20.08 hrs

06.10.

 

11.30 hrs arrival Haerbin, lunch, continue by train N3 to Mudanjiang, departure 13 hrs, arrival Mudanjiang 17.40 hrs, continue by charter bus to Jixi, hotel in Jixi

07.10.

 

Visit to the mine system of Chengzihe, hotel in Jixi

08.10.

 

Visit to the mine system of Didao, hotel in Jixi

09.10.

 

Visit to the mine systems of Hengshan and Lishu/Xifeng, hotel in Jixi

10.10.

 

Visit to the mine systems of Donghaikuang and Chengzihe, overnight train N76, departure Jixi 21.20 hrs

11.10.

 

05.58 hrs arrival Haerbin, breakfast, continue by express D28, departure 09.02, arrival Beijing 17.10 hrs, hotel in Beijing

12.10.

 

Return flight home, arrival in Europe in the same evening

 

10.10.

Evening continue to Huanan, hotel Huanan

 

11.10.

Line siding Huanan – Tuoyaozi, hotel Huanan

 

12.10.

Line siding Huanan – Lixin, overnight in private houses in Lixin (category three black holes) Hotel in Huanan for those who can’t stand a night without facilities, see small print

 

13.10.

Line siding around Lixin, overnight in private houses in Lixin, see small print

 

14.10.

Line siding Lixin – Tuoyaozi, hotel in Huanan

 

15.10.

Line siding Huanan – Tuoyaozi, evening by charter bus to Jiamusi, overnight train 4138, departure Jiamusi 21.30 hrs

 

16.10.

06.13 hrs arrival Haerbin, breakfast, continue by express D28, departure 09.02, arrival Beijing 17.10 hrs, hotel in Beijing

 

17.10.

Return flight home, arrival in Europe in the same evening

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Line description

Pingdingshan

First of all, we are at the edge of a steam free age. So some of the locations are a shadow of their former self only, but still worth a visit. However, we can’t rule out that some of the lines on the list changed to diesel before we’ll arrive. Information are from Winter 2008, months before we’ll go to these sites. There is not always a substitution nearby if a line is dieselised or closed. However, the longer you wait the more risky such a tour gets. So it’s time to do it now!

For getting an idea of what’s going on I recommend to read the trip reports of January 2008 and February 2008. If I talk about much less action in Zhalai Nuoer it means that we just spotted 21 steam locos under steam. So don’t worry about too much if you haven’t been there before, not much action means there is much more happen than in any other place of the world except Sandaoling.

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Pingdingshan

February 2008 saw only nine locos in line service any more. And more diesel are to come soon. The passenger trains and the QJ-operated line to Yüzhou will be the last stands of the steam traction, an engineer told us. Will this be enough to justify a visit there. Let me say it this way: if you haven’t seen a QJ before then answer is definitely yes. If you want to see a steam hauled 3.000 tons trains there is not much choice any more, so another yes. If you want to see some five to ten steam locos under steam served in a shed, slag searchers among them, then the answer is yes again. If you want to see steam hauled passenger trains who are more than an hour on the line – and this seems to be the longest steam passenger service in the world by today’s standards – the answer is - another time - yes. Any more questions?

Pingdingshan

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Pingzhuang

Not many enthusiasts have been here because there have been better action nearby – the famous Jingpeng pass. Those who have been here in earlier years could have seen the last KD6 (2-8-0) in service – which was sold to Tiefa a couple of years ago where it is now preserved. However, with the decline of steam anywhere it was “found out” that Pingzhuang is well worth a visit. It’s not only their full defloctored SY, they have a line to underground mines which offer – at least in the colourful autumn some nice, rural line shots. On a gradient on this line locomotives have to work hard. The washery and the depot are almost always busy.

Most of the trains into the open cast mine (so far there is no official permit to visit this site available although the author got one in 1995) are hauled by electric locomotives. Only works trains are steam hauled. We may be able to take a look from a corner down into the pit.

Pingzhuang

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Beipiao

On our way to a much more busy system we’ll pass by in Beipiao. We have enquired for getting their JF under steam. This JF is one of the oldest standard gauge locomotives in China which is still in use, occasionally. Only when there is a high demand they use it because it’s not as powerful as their SYs. The line is 100 % steam operated, but traffic is erratic and unpredictable. The line is some 30 km long and offers a few nice spots – if there is a train on.

The depot is well worth a visit because they do overhauls on their own. We have enquired a permit to visit the workshop. It can’t be granted as they are not very used to railway enthusiasts, however, the first FarRail Tours group there have been successfully visited the workshop.

Beipiao

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Nanpiao

Not as good as before, but still very rewarding because the countryside is beautiful (hills, bridges), the trains are nice (green passenger coaches and sometimes wooden coal cars), the gradients are remarkable steep and the people are very friendly. This is what I wrote in the last trip report about the line – there was (which is unusual) only one loco in service: “This single steam loco occupied us all day, we didn’t even find time to visit the depot. In the morning there was a freight train to Linghe, around noon one over the steep gradient towards the spoil dump near Zaojiatun, in the afternoon a shift to the power plant and in the late afternoon a train from Weizigou, ending up with another train to the power plant, but shadows were creeping up the valley already for this duty. It was amazing that we only just found some time for lunch and were busy all the time before and after. No complaints about the lack of picture opportunities, for sure.”

Nanpiao

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Fuxin

Let me take the text from the trip report again. It’s a line with only two gradients, but this is not the reason to go there: “The diesels are disturbing, really. Not only are all the passengers now diesel hauled, but also some freight trains are now behind diesel. However, at least eight steam locos were playing an active part in the daily duties. So Fuxin is still worth a visit. There are almost unlimited positions with dusty industrial backdrops, people, vehicles of all kind (speciality: three wheelers) and the remains of the Hutongs, vanishing at the same alarming rate as the steam locomotives.” In February 2008 we saw 13 SYs under steam, about 9 in line service. Other would be close to call this a Mega Steam Gala … It’s just a glimpse of what it has been, but even this little part is such a powerful playground for photographers and video film makers that there is hardly any competition from Europe. The density of possible exciting shots per square inch are similar to what you can found in Europe per square mile!

Fuxin

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Baotou

It’s a wonder that this still exists in 2008: slag dumping from a steam train. There is no more to say, the slag dump is the most interesting spot in the steelworks area. We got a permit for visiting the slag dump in the dusk. If you’ve never seen it before, it’s a must. If this wouldn’t be enough, we are allowed to visit the steam locos at the furnace blasts as well. This is your very last chance to see the fluid iron spectacle because Baotou will be dieselised by December 2008!

Baotou

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Zhalai Nuoer

There is no better place of real steam action in the world, period. I assume that even the slowest rail enthusiasts has heard about this amazing pit whit literally thousands of exciting opportunities to capture the best of steam action. People always asked me why we only go there for a day and a half or so. The answer is simple: I’m not able to carry 1,000 films with me. Now in the age of soulless pixels it is time to give it a more intense photo and video shooting. Be assured: you’ll need much, much time to check all the pictures you’ve made.

Highlights are: Sunrise and steam, sunset and steam, steep gradients and steam. Local brick houses and steam, steam cranes and steam, the pit and steam, the workshop and steam, the washery and steam, the people and steam, the coal loading facility and steam, steam and steam over steam and steam. If you don’t know what I mean with the last one, have a look at this shot:

Zhanali Nuoer

By the way, this is not all can be mentioned why this is a must-go place before die. By the way, according to the latest planning’s the open cast pit will be closed in 2010. It’s high noon!

Zhanali Nuoer

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Jixi

Jixi is another amazing site for videographers and photographers. There are several different mine systems, all have their own fleet of locomotives and their own regime of operation.

You’ll see rural countryside with fields and farm houses, mines, washeries, steep gradients, one line with two reversals, pink mines, brick mines, spoil dumps, stabling points, villages with rails going through and so on. Much action is going on here and there, it’ll not get boring even over so many days.

Jixi-Didao

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Huanan

Huanan in autumn – a fairy tale! Steam hauled and banked trains through a mountainous landscape, nights, where you can hear the leading locomotive and the banker for half an hour, a flat line which allows sunrise and sunset shots, brute colours of the trees in the mountains, chilly mornings with long steam exhaust above the train, farmers in the fields, harvesting yellow and green pumpkins and so on, and so on. It’s an endless story if you want to hear why you can spend weeks and moths there. Yes, there is a risk that the line is not running due to various reasons, but when it’s operating its among the best narrow gauge lines in the world. Where have you regular steam hauled and banked trains on narrow gauge? Nowhere! Except here, in Huanan.

Please read the small print about the accommodation there. It’s another reason why to go there. I can’t remember having ever seen a tourist brochure which would have offered that deep insight in the real life of the locals. It’s quite an experience.

Huanan

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Small print

The tour was planned in February 2008. Although it’s only a few months before we’ll go to China it’s not certain that all lines will still have steam. In the unlikely case one line will be dieselised before we arrive, we will make different arrangements to see as much steam as possible.

 We expect the lowest morning temperatures to be a little below zero degrees Centigrade (about 30 degrees F) in the far north while afternoon temperatures can still reach more than 20 degrees Centigrade (mid 70s F). In Beijing temperatures may exceed even 25°C (77 degrees F). The voltage in China is 220 Volts, 50 Hertz. Sometimes you need an adapter for the power outlets. China uses the European mobile phone (GSM) standard.

This tour is designed for both dedicated photographers and video filmmakers. Our philosophy is to provide opportunities to get that perfect sunrise shot rather than a time consuming 5-star breakfast buffet. On occasions lunch will be served as a packed meal. Beverages are not included in the tour price.

Hotels, charter buses and trains represent the standard of our host country, which may deviate from European and American expectations. While we will endeavour to avoid long walks, some photo positions may require an extra but worthwhile effort.

Baotou

The hotels used will be of medium class, but in remote areas sometimes they are more basic. We offer a unique opportunity in Lixin (Huanan): if you can stand the lack of comfort you can sleep in one of the private houses around there. To give such a room type a rating, we extended the category-system of how to rate hotel’s service and comfort to the bottom end. Zero star would be too good. The accommodation in Lixin on the Huanan system is another matter. There are facilities outside but they can hardly be recommended. Better go into the forest! If you ask somebody about washing your hands he would point to a bowl with some water in – sometimes used by several others before. If you want something clean to wash in, you have to ask for fresh water or do it as the locals do – go to the river! The accommodation and the bedding can hardly be described as clean. So you should bring a towel to put under your head or a light linen sleeping bag or sheet. With this equipment you can easily stand one night in circumstances that the locals have to use all their lives. The accommodation in Lixin is rated at three black holes. By the way, from four black holes onwards you would have to share your bed with small animals you might not appreciate. But for sure, this category is not on offer on FarRail trips. More seriously, it is very basic, but acceptable for most travellers and the rewards in being so close to the railway are wonderful. We’ll sleep on Kangs, these are sleeping platforms with a built in stove, so they are warm and quite comfortable. You’ll get some covers to put on the stove to soften it a bit. Most of the participants on other trips who have used this kind of a bed have been really surprised how well they slept! All who have spent a night in Lixin on past trips have rated this experience very highly. No one will remember another faceless three star hotel in a city, but when you’re staying in the total tranquillity of the forests around Lixin, sleeping on a well heated stove, and a train sets off to the summit, you can hear the two locomotives for almost half an hour, climbing up the hill. On a bright, starry night it’s a memorable experience. If you are uncomfortable with the private houses in Lixin we can arrange the hotel in Huanan for you instead (at minor additional cost).

Getting to Lixin requires a walk of some six miles (if you take the shortcut, otherwise some 7,5 miles). It’s possible to hire an oxen cart or a motor bike, but this is not offered here. We can sort it out on the spot to your own requirements. It’s necessary to warn you about the risks of taking a motorbike. Not to forget that’s sometimes difficult avoiding to spoil the shots of other photographers. Anyhow, if you like our guide will not only arrange the bikes, he’ll also bargain the price for you down to local level.

Nanpiao

The train rides are booked in soft sleeper class (four berth compartments). As the reservation system in China is a typical quota system where the station of origin typically gets an allotment of 50 % of the available tickets, it is not guaranteed that we can get soft sleeper tickets for all our rides. In such cases we’ll use hard sleeper class, which, however, is not as hard as the name suggests. Hard sleeper compartments are open and normally comprise six berths. Short daytime trains may have to be booked in hard seats (if available). The calculation of the tour was made with 33% hard sleeper (for the overnight journeys) as it is usually not possible to get always soft sleeper compartments for all our train rides. Day trains are not booked in a sleeper compartment.

Hygienic and environmental standards in China do not conform to European or American expectations. Carrying some toiletries in your photo bag is hence advisable. Please bear in mind that accommodation and transportation in China falls short of EU/US safety standards. Always use common sense when crossing roads and railway tracks. FarRail Tours cannot be held responsible and will not accept any liability whatsoever in the case of any accident or damage. We suggest you take out a comprehensive overseas accident and health insurance policy.

Registration period expires April 30th, 2008

Later registrations will be accepted if flights and hotels are still available. If you’re not sure whether you can participate or not, please let us know your interest well in advance so that we can hold a place for you.

Huanan

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Price

There is a huge price shooting in prices for groups in China. It’s not all about the Olympic games, it’s inflation in raw material prices, fuel, food, hotels (during Olympic games prices in Beijing have been just 2007 by ten!). Be assured prices will go further up, the longer you wait the less steam you’ll see and the more money you need to spend to see them. We all can’t turn the clock back.

The price for the JF in Beipiao is not included. If we can get this unique locomotive on the line we’ll share the price by the number of participants.

Late Autumn for Steam from 10 participants £2,420
21.09. – 12.10.2008 6 to 9 participants £2,620
  Single room surcharge £255
Pingdingshan pre-tour from 10 participants £670
18.09. – 22.09.2008 6 to 9 participants £710
Single room surcharge £50
Huanan extension from 9 participants £860
10.10. – 17.10.2008 4 to 8 participants £940
  Single room surcharge £100

Minimum number of participants: 6
Maximum number of participants: 30
Minimum number of participants Huanan: 4
Maximum number of participants Huanan: 24

The price includes:

Not included are:

Above prices are based on specific bookings with the respective airlines, which have to be confirmed well in advance. Your early booking is hence essential.

Huanan

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