| CHENGDE - STEAM AT THE LIMIT Chengde is a large city about 250km to the north-east of Beijing and is internationally famous as the location of the former Emperor's Summer Palace. However the city is dissected by a steam operated branch line which takes coal and iron ore from the exchange sidings with China Rail to a very large steelworks some 30km from Chengde. Due to the steep gradient, which starts on the outskirts of the city, trains are limited to just eleven long wheelbase wagons. These are normally brought across the Wuliehe River by a single 2-8-2 SY or JS class engine and then two more engines are attached at the banking station. The train is then worked up the 1 in 30 gradient for some 10 kilometres or so until the summit is reached just beyond two single bore tunnels. Here the bankers drop off the train and return to the banking station. The twisting climb requires all three engines to be worked to their limits and the noise made by the locomotives is truely memorable. The line offers some spectacular vantage points for the photographer and is easily accessible from the road which runs close to the line for most of the way. However photography is now strictly forbidden in the city itself and most particularly in the area of the banking station which is overlooked by Chengde prison. Those who choose to ignore the warning signs face confiscation of films and a visit to the local police station! NOTE On 10 May 2002 three DF4 diesels took over from the steam locomotives between the CNR exchange yards and the stabling point beyond the summit. Steam is now limited to the steelworks and may soon disappear altogether. |
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| The glory of Chengde as JS5723 struggles up the bank towards the summit tunnels assisted at the rear by SY1639 and JS6403 (above) SY1639 and JS6403 work flat out on the final section of the climb from Chengde (below) Prior to this area being banned to photographers an unassisted double header leaves Chengde with JS5723 leading SY1639 - the prison is to the left just behind the lead engine (right) |
| 2-8-2 Class JS locomotive brings wagons from the CNR sidings across the frozen Wuliehe river |
| SY1639 brings a train through the backstreets of Chengde towards the banking station |
| Click on locations below for more Chinese steam (systems shown in yellow no longer have steam) ANSHAN STEELWORKS BAOTOU BEITAI STEELWORKS BENXI STEELWORKS CHENGDE HANDAN STEELWORKS FUXIN NANPIAO MEIHEKOU JIXI JINGPENG TIEFA WEIHE XUANHAU STEELWORKS YUANBAOSHAN |