| JIXI - IRON HORSES AND DONKEY CARTS The city of Jixi is located about 200km north-east of Mudanjiang in Heilongjiang province. By far the easiest way to reach Jixi is to fly from Beijing and then catch an express bus to the city although it is just about possible to reach Mudanjiang by overnight train. There are four main centres of steam operation in and around the city. All the lines are worked by SY's and serve the numerous collieries in the area. Like most such systems, the normal pattern of operation is for a locomotive to take empties to the mine, shunt the yard and then return some time later with a train of loaded coal wagons. These are then taken to the CNR exchange sidings for onward movement across China. The four main centres at Jixi are at Chengzihe, Hengshan, Didao and Lishu. Each is a relatively short distance from the main city and can be easily reached by taxi or public transport. During my Christmas 2005 visit I concentrated on Chenzihe and Hengshan since both are relatively busy and offer the best photographic opportunities. At Didao all locomotives face north and so leave the washery there tender first. According to reports, many trains are propelled rather than hauled.thus adding to the problems of taking good photographs. Traffic on the little-visited Lishu system is relatively light and again photographic opportunities are limited. |
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| The day begins at Chengzihe with the gathering of the fleet at Dongchang mine yard at around 8.00am. A total of nine SY's are to be found at work on this system. Here SY0863 stands outside of the main control building on 29 December 2005 |
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| The day's work has begun and SY 1544 approaches the yard at Dongchang from the western end with a short train of loaded spoil wagons. Locomotives face in both directions making photography a little unpredictable |
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| A similar train but this time arriving from the east with spoil wagons from either Zhengyang or Xinghua mine behind SY1058 |
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| The washery at Beichang provides a wonderfully backdrop of industrial scenery and is a popular spot for visiting enthusiasts. SY1016 leaves the washery having brought in a train of loaded wagons from Nanchang mine. |
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| SY1351 entering the washery yard with a short train of loaded coal wagons from Dongchang. The mine buildings in the background no longer appear to be in use |
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| Being so far north means that daylight hours in the winter are short with the sun setting not much after 3.15pm. In the last light of the day SY1058 pulls away from the washery with a spoil train. |
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| The Hengshan system operates in a similar way to Chengzihe with locomotives gathering at Xihengshan before setting about their daily work. The main feature of this system is the climb from Hengshan up a steep grade to the mines at Zhongxin. In this picture SY1095 waits as SY1340 approaches tender first with a loaded train. |
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| Empty wagons for Zhongxin leave Hengshan between about 8.30am and 11.00am and then further wagons are sent up again in the afternoon (when the light is less favourable). The intense cold highlights the exhaust as SY1341 begins to climb the bank with an early morning train to Zhongxin. |
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| Photographic opportunities on the bank itself are somewhat limited by vegetation growing close to the lineside. However the level crossing half way up the climb provides a clearer location as SY1369 brings a train of 10 empty wagons towards the summit. |
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| The third train of the morning climbs the bank behind SY0341. With the changeover from steam to diesel on the JiTong line, opportunities to take photographs in locations as attractive as this are becoming fewer and fewer. |
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| Photography at Hengshan is somewhat limited as most trains arrive at the yard tender first. Shots in and around the yard at XiHengshan are mainly restricted to light engine movements. In better light than on the previous day SY1095 sets off to the yard at Hengshan to collect empty wagons bound for Dahengshan mine |
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| One of the most interesting features of the Jixi system is the use of 'donkey carts' in and around the washery at Beichang. Coal dust from the washery is collected in large ponds which are then drained and once dried the coal is recovered and taken away in carts. This is difficult and backbreaking work but provides enormous interest to the local scene. |
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| This panoramic view of the washery shows the ponds in the foreground whilst SY0733 shunts wagons in the background. In the bottom left hand corner a mixed group of men and women dig out the coal whilst in the middle of the picture a number of donkey carts wait to carry away the recovered coal. In the background are the washery buildings and beyond that again are the slag heaps, one of which is on fire. |
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| SY1018 makes a near volcanic eruption as it starts away from Beichang washery with a very heavy train of loaded coal wagons bound for the CNR exchange sidings at Jixi XI. |
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| More donkey carts wait to be loaded in the washery yard |
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| Jixi finale - SY1544 arriving at Beichang washery with a relatively short train of low hopper wagons banked by SY0733 in the last light of the afternoon. |
| 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 COAL RAILWAY NANPIAO MEIHEKOU JIXI MINING RAILWAYS JINGPENG TIEFA MINING RAILWAY WEIHE FORESTRY RAILWAY XINGZANG BRICKWORKS XUANHAU STEELWORKS YUANBAOSHAN |