| TIEFA - PROMOTING STEAM IN CHINA Tiefa is a short distance from the city of Tieling which is approximately 500 miles north of Beijing on the Cha-Dang line from Shenyang to Harbin. The line is operated by the Daqin Coal Company and is worked by a fleet of about 19 SY Class 2-8-2's and a solitary Class JS. Amongst the fleet is SY1772 which (currently) was the last steam locomotive to be built in China in October 1999. The railway's main purpose is to carry coal from the eight mines in the area to the nearby power stations and to Tieling where it is transfered onto China Rail. There is also a steam-hauled passenger service with three periods of intense activity around Daobingshan station at approximate 9.30am, 2.00pm and 6.00pm. At present the only diesels to be found on the system belongs to China Rail and work through trains to and from Shenyang. The railway has recently opened a new boiler repair shop and in January 2002 it completed its first major overhaul amid much celebration. The railway management is keen to promote railway visitors to the area although purchase of a photographic permit for the region is essential. This has caused considerable controversy amongst visiting enthusiasts but those chosing not to do so have found that the railway can operate an aggressive policy against them. Permits can only be obtained from the main administrative office which is on the road from Teiling, just before Daqing. The building can best be recognised by the plastic deer which stand on the front lawn (I'm perfectly serious!). The railway also operates its own web-site at www.steam-locomotive.com and although information is a little limited it does feature a picture of the administration building for easy recognition! |
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| Sunrise at Daqing stabling point and a trio of 2-8-2 SY's are prepared for their day's work |
| SY1412 draws a train of loaded coal wagons out of one of the coal mines at Daqing |
| SY1764 trundles through the yard at Daqing with a long train of empty coal wagons |
| Shafts of winter sunshine illuminate SY1771 as it receives minor maintenance in Daqing works |
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| Morning rush hour at Diaobingshan station in Tiefa sees four steam hauled passenger trains leave within a period of about half-an-hour. There are now few places in the world that can offer such a spectacle on a daily basis - as my friend Steve remarked at the time - "There are some railways in the UK that would advertise this as a gala!" |
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| Diaobingshan station in April 2002 with SY0063, SY0860 and SY0393 ready for action |
| SY0063 leaving Diaobingshan station with a morning passenger train to Wangquan |
| In addition to the main line that runs from Tieling to Diaobingshan station, there are a number of other lines which serve the various quarries and mines that are to be found in the area. One line runs north to mines at Daming, another goes west to Dongguantun via Faku and a third line runs south to Wangqian with a short branch off to Xiaonan. A 'diamond' in the middle of the system allows access from one line to another and provides an ideal spot at which to see trains on all four lines. The railway workshops and main stabling point are at Daqing which is about 15km from the main town of Tiefa. There are two hotels close to the station in Tiefa suitable for visiting enthusiasts. One is located in the right-hand corner of the station forecourt (160Y) and the slightly more upmarket 'Palace of Bowling Hotel' (200Y) can be found by turning left out of the station forecourt and following the road for about 100 yards. Other hotels exist in the town with budgets to suit all pockets! |
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| SY1183 brings a long train of wagons west from Daqing heading towards Tiefa and Faku |
| SY0979 brings the midday passenger train from Wangqian towards Sanjiazi station |
| SY1772 at Daqing depot - could this be the last standard gauge locomotive to be built in China? |
| A portrait of SY1769 as it shunts the freight yard at Sanjiazi |
| Early morning at Diaobingshan station as SY1683 takes water on the coaling road. |
| The late light glints on the side of SY0435 as it heads into the sunset along the Wangqian line. |
| The soft winter light illuminates SY1683 as it leaves Diaobingshan heading for Daming |
| 'Supershine' SY0979 - the first engine to have its full boiler overhaul carried out at Daqing |
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| 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 |