| WEIHE - IN THE FORESTS OF NORTHERN CHINA Northern China used to have a large number of narrow gauge railways built to carry timber. These were mainly in remote rural areas and in some cases were very extensive - over 150km long with large numbers of branch lines (a singularly appropriate term in connection with forestry!) The lines were 2' 6" (762mm) gauge and Class C2 0-8-0 tender locomotives were the most common locomotive type. However the combined effects of deforestation and the increased use of road transport has led to large scale closure of many of these lines. Of those that survive, none are now steam operated although some tour operators occasionally arrange special trains on some systems. The system at Weihe closed at the end of the logging season in 2003 although a tourist railway has been mooted using the locomotives from the line. Sadly what follows is therefore now an historic record of this wonderful railway line which I was fortunate enough to visit in December 2001. The visit was made with a group but all the trains were authentic workings and absolutely no effort was made to interupt the normal pattern of operation. This could be frustrating at times as we waited long periods for trains but when they did arrive there was the thrill of seeing real 'working steam'. The general pattern seemed to be to load logs during the short daylight hours and then bring trains in at night although some loaded daylight trains were seen on the move. Perhaps the most memorable of these was a train which arrived early in the morning - perhaps delayed or running late from the previous evening. We used a minibus to move from location to location although 'chasing' was almost impossible given the state of the roads (unmetalled) and the ice which covered them! |
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| Our visit to the North-East of China was blessed with fantastic weather and preceeded by a light dusting of snow - a terrific combination for photography. In this picture Class C2 0-8-0 No.54 passes with a train of empty log wagons between Weihe and Zhenzhu |
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| This has to be one of my all-time favourite shots from my travels in China. We were looking for a suitable location to photograph C2 class No.53 and came across this group of children playing on the ice near the village of Xiping. Although they were curious they quickly forgot we were there and carried on with their games as the train came into view and passed them by. For these children it was an everyday experience - for us it was pure magic. |
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| No.54 making a spirited departure from Pinglin after having stopped to take water. Words are almost superfluous - this was simply railway photography at its very best - crisp, cold conditions, blue skies, snow on the ground and, of course, steam in action. |
| This is what we had hoped to see and having persuaded our guide and driver to take a chance with the roads beyond Pinglin we were rewarded with the sight of Class C2 0-8-0 No.33 leaving Chonghe with a loaded log train heading for Weihe |
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| Driving out towards Xiping the following morning we became aware of a column of smoke heading towards us. We rapidly did an about turn and chose this spectacular location just in time to see an early morning log train pass through Zhenzhu on its way to Weihe behind locomotive No.33. This is almost certainly a late running train which would normally have arrived overnight. Scenes like this made Weihe an absolute must for lovers of narrow gauge steam but time ran out for this wonderful system and such scenes are now consigned to the pages of the history books. |
| Although in a fairly remote part of Northern China, Weihe was relatively easy to get to from Beijing. By far and away the quickest method was to fly to Harbin and then take a local train the last 200km to Weihe. However it was also possible to reach Weihe by train from Beijing - a journey of some 1600km. This involved an 20-hour overnight journey from Beijing's main railway station to Yabouli and then a short taxi ride to Weihe. For overnight journeys it is still possible to travel by 'hard class' or 'soft class' sleeper. The latter is very luxurious by Chinese standards, with 4 bunks in a self-contained compartment. 'Hard class' is more basic with six bunks in an open compartment - an ideal way to meet the indigenous population! The restaurant cars (generally) serve excellent and freshly cooked meals in the evening and again at breakfast time although there is little to distinguish between the range of dishes served. Time to forget the traditional fry up and go native! |
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| No.30 on the morning passenger train to Liushan approaching Zhenzhu (above) Even in 2001 the number of people dependent on the line had fallen as road transportation increased. However after heavy snow the railway was the only way to reach Dongfeng from Weihe. No.54 brings a train of empty log wagons up the bank between Xiping and Pinglin (right) The low winter sun caused some problems as much of the line was in some degree of shadow and good locations were sometimes difficult to find. |
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| The following morning and time for one final shot before departing for Harbin and the south. It's 8.00am and the first rays of the morning sun glint on the tender of No.30 at Weihe station on 27 December 2001. |
| The line from Weihe was fairly flat as far as Xiping (approx 18km). Beyond Xiping the line climbed through woodland to a minor summit before dropping into Pinglin (approx 25km). Beyond Pinglin, the line climbed again to a major summit in quarry high in the hills and then dropped to Shuangfeng before continuing down to Dongfeng, Chonghe and Yulin. No.33 climbs towards the first of the two summits, running through small birch trees between Xiping and Pinglin. |
| All but one of my visits to China have taken place over the Christmas and New Year period and so I have had many memorable Christmas Days. On this occasion it was made so by sights such as this - No.54 leaving Xiping on the morning passenger train to Liushan. |
| What a way to spend Christmas Day 2001. Locomotive No.54 had paused for some time at Pinglin and there had been time to enjoy the spectacle of the rural railway as passengers alighted and boarded the train, squealing pigs were loaded and unloaded and a vast array of rural goods transported. Having taken water the engine finally whistled up and then made a spirited departure from the station and began the climb to the summit of the line. |
| To take this picture was to embark on an expedition of some strenuousness. The summit of the line was in a quarry south of Pinglin and to reach it involved a long walk from the nearest road and then a climb up the sides of the deep cutting. However such exertions were more than worthwhile when the No.54 and its train finally came into sight. |
| Boxing Day 2001 - another day and another morning passenger train - Class C2 0-8-0 No.54 approaches Zhenzhu with the morning working from Weihe. The van at the rear of the train appears not to be enjoying any steam heating and it shrouded in overnight frost. |
| No.33 has turned on the triangle at Dongfeng and has collected a long line of loaded wagons ready for the journey to Weihe. The line was single track with passing loops at the intermediate stations. No.33 is seen standing in the loop at Chonghe awaiting the arrival of a train of empty wagons from Weihe. |
| With the road now clear No.53 sets away from Chonghe and begins the long climb up to the summit at Shuangfeng. Although of diminuitive size and with tiny driving wheels the C2 class engines were exceedingly powerful. We followed the train in the failing light as far as Shuangfeng where we enjoyed the sight and sound of the locomotive thrashing the final few hundred yards towads the summit. |
| Another shot of the same train - in the last photographic light of the day No.53 passes through Dongfeng as it heads towards the summit. |
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