| YUANBAOSHAN AND PINGZHUANG The Yuanbaoshan system is now almost, if not completely diesel worked and the fleet of JS class locomotives no longer operates in the way described below. In March 2007 there was still some limited steam working and given the history of diesel failures elsewhere this system should not be totally written off. In contrast Pingzhuan continues to be steam worked with perhaps more action than I witnessed. Although two totally separate systems, the industrial railways at Yuanbaoshan and Pingzhuang are in such close proximity that it would seem pointless to visit one and not the other. Both systems are within a very short distance of Chifeng, a city which was often passed through by enthusiasts on their way to and/or from the Ji-Tong railway. However neither system has received much in the way of publicity until recently and even now there are very few reports on the steam activity at these two locations. Yuanbaoshan is the closest of the two systems to Chifeng. It can be accessed via the CNR station on the line from Chifeng to Yebaishou, but since the station is 10km or so from the town it is far easier to catch a local bus or take a taxi from Chifeng. The mine railway actually runs about 40km from the exchange sidings at Yuanbaoshan station to the exchange sidings at Anqinggou on the CNR line from Chifeng to Tongliao. Although it could provide an 'avoiding route' around Chifeng it is not used as such by CNR. The line serves four coal mines located to the north of Yuanbaoshan and one mine at Anqinggou. Steam locomotives face east and for this reason photography is difficult during the middle part of the day. Loaded coal trains descend down a steep bank from the mines at Yuanbaoshan with the engine running tender first if steam worked. At the bottom of the bank the locomotive has to run round its train in order to bring it into the main yard. Empty wagons are worked up to the mines in a reverse operation which sees engines leaving Yuanbaoshan tender first before climbing the bank with the boiler leading. Dailty 'mixed' trains used to operate from Yuanbaoshan to Anqinggou, departing at 07.00 and again at 15.00 with the return working arriving at 10.30 and 17.30 respectively. Whether this remains the case, and whether these are still steam hauled I cannot say for certain. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| One of the supposed attractions of Yuanbaoshan was the opportunity to photograph 'mixed' trains leaving Yuanbaoshan bound for Anqinggou. I was therefore up nice and early the next day to witness the spectacle. To my disappointment, although it made a splendid sight leaving the station the 07.00 working was decidedly un-mixed! (above left). As if to compensate the Monday morning working featured 24 coal wagons in front of the coaches which were rendered more or less invisible in the distance! (see below) Later on during Sunday morning an immaculately turned out JS6245 made an appearance at the head of a train of loaded coal wagons in the main yard (above right) |
 |
 |
| JS6544 is overtaken by JS6245 bringing a train of loaded wagons into Yuanbaoshan |
| JS6544 takes a train of empty wagons out of Yuanbaoshan bound for Anqinggou |
| During my visit to Yuanbaoshan in March 2002 the depot staff and locomotive crews were extremely friendly and there were no problems taking photographs anywhere on the system. The line runs roughly south-west to north-east and after about 11.00am the light was very much from the rear of the trains until about 3.00pm. On the second day I accepted the invitation to join the crew of JS6544 and to travel up to the four mines behing Yuanbaoshan. The engine left tender first from the main yard with a long train of empty wagons and after running round the train then began to climb up into the hills. At each mine a number of empty wagons were shunted and rakes of full wagons collected. At lunchtime the crew collected mess tins of hot food from a container alongside the boiler of the locomotive and invited me to join them as they sat on the cab floor and enjoyed their mid-day break. This has to have been the ultimate 'Chinese takeaway'. We eventually arrived back at Yuanbaoshan where the crew bade me farewell without request or expectation of any form of payment - a pleasant change from Jingpeng where even a short footplate ride used to 'cost' in the order of �20 - 30. |
 |
 |
| Above - JS6544 shunts empty wagons at one of the four mines in the hills behind Yuanbaoshan. A extensive conveyor belt system appeared to have been abandoned before completion suggesting that these pits might have been considered uneconomic and subject to closure. Left - Despite having worked a twelve hour shift my new friends were still determined to have a wash and brush up before posing for the camera. Meanwhile the sun sank lower and lower towards the horizon ........... |
| PINGZHUANG This system is about 30km to the south of Yuanbaoshan and is on the CNR line from Chifeng to Yebaishou. It is also a 5Y bus ride from Yuanbaoshan! Pingzhuang has a large open cast mine as well as a number of deep mines. Traffic to and from the 'big pit' is mainly handled by a large number of steeple-cab electric locomotives all though some track maintenance trains are steam hauled. All traffic to and from the deep mines however is steam hauled. Most of the locomotives are SY's although there are some JS's. Pingzhuang is the only place where I have encountered an SY with full smoke deflectors and bonnet - it wasn't until I went to record details of the photograph that I realised that it wasn't in fact the JS class locomotive that I had at first taken it to be. Whilst I am led to believe that this is not an unique example it is certainly unusual. Most of the action seems to happen around the washery area which is also where both the steam and diesel depots are located. The presence of the local brewery brings a most welcome fragrance to the local air and the beer in the nearby cafes is incredibly cheap, even by Chinese standards! |
 |
 |
 |
| Pingzhuang surprise - at first I thought that this was a JS class engine working at the colliery but closer inspection revealed it to be SY1080 with full deflectors and bonnet |
 |
| By way of contrast - the more conventionally styled lines of SY0400 being prepared for the road at the servicing point ahead of SY1080 |
 |
| SY1052 on a short train of ash wagons from the servicing point |
 |
| JS1001 running on the electrified part of the Pingzhuang system |
 |
| A real JS Class engine! JS5702 bringing a train of coal wagons from the washery at Pingzhuang |
 |
| A little later and SY1052 brings a short train of loaded wagons past the washery |
| 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 |
| Yuanbaoshan will always have a special place in my affections as it was the first steam location I visited in China on my own. I had previously visited China as part of organised tours but could not find any tour which co-incided with my Easter holidays in 2002. Against my better judgement I decided on a 'do it yourself' trip without companions, guides or interpreters. With the help of a number of people I was eventually as prepared as I could be and set off armed only with cameras, a Chinese railway timetable and a Berlitz phrasebook.. In the event it was a wonderful experience and began my affection for China and particularly the Chinese people. The first thing I discovered was that everyone was willing to help me, despite the language and cultural barriers. I've lost count of the individual kindnesses I have experienced but I recall the very first - an elderly lady who I first met on the train to Chifeng, who took me under her wing, looked after me in the melee of Chifeng station and delivered me by way of bus to a hotel in Yuanbaoshan. I never learned her name - but I will never forget her help and assistance to a complete stranger. |
| My hotel was just a five minute walk away from the main yards and locomotive depot at Yuanbaoshan and at night it was possible to hear the engines at work. Within half an hour or so of arriving I was on the lineside and taking my shots - JS6246 coming off the coaling stage at the main depot in Yuanbaoshan (above left) JS8249 brings a heavily loaded train into the yards at Yuanbaoshan (above right) |
| Yes - it really is a 'mixed' train although at first glance it is not really obvious! The Monday morning departure from Yuanbaoshan had a total of 24 coal wagons in front of the first coach and thus appears to be a freight only working (above left) Final shot at Yuanbaoshan before heading for Pingzhuang - a beautifully turned out JS8250 on the coal road (above right) |