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 was dissected by a steam operated branch line which took 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 started on the outskirts of the city, trains were limited to just eleven long wheelbase wagons. These were normally brought across the Wuliehe River by a single 2-8-2 SY or JS class engine and then two more engines were attached at the banking station. The train was then worked up the 1 in 30 gradient for some 10 kilometres or so until the summit was reached just beyond two single bore tunnels. Here the bankers dropped off the train and returned to the banking station. The twisting climb required all three engines to be worked to their limits and the noise made by the locomotives was truely memorable. The line offered some spectacular vantage points for the photographer and was easily accessible from the road which ran close to the line for most of the way. However photography was strictly forbidden in the city itself and most particularly in the area of the banking station which overlooked by Chengde prison.
Those who chose to ignore the warning signs faced 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 was limited to the steelworks and may now have been totally eliminated |
