| 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 |
| SY1639 and JS6403 work flat out on the final section of the climb from Chengde (below) Prior to this area being banned to photographers an unassisted double header leaves Chengde with JS5723 leading SY1639 - the prison is to the left just behind the lead engine (right) |
| 2-8-2 Class JS locomotive brings wagons from the CNR sidings across the frozen Wuliehe river in December 1999. |
| SY1639 brings a train through the backstreets of Chengde towards the banking station 29/12/99 |
| The glory of Chengde as JS5723 struggles up the bank towards the summit tunnels assisted at the rear by SY1639 and JS6403 |
| Click on locations below for more Chinese steam (systems shown in yellow no longer have steam) ANSHAN STEELWORKS BAOTOU BEITAI STEELWORKS BENXI STEELWORKS CHENGDE DAHUICHANG FUXIN COAL RAILWAY GONCHANGLING HANDAN STEELWORKS HUANAN JALAINUR JIXI MINING RAILWAYS JINGPENG MEIHEKOU PINGDINGSHAN NANPIAO TANGSHAN TIEFA MINING RAILWAY WEIHE FORESTRY RAILWAY XINGYANG BRICKWORKS XUANHAU STEELWORKS YUANBAOSHAN |