| 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. At the time of my visits the line was operated by the Daqin Coal Company and worked by a fleet of about 19 SY Class 2-8-2's and a solitary Class JS. Amongst the fleet was SY1772 which 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 remains a steam-hauled passenger service with three periods of activity around Daobingshan station at approximate 9.30am, 2.00pm and 6.00pm. The number of diesels operating on the system is steadily growing although until recently the management seemed committed to retaining some steam locomotives in a sort of 'working museum' context and had actually bought in one or two locomovives such as a KD6 and a YJ for special workings. The railway has a boiler repair shop and undertakes maintenance for other steam operated systems such as Beitai Steelworks. 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!). There is a railway museum here with a number of SY's on display together with the KD6 487, YJ269 and JS5029. Tiefa is a shadow of its former self but steam continues to hang on .... at least for the present (January 2010) |
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| Sunrise at Daqing stabling point was always a time of intense activity and on 2 January 2001, 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 the coal mine at Daqing in sub-zero temperatures - January 2001 |
| SY1764 trundles through the yard at Daqing with a long train of empty coal wagons from the exchange sidings at Tieling |
| Shafts of winter sunshine illuminate SY1771 as it receives minor maintenance in Daqing works in January 2001 |
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| Morning rush hour at Diaobingshan station in Tiefa used to see four steam hauled passenger trains leave within a period of about half-an-hour. At the start of the 21st century there were few places in the world that could 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 at least two hotels close to the station in Tiefa suitable for visiting enthusiasts. One is located in the right-hand corner of the station forecourt and the slightly more upmarket 'Palace of Bowling Hotel' 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 - this is believed to be the last standard gauge locomotive to have been built in China and is probably the last steam locomotive to have been built for a working railway anywhere in the world. |
| 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 - in January 2001 this engine was the centre of much attention as it was then the first engine to have its full boiler overhaul carried out at Daqing. Previously locomotives had been overhauled at China Rail workshops but with the elimination of steam from the CNR the company had looked to secure its future by undertaking work 'in-house'. |
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| Please remember that all of the following photographs were taken in 2001 and 2002 and don't reflect current activity at Tiefa |
| 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 NANPIAO TANGSHAN TIEFA MINING RAILWAY WEIHE FORESTRY RAILWAY XINGZANG BRICKWORKS XUANHAU STEELWORKS YUANBAOSHAN |