| All of the pictures of Xuanhau Steelworks were taken during a visit in January 2004. Although the steelworks remains open and operational all of the steam locomotives have been withdrawn and replaced by diesels. The city of Xuanhau itself is approximately 180km west of Beijing and lies on the main railway line from Beijing to Datong. However the train service to and from Xuanhau is somewhat limited with two trains in the morning and a further two trains in the afternoon. Prior to my visit in January 2004 it was difficult to find much detailed information about this industrial location apart from two fairly brief reports on the internet. A contact in China telephoned the steelworks and obtained permission for me to visit the plants although nobody actually challenged by presence during the two days I was there. Details of travel arrangements and accommodation can be found in my trip report. There are two plants in the city operated by the same company. These lie on opposite sides of the main CNR line and are about 3-4km apart. The western plant is to the south of the main line and the eastern plant is to the north of the line so that occasional trains between the two plants have to cross the CNR tracks. About 20 SY's were used to shunt the works and to bring raw materials to the site. All seemed to be kept in particularly good condition with at least one locomotive sporting brass bands around the boiler and several with decorated front ends. The iron and steel plants were not as photographically spectacular as Anshan or Handan but there were frequent workings and a variety of industrial backdrops to add interest to the proceedings. |
| One of the more pleasing aspects of the steam operation at Xuanhau was the way in which the locos were kept immaculately clean - a stark contrast to Nanpiao which I had just visited. SY1541 brings a train of wagons containing molten iron out from under one of the four blast furnaces located at the eastern plant. The molten iron is then taken by rail to the steel mill. |
| Another clean machine! My taxi dropped me off at a road crossing just inside the plant which provided an excellent vantage point to watch the movement of locomotives and wagons on several lines. The crossing keeper also spoke astonishingly good and totally self-taught English and was able to keep me in touch with operations in and around the local area. Here SY1462 is shunting a rake of cauldron wagons to the steel making plant at the eastern works |
| SY0552 on a short train of loaded coal wagons passing SY1528 which is awaiting its next duty. The yellow building in the background is the rail control building. The staff were delighted to show me the main panel and to try to explain how the system worked. Short wave radio kept the locomotive crews in touch with control. |
| One of the nice things about a relatively small industrial plant is that there always seems to be some sort of activity occuring - a contrast to my visit to Huanan where I spent an entire day waiting for just two trains! SY1528 standing in front of the control tower for the eastern plant with SY0552 in background |
| The steelworks at Zuanhau appears to be fairly modern and is clearly expanding. The rapid development in Chinese economy has led to terrific demands for both coal and steel and in contrast to Europe, both industries are flourishing. The site is therefore a mixture of 'old industry' and the much more modern buildings are illustrated in this shot of SY0552. |
| Deeper inside the eastern plant SY1541 shunts cauldron wagons from another of the furnaces. One of the advantages of travelling alone was that one tended to be fairly unobtrusive and therefore able to access areas that might be barred to larger groups which are normally 'shown around' such sites by one of the managers or a local guide rather than being left to wander at will. |
| SY0552 heading out of the plant towards the level crossing, having shunted a rake of cauldron wagons into the furnaces |
| Whilst watching SY0552 bringing a long rake of coal wagons past the control tower (above) I was approached by a young female worker who spoke fluent English. This is always a pleasant surprise and does have a habit of making life somewhat easier! Having explained that she was largely self-taught through watching English language programmes on Chinese television, she was then able to tell me a great deal more about the site and its operations. She explained that five engines were stationed at the eastern plant and four allocated to the western plant. When I enquired about other engines she referred to a third 'station' which she said was about 6km away. I was certainly unaware of any other steam operations in the area and expressed considerable interest. She said this was the raw materials plant and set about explaining how to get there by public bus and writing down the name of the plant. She then offered to take me there - an offer which I readily accepted. I anticipated travelling by taxi but to my astonishment she proceeded to don a crash helmet and drove me there on the back of her 125cc motorcycle while I clung on at the back with camera bag over my shoulder and the wind in my hair! Whether this is really a separate plant or the far end of the eastern plant wasn't entirely clear and I didn't have enough time to fully explore this location. However there were certainly locomotives there that didn't put in an appearance at the eastern works so were clearly a separate 'brigade'. |
| I was dropped off at the plant by my new 'friend' who had a brief word with the security guards at the gate and then left me to my own devices. Just inside the gate were two locomotives on a stabling point. The locomotives at the raw materials plant were also kept in excellent condition as demonstrated by SY1104 which was awaiting its next duty. |
| The mountains at Jingpeng are certainly spectacular for railway photography but the industrial landscapes of the steel making plants have their own grandeur and provide scenes which are now just a fading memory in Western Europe. SY0323 shunts a rake of coal wagons at the coking plant at Xuanhau (above) |
| The western plant is far smaller than the eastern plant and has only two blast furnaces. One of these blast furnaces receives its raw materials via a ramp. Wagon loads of coke and iron ore are contiuously shunted up and down the ramp by one of the four locomotives to be found at this location. SY1113 brings a rake of wagons loaded with molten iropn out from under one of the two furnaces (above whilst SY0299 is shown with a short train of raw material ready to be shunted up the ramp to recharge the furnace (below) |
| SY0299 is released from one rake of wagons and goes in search of the next set to shunt. As with most other railway systems the crew were delighted that someone should be interested in their locomotive and their daily operations. It was not long before I was invited up onto the footplate of the engine to join the crew as they propelled the next rake of wagons up onto the charging ramp. |
| SY1177 brings a long rake of loaded coke wagons from the CNR exchange yards. Previous reports suggest that from time to time steam locomotives actually cross the CNR tracks between the two plants but I saw no such movements during my two days at Xuanhau. As I was leaving the plant a large Jaguar car swept through the gates clearly transporting a very senior official. I received a long hard look followed by a broad smile and a wave. Perhaps it was a well that he didn't ask for my written permission to visit! |
| Appearances can be deceptive! Another of the locomotives was SY0323 which was standing against a blue painted wall - something which makes it hard to tell where wall ends and sky begins! |
| XUANHAU STEELWORKS HEBEI PROVINCE |
It is ironic to think that the locos
that once served the works at
Xuanhau may themselves have
finished up being melted down in
blast furnaces in other parts of
China or even Xuanhau itself as
the demand for recycled iron and
steel seems to be insatiable.
SY0299 has not appeared on
another system and so must be
considered to have been
withdrawn and cut up
that once served the works at
Xuanhau may themselves have
finished up being melted down in
blast furnaces in other parts of
China or even Xuanhau itself as
the demand for recycled iron and
steel seems to be insatiable.
SY0299 has not appeared on
another system and so must be
considered to have been
withdrawn and cut up
My final morning at Xuanhau was rewarded with more fine weather, a last chance to capture this wonderful steam location
and also to say farewell to my English speaking friend. In doing so I gave her a business card with my personal details and was
amazed some three or four years later to receive an email from her and subsequently from her son as well. This was a
fantastic bonus and we have maintained a regular correspondence ever since. I still hope to return to China at least one more
time to see the wonderful narrow gauge line at Shibanxi and will ensure that I make time to renew my acquaintance with
Yangfei and Baiyu.
and also to say farewell to my English speaking friend. In doing so I gave her a business card with my personal details and was
amazed some three or four years later to receive an email from her and subsequently from her son as well. This was a
fantastic bonus and we have maintained a regular correspondence ever since. I still hope to return to China at least one more
time to see the wonderful narrow gauge line at Shibanxi and will ensure that I make time to renew my acquaintance with
Yangfei and Baiyu.
SY 1525 brings a coal train from
the raw materials plant towards
the blast furnaces at the western
plant. The coal (coke) will be
used to charge the furnaces
together with the iron ore and
limestone used in iron making.
the raw materials plant towards
the blast furnaces at the western
plant. The coal (coke) will be
used to charge the furnaces
together with the iron ore and
limestone used in iron making.
SY1462 brings a short train of
molten iron from the blast
furnace area - a wonderful sight
which is now sadly confined to
the history books.
molten iron from the blast
furnace area - a wonderful sight
which is now sadly confined to
the history books.