China is the last great steam show on earth! However this enthusiasm is not shared by the Chinese government who view steam locomotives as a symbol of inefficiency that should be eradicated as part of the country's move into the 21st century. All steam has now gone from the state-owned Chinese National Railway (CNR) but many steam locomotives remain on provincial and industrial railways, where funds are more limited and the introduction of diesel locomotives has a lower priority. How much longer steam can survive in China is a matter of debate but as the economy continues to grow the pressure for increasing modernisation seems irresistable.
Although there are now far fewer classes of locomotives at work in China the sheer variety of steam locations continues to be a magnet to railway photographers from all over the world. At the lineside it is not unusual to meet other enthusiasts from Europe, Australia, America and Japan - all drawn to this mecca of surviving working steam. The greatest attraction has gone - the Ji-Tong line with its incredible scenery and double headed QJ's on long freight trains but there are numerous other locations where steam continues to hold sway and new discoveries continue to be made as China becomes more open to foreign visitors. At the same time the last few years have seen some major other losses - the famous climb at Chengde, the double-headed QJ's on the Batou to Shenmu line and the wonderful forestry railway at Weihe. Despite these lines no longer working they are featured on this site as a lasting memory of their beauty and magnificence. The 'Big Pit' near Harbin in Northern China still provides breath-taking spectacle even if on a reduced scale from its hey-day in the mid 1990's and the industrial system at Nanpiao has a large number of devoteees.
However the steam locations are gradually declining in number, sometimes with little or no warning. For anyone considering visiting China is is essential to obtain the latest information from internet news sites such as those run by Florian Menius or the Steam In China newsgroup. As well as news Rob Dickinson's pages also feature advertisements by a large number of companies who run enthusiast trips to China together with Rob's own advice on independent travel in China which is now a realistic (and far cheaper) option - either using the services of a guide or totally independently.
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
Class C2 No.55 waits in Chonghe station as No.33 approaches from the direction of Weihe on the now closed Weihe Forestry Railway(right)
