Ex-Chinese Railways JS 2-8-2 8173 curves out of the open cast pit at Sandaoling with its 13 wagon train of coal.
I learnt recently that the last great steam show in the world has probably ended and all the coal from the pit is now transported to the washeries by truck. There are only 3 steam engines working on Nanzhan south station.
Sandaoling Xinjiang China 16th November 2014
Tags: Sandaoling Xinjiang China Asia railway railroad rail train Transportation steam engine Locomotive coal mine pit colliery Black & White Noir et Blanc Nikon Gas & Steam JS 2-8-2 8173 trains railways November 2014
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JS 2-8-2 8366 on the eastern mines branch brings its 20 empty China Rail coal wagons back to Nanzhan yard with the beautiful snow-capped mountains of the Tian Shan behind.
A black & white version of an earlier posting.
Tags: Sandaoling Xinjiang China Asia railway railroad rail train steam engine Locomotive Black & White Noir et Blanc JS 2-8-2 8366 coal mine mountains Tian Shan freight Gas & Steam trains railways November 2014
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Dawn rising at 8 a.m. over a different railway scene. And it's below freezing. This morning JS 2-8-2 6209 is waiting to propel a mineworkers passenger train through the Sandaoling open cast mine to the control tower west of the pit at Xibolizhan. We had a footplate ride on this loco.
Today I understand there are still a few steam locos working the yard at Nanzhan but the spetacular steam-hauled mineral trains out of the pit are no more.
Tags: Dongbolizhan Sandaoling Xinjiang China Far East JS 2-8-2 6209 railway railroad rail train Transportation steam engine Locomotive Gas & Steam trains railways industrial Atmosphere dawn sunrise coal mine pit November 2014
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With the steam from its air pump exhaust arcing into the sunlight JS 2-8-2 8167 is discharging its train of side-tipping coal wagons at the Xuanmeichang washery before heading back into the open-cast pit for another load. This process went on 24 hours a day.
Tags: Sandaoling Xinjiang China Asia industrial railway railroad rail train Transportation steam engine Locomotive coal mine washery JS 2-8-2 8167 Gas & Steam trains railways Xuanmeichang pit Hami industry November 2014
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Sandaoling industrial JS 2-8-2 8190 is seen at Kenkongzhan. I'm not sure why but this train on the line to the washery at Xuanmeichang was held here for some time. At least this gave the crew the chance to do a spot of cleaning with a steam lance - the man on the running plate is wielding it.
The line dropping off in front of the brick station building behind the train on the left shows how steep the drop into the coal pit is. The track left of 8190 runs round to Dongbolizhan.
Tags: Sandaoling Xinjiang China Asia railway railroad rail train Transportation steam engine Locomotive JS 2-8-2 8190 Black & White Noir et Blanc coal mining pit Gas & Steam trains railways Industry Industrial November 2014
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