Bernd Seiler's comments on the deep mines lines

To the deep mines and the power plant, which are all connected by rail, there are some gradients. The situation is as follows:

South line: Locos facing south towards the southern end of the line.
Starting from the washery (Dongfanghong) is a steep gradient to Yunxiaochu (= Daqiao (= big bridge)).
Gradient until the level crossing, then downhill to Shengli (there is a spur to Shierjing), then continue in a gradient via Erzhan almost all the way in to Shiyijing.
Here the line splits off to Lingquan and Xinsanxie (power station).
Returning northbound there is a gradient from Shengli to Daqiao, this is tender first, not to everyone's taste. However, it was a sight to see the full deflector SY coming up there.
Very good shots can be taken around Erzhan, trains southbound. I published a shot from one of the possible locations in the Zhalai Nuer gallery (see: http://www.farrail.com/galleries/galerie_43-china-zhalai-n.html). There is no fixed timetable on this line.

North line to Tiebei: trains chimney first towards the mines. Locos work hard while on the under-pass beneath the state railway, regulator keeps open until Beixie.