China Sept 2004

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Steam in China - October 2004

by Dave Fielding

Baiyin, Baotou, DaGu

Baiyin

On 21st October, during their 2004 China Tour, a group of LCGB and IRS members made an official visit to Baiyin Metal Works arranged by our guide Lu Yong of CITS Harbin. We observed 15 SY of which 7 were in steam, 5 dumped/derelict and 4 JS dumped/derelict. We must have been one of the first official visits (if not the first) as we were accompanied by a cameraman and a young lady with a Sony camcorder, as we photed and videoed, we ourselves were photed and videoed.

Loco details:

JS 8021 Dumped in compound next to depot

JS 8082 Datong /1987 Dumped south of depot in permanent way yard

JS 8224 Datong /1987 Dumped south of depot in permanent way yard

JS 8350 Datong /1988 Dumped south of depot in permanent way yard

SY 0135 Tangshan 1/1969 Dumped at back of depot

SY 0139 Tangshan 4/1969 Dumped in compound next to depot

SY 0194 Tangshan 2/1970 Dumped in compound next to depot

SY 0206 Working

SY 0612 Working on slag tip shunt with two cauldron wagons

SY 0701 Tangshan 8/1973 Dumped south of depot in permanent way yard

SY 0819 Tangshan 4/1974 In steam on side tipping wagons at ore unloading siding South of permanent way yard

SY 0965 Tangshan 3/1975 In depot, out of use

SY 1013 Tangshan 6/1975 Dumped at back of depot

SY 1047 Tangshan 9/1975 Working around main yard

SY 1067 Tangshan 10/1975 In depot, minor repairs

SY 1470 Tangshan 7/1986 Working, first shunting tank wagons into yard just South of depot, then passenger trains

SY 1581 Tangshan 10/1987 Working around main yard

SY 1583 Tangshan 10/1987 Working around main yard, later shunting North West Lead Zinc Smelter

SY 3020 Changchun 1995 Overhaul in workshop, not a Baiyin loco, from colliery near Lanzhou

JS 8021		Dumped in compound next to depot
JS 8082	Datong /1987	Dumped south of depot in permanent way yard
JS 8224	Datong /1987	Dumped south of depot in permanent way yard
JS 8350	Datong /1988	Dumped south of depot in permanent way yard
SY 0135	Tangshan 1/1969	Dumped at back of depot
SY 0139	Tangshan 4/1969	Dumped in compound next to depot
SY 0194	Tangshan 2/1970	Dumped in compound next to depot
SY 0206		Working
SY 0612		Working on slag tip shunt with two cauldron wagons
SY 0701	Tangshan 8/1973	Dumped south of depot in permanent way yard
SY 0819	Tangshan 4/1974	In steam on side tipping wagons at ore unloading siding South of permanent way yard
SY 0965	Tangshan 3/1975	In depot, out of use
SY 1013	Tangshan 6/1975	Dumped at back of depot
SY 1047	Tangshan 9/1975	Working around main yard
SY 1067	Tangshan 10/1975	In depot, minor repairs
SY 1470	Tangshan 7/1986	Working, first shunting tank wagons into yard just South of depot, then passenger trains
SY 1581	Tangshan 10/1987	Working around main yard
SY 1583	Tangshan 10/1987	Working around main yard, later shunting North West Lead Zinc Smelter
SY 3020	Changchun 1995	Overhaul in workshop, not a Baiyin loco, from colliery near Lanzhou

More details can be added to the map as follows:

Add a line going East from Gongsi yard into factory complex named (in English) as North West Lead Zinc Smelter.
Before entering the complex the line passes under a higher level line connecting the "local railway" to factory complexes including blast furnaces well to the South of Gongsi yard. This higher level line obstructs the view but from the East of the line, you can see the slag tip line running West to East from the blast furnace area.
There also was a track running south of the Lead and Zinc Smelting Works in a south westerly direction and passing under the slag tipping line. I assume that this line, like the line into the Lead and Zinc Smelting Works passes under the north south side of the triangle.

Around midday SY 1470 arrived at the Gongsi passenger platform from Baiyin Shi with a single passenger coach, passengers were mostly young school children. At 13.30 it propelled the coach complete with the children, some adults, bicycles and our group back to Baiyin Shi. Almost immediately it returned to Gongsi minus children but with a few passengers and our group. The coach was so filthy that sitting on the seats was not recommended. Around 15.30 SY 1470 was photographed out on the "local railway" with 7 coaches, assumed to be the 15.15 ex Baiyin Shi.

Gongsi yard has around 14 tracks plus 3 more parallel in a compound to the South which contained passenger coaches and some of the yellow tank wagons which formed the majority of wagons in the yard. A green CNR DF4 was noted bringing wagons into the yard. Our group did not visit the SYs between Baiyin Xi and Baiyin Shi.

Other remarks:

Nanpiao

Oct 12th. By this date SY 1478 was noted stripped down to a bare boiler in Fuxin repair workshops.

Huhehaote

Oct 18th Huhehahote CNR depot: QJ 7064 in fine condition is plinthed and the plinth is rail connected to depot tracks. SY 1314 is dumped, connecting rods off, behind tank wagons on track by depot's oil storage tanks.

Baotou

Oct 20th Baotou Iron and Steel. New maroon-grey DF7G 0042 being examined by staff at diesel depot. On leaving Baotou a similar (or maybe the same) loco was working well to the West of the works.
At Baotou (Xi) CNR depot the three preserved locos are now under a roof and have been repainted. Two more locomotives have been added to the collection and were being repainted but not yet numbered. They appeared to be JS 8316 and QJ 6834. In addition there are 21 JSs and 2 QJs dumped at the depot.

DaGu Railway

Oct 22nd/23rd Daba-Guyaozi. Linesiding was purgatory due to limited traffic, particularly on 22nd when 9.00-18.00 produced loaded trains at 10.45 and 15.05 with empties at 18.00. Also observed were Daba: 6832 at servicing point, 7194 shunting shiny tank wagons, linesiding 7061 and 1465 on loaded trains and 7194 on empties, Guyaozi shed area 7200 in steam, 7205 and 7195 which surely should only be described as dead or spare, rather than out of use, 7036 inside shed and Guyaozi station area 6545 in light steam. On Oct 23rd 10.05 7194+6832 on 40 wagon loaded train and 13.40 7200 on 3 tank wagons plus 35 empties. The group left the lineside at 14.15 for Yinchuan airport and a flight back to Beijing.
A few kilometers short of Guyaozi what appeared to be a brand new loop (or maybe upgrading of an existing loop) complete with siding and new buildings was being built. Is an increase in traffic planned and why so relatively close to Guyaozi?

Dave Fielding

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