Still Into Steam Locomotives? Ever Heard Of The QJ Locomotives?

[R44 5278]

Anyone heard of the 2-10-2 QJ locomotives that were once used regularly on China's Jitong Railway in Inner Mongolia until the 21st Century? That's right everyone, I said the 21st Century because the QJ actually hauled passenger service from the 60s until 2003 (freight trains until 2005) throughout Inner Mongolia, China a region that actually once prospered from selling coal and used them exclusively to powered their trains. Nevertheless, the QJs were the last Steam Locomotives to go on production and were model after the Soviet Union LV with over 4700 produced between the 60s and the 80s. Their name designation "QJ" in Chinese mean Qian-Tong or Advanced Locomotives. Note that 3 of the 17 preserved locomotives are currently in the USA and are used for excursions. The 4th one that was ordered is now sitting on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean as the ship that was used to transport it sunk upon hitting a reef. For more info, check out this amazing site: http://www.railography.co.uk/info/cn_steam/profiles/qj.htm

 

Photos (not mine):

 

 

 

 

Video:

 

This is actually a music video (1990) for the song "The Sun" from the first metal band of China, Tang Dynasty (唐朝乐队). Not to go into politics, but note that despite all the "social and human rights problems" in China, this video actually depicts the real life in China. The video showed the message that yes the people are still poor but are happily ascending with the government together (slowly) to the life they eventually want to seek. The QJ locomotive here adds to the message of growing prosperity as they were viewed as the most modern of Steam Locomotives.

[Forest Glen]

Nice pics, though China is contributing to Greenhouse gases.

[LRG]

Nice pics, though China is contributing to Greenhouse gases.

 

LOL but true.

[metsfan]

This was part of the original trans-siberian railway from saint petersburg to the pacific i believe.

 

- A

[R44 5278]

This was part of the original trans-siberian railway from saint petersburg to the pacific i believe.

 

- A

 

Actually Andy, this is the CNR Jitong Railway built in 1995. It's somewhat of a "cutoff" from the southwest part of Beijing to the easternmost part of Inner Mongolia, China. Yes, this railway does bypass Beijing for traffic going into Southwestern China. Due to China's low labor cost, ease to manufacture steam engines and cheap coal price, China was the last country to retire steam locomotives on mainline services. Due to its closeness to coal mines, the Jitong railway was the last mainline railway in world to use steam locomotives. If you look closely at the pictures, the tracks actually have concrete sleepers as much of the Trans-Siberian Railway still has wooden sleepers. On a side note, China has built all railways since the 60s with concrete sleepers due their cheaper costs and had replaced all (except mining railroads) tracks originally with wooden sleepers to concrete sleepers.

 

I think the line that you're referring to is the double-tracked China Far East Railway, which runs semi-parallel to this railway in the east. That railway runs to Harbin before turn 90 degrees and heading into Russia, where it joins the main route of the Trans-Siberian. However, this railway does go into Beijing.

[metsfan]

Actually Andy, this is the CNR Jitong Railway built in 1995. It's somewhat of a "cutoff" from the southwest part of Beijing to the easternmost part of Inner Mongolia, China. Yes, this railway does bypass Beijing for traffic going into Southwestern China. Due to China's low labor cost, ease to manufacture steam engines and cheap coal price, China was the last country to retire steam locomotives on mainline services. Due to its closeness to coal mines, the Jitong railway was the last mainline railway in world to use steam locomotives. If you look closely at the pictures, the tracks actually have concrete sleepers as much of the Trans-Siberian Railway still has wooden sleepers. On a side note, China has built all railways since the 60s with concrete sleepers due their cheaper costs and had replaced all (except mining railroads) tracks originally with wooden sleepers to concrete sleepers.

 

I think the line that you're referring to is the double-tracked China Far East Railway, which runs semi-parallel to this railway in the east. That railway runs to Harbin before turn 90 degrees and heading into Russia, where it joins the main route of the Trans-Siberian. However, this railway does go into Beijing.

 

Ah, ok. The terrain looks similar. :cool:

 

- A

[R44 5278]

Ah, ok. The terrain looks similar. :cool:

 

- A

 

Ah yes, Northern China is just as mountainous as Southern Russia!

[Deaks]

the Jitong railway was the last mainline railway in world to use steam locomotives.

You can still ride behind them in Poland if you want. They do a couple of round trips from Poznan to Wolsztyn in western Poland. It looks very strange as the steam locos pull double-deck cars....!

 

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/pl/steam/Ol49/59/Ol49-59.jpg

[R44 5278]

You can still ride behind them in Poland if you want. They do a couple of round trips from Poznan to Wolsztyn in western Poland. It looks very strange as the steam locos pull double-deck cars....!

 

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/pl/steam/Ol49/59/Ol49-59.jpg

 

Interesting! Are you sure that it's not an excursion train?

[Deaks]

Interesting! Are you sure that it's not an excursion train?

No, it's a regular Polish State Railways service. You can just buy a normal ticket and ride behind the steam loco. They do two/three round trips a day, except during August I think.