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| Steam, Diesel AND Electric from my office window! https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=23138 |
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| Author: | Dave Crosby [ Sun Jun 10, 2007 2:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Steam, Diesel AND Electric from my office window! |
Today 6/10/07 as I sit in my office at Bridge 60 tower on the old DL&W main overlooking Steamtown I can see the three main forms of locomotion to be found in the railroad world. Steamtown is running short excursions with freshly overhauled 4-6-2 2317, short caboose hops with restored NKP 514 a GP-9 and the Electric City Trolley Museum is operating excursions over the old L&WV Interurban with Philly Car #76. All in all a decent view if one has to work on a weekend, especially if you include the RS-3 in freight service on the DL yesterday... This got me thinking, where else today can you achieve this “all in one” gathering of operating equipment. I know Orange Empire can put all three types in service, and IRM should be able to (again) once their steam engine returns. EBT comes close with the occasional operation of their diesel power with steam. Anywhere else? I know this used to be possible at a few other places such Rio Vista Jct., but for a variety of reasons this doesn’t happen any longer. Dave Crosby MP 133.8 on the DL&W |
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| Author: | QJdriver [ Sun Jun 10, 2007 4:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Steam, Diesel AND Electric from my office window! |
Well, right off hand I can think of two places in China with all three types of motive power in daily use: The first is Jipei station on the Hegang Coal Railway, which interchanges with China Rail there. The coal railway has steam and electric, and China Rail is all diesel. They are supposed to begin dieselizing the local line anytime, but these things haven't proceeded as rapidly or as completely as the many magazine articles about "the end of mainline steam in China" wopuld have you believe. The other place is Pingdsingshan, a big city with diesel and electric through trains on China Rail, and a local coal railway which has seven new diesels and a couple dozen active steam engines of three different classes. At Pingdingshan, business on the local railway is increasing enough so that no steam engines have been retired since they started getting diesels, and they recently pulled a QJ out of storage and put her back to work. If I really tried, I could come up with a few more places in China with steam, diesel, and electric still working side by side right now. Just thought of two more: Shenyang, where the Sujiatun Steam Locomotive Workshop uses a GJ class 0-6-0T engine to switch their little yard, which is next to a monstrous Chiuna Rail diesel and electric locomotive shop. This is been on shaky ground for several years, since the JiTong dieselized, but as far as I know they are still hanging on. And nearby Fuxin has a coal railway with a dozen or so SYs working daily and a new diesel, which interchanges with a China Rail mainline having diesel and electric. Oh yea, how about the Shenyang power plant with an SY which again works off of the same China Rail mainline?? That qualifies, too. That makes five, total, without looking anything up. I'd sure love to have a towerman's view of some of these places for a while.... or even a security camera tape to watch.... |
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| Author: | Les Beckman [ Sun Jun 10, 2007 4:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Steam, Diesel AND Electric from my office window! |
QJdriver wrote: The other place is Pingdsingshan, a big city with diesel and electric through trains on China Rail, and a local coal railway which has seven new diesels and a couple dozen active steam engines of three different classes. At Pingdingshan, business on the local railway is increasing enough so that no steam engines have been retired since they started getting diesels, and they recently pulled a QJ out of storage and put her back to work.
Sammy - We know ONE class is the QJ, but what are the other two? Les |
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| Author: | QJdriver [ Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Steam, Diesel AND Electric from my office window! |
Hi Les, The other two classes are both 2-8-2s. The first is the heavy version, the JS class, which is like the engine in Iowa. There are around a dozen and a half of these beauties still working at Pingdingshan. The lighter version is the SY class, like the Valley RR has out in CT. This is by far the most numerous steam class still working in China, but PDS only has two left. If you check out the RyPN archives, the Chinese steam article that ran last year has pictures from Hegang and PDS, and the one from 2005 has pictures from Sujiatun. Not much coverage of the electrics and diesels, though.... |
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| Author: | Les Beckman [ Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Steam, Diesel AND Electric from my office window! |
Sammy - Thanks very much for the info. One other question, are there any 2-8-0's or 2-6-2's that you know of, that are still in regular operation in China? Les |
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| Author: | QJdriver [ Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Steam, Diesel AND Electric from my office window! |
Hi Les, We're a bit late for that, I'm afraid, but Tiefa Coal Group has a freshly rebuilt example of both types available for charter. They also use SYs in regular service for commuter trains and a little bit on freight/coal/switching. This line has an aggressive approach to steam preservation and tourism, and recently completed a gigantic covered storage barn for twenty or so engines, and it looks like they've shopped and shined up enough of 'em to fill it. You're not too late to see some jaw dropping stuff over there, but I wouldn't put it off too much longer. Please excuse me if this borders on advertising, but a good friend of mine, an excellent railway photographer and excellent guide, Xuejun Liu, has sent me an itenerary and prices for a trip I'd sure like to take next fall: Now I make one final steam trip itinerary that is in Oct: D1: Beijing flight to Lanzhou in the morning,road to Baiyin and take photo in the afternoon.3 star hotel. D2: Baiyin photo all day. SY 2-8-2 CLASS. D3:Baiyin photo in the morning,then road to Lanzhou and k29516:01----6:29 to Hami in the afternoon,all night soft sleeper. D4: Sandaoling. JS 2-8-2 and SY 2-8-2 CLASS. D5: Sandaoling. road to Hami in eveing and train to Wulumuqi.all night soft sleeper. D6: Wulumuqi flight to Chengdu,and road to Shibanxi. 2star hotel. D7:Shibanxi. C2 0-8-0 class. D8:Shibanxi. D9:Shibanxi,road to Chengdu .3star hotel. D10: Chengdu flight to Zhengzhou,road to Pingdingshan.4 star hotel. D11:Pingdingshan ,QJ 2-10-2,JS 2-8-2,SY 2-8-2 CLASS D12 :Pingdingshan all day to Yingaho in late afternoon.3 star hotel D13:Yinghao N.G .C2 class. to Xingyang in late afternoon. D14:Xingyang N.G. To Zhengzhou in late afternoon,train to Yanzhou.4 star hotel. D15:Yanzhou.2-10-2 class. D16:Jinan flight to Beijing ,finish good trip. ******the dates is Oct 25--Nov 9,tha is would be good. ******I will be according to steam situation to change our itinerary. I am looking forwrd to your reply.if Yinghao and xing N.G stop,we will stay one more day in Sandaoling and Shibanxi. ******the cost for 6 persons prty:1580$+flight ticket.For flight ticket,i will depending on discount and will let you know it before you visit china 20--30days.the cost is including hotel,meal,transfer,soft sleeper,photo fee in everywhere and service.......all cost in china. but I hope 6 persons and more. I am looking forward to your reply. best wishes yours:jun Jun's web page has up to date information on Chinese steam: http://www.jun-railjourney.com/main/index.asp email: friendctsjun@yahoo.com.cn Maybe you'd like to join us !!!! |
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