There were three difference classes of 0-6-0Ts that ran at least until recently on China Railways. The shape of the side tanks and location and shape of the domes are the main thing that set them apart.
The GJ class was built by at least two firms (Chengdugungchang and Taiyuan) in China from 1958 to about 1960. These have square side tanks; one of each have been preserved in the new railway museums in Beijing and Shenyang; others have been spotted either dumped or still in use at various steelworks, at least until recently.
The XK13 class was built by Chrzanow of Poland, where it was known as the "Ferrum". They differ only in small details from the USATC locomotives; the line of the tank and the cab floor are straight line, with no step. They have a slight slope on top of the tanks in front. One has been preserved in the new railway museum in Shenyang; another is plinted at Baotou Steelworks; others have been preserved at Muchangkou and Baotou Steelworks.
The XK2 class are the USATC locomotives. Subtle changes were made by the Chinese. One of these was perserved at Benxi, and one at Anshan Steel Works. On these, the cab floor is lower than the bottom of the tanks, forming a step; and the top of the tanks in front also have a slight slope.
If my memory is correct, at Anshan, they were used for the ore tracks at the top of the furnances because other steam and diesel locomotives were too heavy for the tracks. The arrival of lightweight diesels pushed them into retirement; I am guessing there were similiar stories with the others.
Going back to the machine being sold; the number is hard to read, but it looks like a four digit number; I think all of the XK2 class had numbers in the 1xxx range or less. The straight edge along the bottom also confirms this is a Polish-built XK13 class. This might be XK 5902; which was preserved in a park at the entrance to Baotou Steelworks. It could, of course, be a new discovery.
|