The JiTong railway in Inner Mongolia ran an excursion this week with two QJ top and tailing a short string of empty gons.

It is said there were "500" Chinese railfans in attendance and one westerner (Ron Olsen)

Ron reports the two QJ are in poor mechanical shape. The video below bares that out.

It is also said that just 6 years after steam had finished on the line, the railway had to bring in technical assistance to get the locos sorted for the excursion.

Watching the whole video is hard work but flip to minute 24-25 for a good laugh.

No word on if the railway will repeat the event. It is said the railway does not want to but pressure from local towns to fill the hotels is said to be great.

I wonder how long it will be before some of those hundreds railfans get together and buy/operate a loco before they are all gone....

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/SF0Kx0wFUNw/

TH

Gee, double your money on runbys going each way. And heck, you even double up the action on the video. Never mind which way the smoke goes! Neat trick.

Ok, How does the video bare out the locos are in poor condition? The only thing I could detect was a leaky packing on a right side steam chest on one of the locos. Perhaps the rod noise was a tad excessive, but don't know enough to say the is abnormal.

Nice video. Some very well off Chinese Railfans. I'm impressed.

Tom

Amazing. 182 years after the Directors of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway stipulated that they would "offer a Premium of £500 for the most improved locomotive engine" on the condition that



We finally have a locomotive demonstrating that capability............. Unfortunately, it also violates Condition V:

Nearly unrelated, but what are the instruments being played during the ceremony at the opening?

Listen to the timing on the locomotives. The one sounds as if its running on one side when under load. That's a lot of lost motion through the valve gear assuming the locomotives were quartered properly and the valve rings and bushings are in suitable condition. All this is going by typical American standards for piston valves. These locomotives have Russian-designed "Tropomov" valves (I believe?) so you're entering a new world of mechanical wonder.


Best,
DC

The one engine is out of square, but it's a bit of a stretch to say an engine is in bad shape just because her timing isn't set perfectly.

My opinion, anyway. I've heard and seen far worse on our side of the planet.

Steve Hunter

Ten Years ago on that line, when steam rained supreme. Those two locos in that condition would have been relegated to shunt duties for several months prior to going for overhaul. Upon their return to duty they would have done a spell on passenger trains before again being "relegated" to freight duty for the majority of their miles.

TH

While not directly related to the mechanical condition of the loco.

(Although the steam leaking from the cocks is obscuring the motion/wheels)

Here is an interesting image from last weeks excursion.

It would appear that the railfans have a bit to learn about photo line ups.

Note the parked car in front of most of the camera's....

TH

PS As of January 1st 2012 It was stated that there was just one QJ left in daily commercial service in China. There are however probably 100 SY and a couple of dozen JS

That is exhaust steam from the feedwater hot water pump. The QJ's pump exhaust is vented out of a pipe between the cylinder cocks. N&W also vented their HW pump exhaust on the class J here and on the Class A at the 2nd set of cylinders but on the left hand side. Exhausting the steam near the cylinders was handy for the fireman to see if the HW pump was operating.

OT: Photos of this event are the best example of the rise/growth of the Chinese middle class I've seen. You can read statistics everyday, but it is more interesting to see it manifested by 500+ railfans coming out in their SUV's, expensive DSLR's and clean, new looking heavy winter clothing.

Bob

Ditto:

The idea that Chinese citizens, not foreigners, would motivate a nostalgic steam excursion is pointed evidence of their change in standard of living.

One of my students is the son of a Chinese factory owner. He reports they are automating production because labor is harder to obtain.