Somewhere in China (where?). Interesting shelter.

http://www.mgsharp.com/images/Bachmann_CR/qj6800.jpg

Looks like either the railroad museum in Beijing, or the steam locomotive exhibition hall in Shenyang --- this engine is the prototype for Bachmann China's latest HO QJ model, currently available, QJ6800, "Iron Bull". You got to admit, the Chinese have a sense of STYLE.

I compared the number to my photos from Beijing RR Museum and I don't think it is one of the ones in Beijing. Also those are all indoors as of recent times. Could be Shenyang but there are also dozens of other places they might be on display.

The most recent report I could find is by David Fakes, in QJ Country, 11/28/05 --- He states that QJ6800 is presently housed in the China Rail depot in Jixi, under cover. This engine worked for the Harbin bureau, and had been kept at Mudanjiang until recently.

Sort of off and on topic here, but what is the state of Chinese steam preservation? I see sites with photos of steam from fans who have gone over there but I never read anything on the preservation of steam now that it’s almost gone…

Here is the little bit that I know: The word is that the Chinese government wants to do away with steam before the Beijing Olympics in 2006 as one way of "saving face", or presenting an appearance of progressiveness to the world media. By the same token, preserving steam as a relic seems to gaining ground. This is resulting in some diverse examples being stored undercover after being rebuilt and painted in one of the remaining active steam shops. The giant museums in Beijing and Shenyang are the best examples of this, but other engines such as QJ6800 are exhibited or otherwise enshrined in an increasing number of locations throughout China. As an entirely separate matter, there are also still any number of freshly shopped engines presently being kept in reserve by coal mines and other industries, and I would GUESS that there are most likely individuals watching over at least some of them, if only because coal and water is cheaper than diesel fuel.

The Shibanxi narrow gauge is considered a preserved landmark/tourist attraction, and reports from there indicate that it provides an accessable, affordable, genuine, folkloric experience.

JiTong has kept some QJs in reserve, and is planning their first diesel age steam event in March of this year. Tickets are in the $1000/person range. No, it's not a typo.

Tiefa is using their fleet of 2-8-2s less and less all the time, but they plan to keep them under cover, and they have also obtained KD6 2-8-0, YJ 2-6-2, and GJ 0-6-0T locomotives and have put them all in running order. Based on personal experience, I would say that the working folks there are pretty nice, but the management most definitely saw dollar signs and more dollar signs all over me, as if I was rich, or something.....

Like most other countries, only government sanctioned or supported projects are getting done in China. However, steam preservation opportunities for the wealthy abound in 2006, while many of us poor schmoes can still manage to go see steam actually working in it's natural habitat.