Ice Quickie 2009 – Your Very Last Chance for Zhalai Nuoer and QJs!

Zhalai Nuoer

China 18.02. - 28.02.2009

After the Winter Spectacle in January 2009 was fully booked we got several requests to run another trip – the last possible one – to Zhalai Nuoer in winter. With the end of metre gauge steam in Burma (Myanmar) we needed to fill a gap in the tour calendar and – voila – here it is: the ultimate Ice quickie 2009. Another tour where we need to admit: it will be the last of it’s kind. This tour can never ever be repeated! Zhalai Nuoer’s will withdraw the railway from the open cast pit, the underground mines connection will be dieselised soon. Zoucheng will be fully dieselised in 2009 and it’s not even sure that we’ll be the last lucky ones who the able to close the deal to see the last winter steam season of the mighty QJs. Last but not least, in Baiyin we where told recently that they will not purchase diesels until May 2009 – which means that if present plans hold true, the next winter season will be steamy for sure, but might be the very last. It’s time for a another farewell tour.

Baiyin

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Itinerary

Date

Itinerary

18.02.

Departure to Beijing

19.02.

Morning arrival in Beijing, flight Beijing – Manzhouli by HU 7115 12.50 – 15.00 hrs, charter bus to Zhalai Nuoer, hotel Zhalai Nuoer

20.02.

Visit to the open cast mine of Zhalai Nuoer, hotel in Zhalai Nuoer

21.02.

Visit to the open cast mine of Zhalai Nuoer, hotel in Zhalai Nuoer

22.02.

Half a day in and around Zhalai Nuoer, 13.00 hrs continue to Manzhouli airport, flight Manzhouli – Beijing by HU 7116 16.00 – 18.00 hrs and continue by MU 2418 to Lanzhou 21.30 – 23.55, charter bus Lanzhou – Baiyin, hotel in Baiyin

23.02.

Line siding along the mountain line of Baiyin, hotel in Baiyin

24.02.

Line siding along the mountain line of Baiyin, visit to the depot of Baiyin, hotel in Baiyin

25.02

Morning Line siding along the mountain line of Baiyin, charter bus to Lanzhou, continue by overnight train T166/163 from Lanzhou, departure 13.15 hrs. Only hard sleepers are available for this train!

26.02.

05.31 hrs arrival in Xuzhou, continue by charter bus to Zoucheng, line siding around Zoucheng, hotel Zoucheng

27.02.

line siding around Zoucheng, overnight train K108, departure Zoucheng 21.01 hrs

28.02.

Arrival in Beijing 05.01 hrs, charter bus to a basic airport hotel for a shower, airport shuttle bus to the airport and return flight, arrival in Europe in the same evening

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Line description

Zhalai Nuoer

Zhalai Nuoer (SY) is near Manzhouli in Inner Mongolia province, close to the Russian border. The long journey to get there will be rewarded by plenty of steam action. In addition there are several railway lines serving underground mines as well, all served by steam. About 20 steam locomotives work during the winter season from a total of 50. Trains are continuously coming and going on the steep gradients leading down to the bottom of the mine. The SY’s have to work hard to pull their load to the top level of the mine. Sometimes you can observe three or even four trains moving in and out of the mine simultaneously! We will visit the two depots as well. In the open cast pit is a small stabling point. Last but not least there is also a passenger service in the morning and the late afternoon. The passenger trains are unusually short, consisting of only one or two coaches. They can be pulled, pushed or even pulled and banked. The coal reserves are declining and so it is planned to close the railway into the open cast pit in 2009. Afterwards they want to use lorries to bring the last bits of coal out of the mine. The rail connection between the deep mines will be dieselised in 2009. So this trip is probably your very last chance to experience Zhalai Nuer’s splendid photographic opportunities.

Zhalai Nuoer

Zhalai Nuoer has been taken over by a new company which announced several restrictions for visitors. The permit for visiting the open cast pit is relatively sure (October 2008), but visits are limited to daylight hours and to some parts of the mine only. Its likely that security will be always around our group – and sometimes hinder us in taking the shots we want.

Baiyin

Baiyin is probably the last real challenge for the class SY in the mountains. Beside some industrial places you have the only known line into the loess mountains which is still steam operated. Baiyin is close to the Yellow River and the typically loess mountain countryside is everywhere around. This line offers it all: passenger trains in the best morning light, steep gradients with freight trains struggling up the line, and mountain scenery. This is one of the most beautiful lines in China that still sees regular steam service. The little workshop is able to carry out overhauls. We’ll visit it, of course. On request they said that steam use will be sure to continue until May 2009. The prospects for the future are uncertain. Because the company earns good money from their products (which includes silver) they are financially capably of buying a batch of diesels whenever they which to do so.

Zoucheng

In Zoucheng we’ll find some of the last examples of the mighty QJ class of 2-10-2s, which were once responsible for the heaviest trains on many state railway lines. The engines are in delightful condition and will be used alongside the diesel locomotives for short trains and occasionally for very long and heavy trains. The lines are mostly flat but the minor gradients combined with the coal trains of up to 50 wagons (above 3,000 metric tons) require hard work as well. There are no “idiot hills“ but several reasonable good positions can be found, like bridges or from a gantry. The daily meeting in the morning at the stabling point is a sight as well.

Zoucheng

In September 2008 Zoucheng had two steam locomotives under use (besides 12 diesels). Two more QJs are in the workshop Laiwu. All operations are arranged according to the demands of the mines and power plants. They are somewhat unpredictable, but we’ll keep in touch with the central control office to get the right information in time for taking photos. You can expect between one and three trains  with locomotives running chimney first during daylight. It is almost impossible to chase trains because the roads are too bad. If you haven’t seen the QJs in service you should really consider this one or your last chances!

Just in case we are too late to see the QJs here we’ll go to the Xintai Zhaizhen coal mine where there are one out of two serviceable QJs (7076 and 7086) still in use on their eleven km long line to the state railway. Xintai Zhaizhen is about two hours away from Zoucheng.

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Small Print

The tour was planned in September 2008. In the time between when the itinerary was published and our departure date, for China, there may be changes required due to time table changes or the dieselisation of one of our lines. The final update to our tour will be made about a week before we leave for China.

Zhalai Nuoer

In Zhalai Nuoer we expect morning temperatures around minus 30 degrees Centigrade. The cold is dry and there is often no wind, so it’s not really difficult to stand the climate. Further to the south, in Beijing, temperatures can be around zero to minus ten degrees in January. You need very good winter clothes as well as good batteries for your cameras. We recommend that you take Lithium batteries or Lithium-Ion rechargeable batteries. You can recharge batteries in all the hotels (and, in Lixin, even in private houses). Sometimes an adapter is necessary (always for UK visitors). On overnight trains there are only occasional working outlets available. The mobile phone service is compatible with the European standard. The coverage in China is amazingly good. Packaged hand and foot warmers that can be placed in boots or pockets can be welcome on long days too.

The hotels used will be of medium class. The night train from Zoucheng to Beijing is booked in soft sleeper class (closed four berth compartments). As the reservation system in China is a typical quota system where the station of origin typically gets an allotment of more than 50 % of the available tickets, it is not guaranteed that we can get soft sleeper tickets for this train. Our other overnight train had to be booked in hard sleeper class, which, however, is not as hard as the name suggests. Hard sleeper compartments are open and normally comprise six berths. Hygienic and environmental standards in China often do no conform to European expectations. Carrying some toiletries in your photo bag is hence advisable.

Zhalai Nuoer

Single rooms are not available on train rides.

Charter buses and trains represent the standard of our host country, which may deviate from European and North American expectations. While we will endeavour to avoid long walks, some photo positions may require an extra but worthwhile effort.

Zhalai Nuoer

This tour is designed for both dedicated photographers and video filmmakers. Our philosophy is to provide opportunities to get that perfect sunrise shot rather than take a time consuming 5-star breakfast buffet. On occasions lunch will be served as a packed meal or cancelled. In the evening we’ll have time for meals which are usually sumptuous. Beverages are not included in the tour price. It is a good idea to take along some nutritious snacks in your camera bag, or perhaps some packaged instant soups to help keep warm. Hot water is usually available.

Please bear in mind that accommodation and transportation in China fall short of EU or US safety standards. Always use common sense when crossing roads and railway tracks. FarRail Tours cannot be held responsible, and will not accept any liability whatsoever in the case of any accident or damage. We suggest you take out a comprehensive overseas accident and health insurance policy.  We also suggest carrying a small travel first aid kit.

Zhalai Nuoer

Registration period ends January 2nd 2008.

Later registrations will be accepted if flights and hotels are still available. If you’re not sure whether you can participate or not please announce your interest well in advance so that we can hold your place.

Baiyin

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Price

Bookings made until December 28th, 2008, midnight:

Ice Quickie 2009 – Your Last Chance from 10 participants
£2,180
18.02.2009 to 28.02.2009 Single room supplement
£110

Bookings from December 29th, 2008:

Ice Quickie 2009 – Your Last Chance from 10 participants
£2,590
18.02.2009 to 28.02.2009 Single room supplement
£135

Minimum number of participants: 10
Maximum number of participants: 30

Without flight to Beijing (land only): Please subtract £440 from the tour price.

The price includes:

Not included are:

Above prices are based on specific bookings with the respective airlines, which have to be confirmed well in advance. Your early booking is hence essential.

DISCLAIMER
As a service to our UK-based clients FarRail Tours accepts and will continue to accept payments made out in Pound Sterling until further notice. However, please note that from January 28, 2009, all prices quoted in Pound Sterling are indicative only and are subject to change without prior notice. This measure was taken by FarRail Tours due to the unprecedented volatility in the international foreign exchange markets and its impact on the valuation of the Pound Sterling versus other major currencies, namely the Euro as FarRail Tours' accounting currency.

Zhalai Nuoer

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