The World's Last Revenue Steam Lines and Two Narrow-Gauge Railways

Winter steam in China 7 - 17.12.2023

There's life in the old dog yet! Steam operations in Sandaoling are still alive. Not in the opencast mine, but in Nanzhan and on the line to the underground mine at Erjing Yes, photographically, this is not at all what Sandaoling once had to offer, but still has lunar landscapes and gradients AND it is the last location with locomotives that look like real locomotives in mine service and not super-shiny and dressed up like circus horses in Disneyland.

In addition, several narrow-gauge railways have managed to open up tourist operations. Most want to charge prices for charter trains that are absurd (Xinglongzhen, Suileng, Xinzheng) or have such tiny operations that it doesn't seem worth the trip such as Alihe. But two lines are definitely worth a visit – Huanan and Shibanxi. These railways are completely different in appearance. While in Huanan we can ride a really authentic-looking forest railway passenger train, in Shibanxi we can still experience the tiny sheet metal passenger coaches without windows that are only known on this railway. The line runs through tropical terraced landscape and has a very photogenic tunnel carved through a rock.

top

Itinerary

Flight numbers and times of domestic flights are illustrative only and may be changed once the flight timetable for December is published.

top

Line descriptions

A lunar landscape awaits us in Sandaoling. The track looks flat, but it has a considerable gradient towards the coal mine, which can lead to empty trains being banked by another locomotive. Usually this happens with steam. The locomotives are facing tender-first towards the coal mine, which means that the loaded trains come back to Nanzhan chimney-first.

In the station area, steam is used to shunt at the coal washing and sorting plant. Here you can find some photographical opportunities with an industrial background against the sunrise. We are not allowed to enter the Nanzahn station itself, but from the side of it you can watch the action. You're also not allowed to wander into the mine, but you get the best view from the former railway level crossing to the east of the mine anyway. The photos here are all from this railway and not from the open-cast mine, which no longer sees any trains.

There are about two to three pairs of trains a day to the coal mine. There is shunting at Nanzhan most of the day, sometimes with very heavy trains.

Huanan once had an extensive forest railway network. It was the last active forest railway in China. The line that existed until the end has been dismantled, but they have rebuilt the old line to the northeast up to a tourist resort on a reservoir. The line is eight kilometres long in total and still offers some photo opportunities. Especially in the late afternoon, when the trains run out of the setting sun, you can take atmospheric pictures. At sunrise, a bridge is a good place for taking pictures against the early morning sun.

Shibanxi has become a tourist railway. But in the winter months you won’t find many tourists on the railway, so we will have plenty of time for photo stops. The scheduled trains can still cross at various stations, so we will have plenty of opportunities to capture this scenic railway in pictures. Life along the line has become a bit more modern, but still essentially rural, and many sections in the woodlands are unchanged. The railway has a reversal station in Mifengyang, where you can find a small museum. Among other things, a standard-gauge SY has been placed there. We prefer to concentrate on the tunnels on the railway and the beauty of the terraced landscape. The trains leave Shibanxi tender-first, then chimney-first from the reversal station. From the terminus, they run tender-first to the reversal and then chimney-first back. It has not yet been decided whether we will be allowed to visit the depot. However, it is very narrow and not very photogenic.

The essential times for photographers are:

You can see from this that in Sandaoling we can slowly get used to the time difference to Europe, while after that it becomes increasingly early that we have to get up.

top

Small print

Temperatures in Sandaoling are expected to be around minus 15 to plus 10 degrees, in Shibanxi about plus 5 to 20 degrees and in Huanan you have to be prepared for early morning temperatures of minus 25 to minus 10 degrees, while in the afternoon the mercury reaches the freezing point at best. Clothing should accordingly include good winter gear.

The trip was planned in May 2023. Although there are only a few months until our tour, nothing is certain or guaranteed. It is possible that despite statements and assurances, Sandaoling will cease steam operations before our arrival. There is no alternative to offer as compensation. It must be realised that we are travelling to China at the end of the age of steam and therefore there can be no guarantees regarding Sandaoling's scheduled operation.

The trip is planned for ambitious photographers and videographers. We will adapt meal times to our photographical activities and not vice versa. If unavoidable, a meal may even be skipped altogether and replaced by snacks, the "inevitable" instant noodle soup or fruit for instance.

We will also be taking night shots, so bringing a sturdy tripod is highly recommended.

Our hotel in Sandaoling cannot compete with hotels in Central Europe, the Americas or Australia, the facilities are rather poor. The other hotels we booked are fully equipped and some even describe themselves as four-star hotels. However, a hot shower and a bathroom with a European toilet can be found in each of the hotels we booked. Single rooms can be booked for an extra charge.

The electrical system in China is compatible with the European one (230 V, 50 Hz). Sometimes you need an adapter for the sockets. The mobile phone standard is the same as in Central Europe, so the mobile phone from home also works in China, although high roaming charges may apply.

The tour is designed especially for photographers and videographers. It is about getting good results in this field, so not about exploring local cuisine, karaoke bars or nightclubs. The prices include full board, although due to the nature of the trip, lunch often has to be served as a packaged meal. In the evening, however, the cuisine is often all the more delicious. Breakfast is planned according to the situation. It is not eaten in the hotel, as the best lighting conditions prevail at the times when hotels usually serve breakfast. Our hotel in Sandaoling does not even serve breakfast, but there is an appropriate restaurant just around the corner. Drinks are not included in the tour price.

We will travel long distances on domestic flights, which together account for well over 1,000 Pounds of the tour price. Security checks in China are relatively strict. Flight security has improved significantly in recent years, so there is no need to worry.

Information on how to obtain visas will be sent to all participants in due course. You can hire a visa service or apply for the visa yourself.

Please note that the hotels, buses, trains, in fact everything we will encounter, are by no means EU compliant. That is why we are travelling there. We will be travelling to a country where environmental and accident protection is underdeveloped. It should be expressly pointed out the dangers that can arise from using and staying near railways. The conclusion of a foreign accident insurance and the anyway important foreign health insurance (usually it costs just a few Euros/Pounds/Dollars) is recommended. FarRail Tours is in no way liable for accidents of any kind, damage, loss, theft or inconvenience, additional costs etc. which may arise, for example, from necessary re-bookings or delays of individual modes of transport. We also recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance.

top

Price

The price includes:

• All domestic flights Beijing - Hami, Hami - Chengdu, Chengdu – Jiamusi (via Beijing or Shanghai), Jiamusi - Beijing.
• Charter buses
• All airport fees and taxes for the domestic flights
• All transfers in China
• All hotels
• Full board without beverages
• Charter trains in Huanan and Shibanxi
• Chinese and European tour guide in China

Not included are:

• Flight to and from China
• Visa
• Beverages
• Personal expenses such as telephone, laundry service, hotel minibars
• Entrance fee to Sandaoling workshop (approx. 150 Yuan)
• Tips for Chinese local staff, guides, bus drivers etc. (calculate approx. £100)

top