China - Entering and leaving the Mine, Sandaoling December 2016
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- Опубліковано 16 жов 2024
- The last real steam action in the world is to be seen around the Chinese town of Sandaoling. Here the powerful JS Class 2-8-2s haul loaded coal trains up the steep incline out of the huge opencast mine. Empty trains reverse back into the mine. This final stronghold of steam power is almost certain to finish in 2017 - probably in the early part of the year.
Awesome and fabulously filmed - I cannot express just how much I enjoyed this, as someone who until last September drove on local narrow gauge, albeit diesel latterly but at one time steam - happy days! Tony.
Thank you Tony. Please take a look at the rest of the series -
ua-cam.com/play/PLNKEdhmODMJxI2j-Vg4jtbeZqw2GfatEM.html
You've truly captured the workings of the 2-8-2 Mikados in these fabulous series of videos, a wonderful recording of what will soon be history. Thanks for posting.
It was my pleasure recording these scenes but very sad to witness the end of steam.
Dw'in yn gytuno/I agree/Estou do Acordo
Lovely smiles on the crew of JS8190. It is good to see clean exhaust like theirs. No black smoke. Great handling. These locomotives look 'ugly-fantastic'. Many thanks for posting.
They're good teams on these locos. They certainly know how to handle them. And they seem very happy in their work (see my cab ride video). Thanks for your comment.
I was wondering if there are any accounts written by Chinese footplate crew and translated into English, describing their careers from the beginning? For example did they all start as cleaners in the same way as in Britain and progress to firing and then driving 'through the links', or did they follow the French system where driver and mechaniciene (not sure of spelling!) each follow strictly seperate training and careers, with different responsibilities and skills, never 'crossing the footplate'?
I'm afraid I can't answer that one. I certainly don't know of any career accounts being written. Sorry !
This is amazing! Crazy that they're still using steam there... I guess it makes sense given the amount of coal available!
Thanks for your comment. This is only for a few more months I'm afraid though. The last in the world like it.
@@AndyDandanFisherSteam !hyuiiol
@@taartar9135 Diolch am eich sylw ..... Andy
It's finally finished I hear? Maybe some steam shunting? I love all your work here-what a treasure these videos are and will be for the future. :-)
You'll have read my other reply Terry. Thank you for your kind comment. I hope the videos will be watched for many years ... Andy
Its 2018 and they're still going
Probably in their last few months right now (Jan 2018). If you want to witness this - get there NOW !! See FarRailTours website !
wow, can't get enough of steam engine struggling up hill under a good engineer (didn't hear wheel slip), in the words of the 50's in the U.S., I'll worry about my health later
Despite their size, these locos are pretty powerful - about 2500bhp. They're working at around 70% of capacity up this incline. Propelling the empties backwards around the sharp curve creates a lot of resistance though.
Great video. Thanks for posting. I really love steam working hard hauling coal. I noticed that each consist has 13 cars being pulled. I guess the Chinese aren´t superstitious or they wouldn´t be pulling 13 cars. Good wheel slippage on those grades. I wonder if the Japanese left those Mikados when they invaded China back in the 1930´s. At least they have whistles. Rusty in eastern Tennessee
+W. Rusty Chinese are generally pretty superstitious. E.g. the Chinese community in Malaysia think 4 is unlucky. So floors in buildings and room numbers are 1,2,3,3A,5, . . . . I think on this thread people from all round the world are appreciating these great steam locomotives.
Yeah, I certainly am appreciative of these great steam locos. Thank you for posting. I really enjoyed watching and thanks for the response. I guess the Chinese don´t put the same superstitions on the number 13 as we do. Rusty in eastern Tennessee.
I have limited knowledge of Chinese superstitions with numbers but here goes: They prefer even numbers to odd, Pyjama jackets always had only 3 buttons but when we started getting them from China they had 4 buttons. 4 = Death (but I could be wrong), 6 & 8 are very good for prosperity and good luck. That's why the Beijing Olympics began at 8pm (local time) on the 8th of August (8th month) on 2008 = 08.08.08.
Thanks!
Красава!! У нас паровозы с карьера заменили тепловозами примерно в 1975-м году.Паровозы таскали 4 думпкара,тепловозы 7.Уклон 40 тысячных. "Лучше плохой тепловоз,чем хороший паровоз." Присказка машинистов.
Никто не говорит, что старые технологии лучше новых. Однако это прекрасные примеры технологии, впервые созданной 200 лет назад. Мы должны сохранить некоторые примеры из-за их исторической ценности. Nobody is saying that old technology is better than new technology. However, these are beautiful examples of a technology first created 200 years ago. We should keep some examples alive for their historical value. ..... Andy
Fantastic footage. fYI, the Polish National Railroad is still running regularly scheduled steam passenger service out of Woltszyn. You can also go for runs as engineer and fireman. These Mikes have one thing in common with the Polish steamers. Do you notice something missing steam fans? Answer: no bell. I guess there's a least one thing still not made in China!
Thank you for your kind comment. These locos at Sandaoling are in genuine industrial operation and working really hard. There are steam services operated quite commonly around the world but only as tourist attractions (as at Wolsztyn) or, in one or two places, an industrial loco can be fired up and operated for a small fee. Sandaoling is now the last place where steam can be seen operating hard for its living in a non-tourist setting.
As for the bells, I think it's only in the Americas where bells are fitted. I have seen and heard them in the USA and Canada. They were fitted in Cuba but not used and are fitted on La Trochita in Argentina but not used. I don't recall anywhere in Europe or Asia where bells are fitted though. Bells don't really serve much purpose in practical use I find.
Steam power will survive in our hearts - and on Sodor!
Andy and Dandan Fisher - good comments about bells on locos. I would add that they had/have bells on steam locos in Germany. Here in New Zealand the locos we had in the 1870s had bells on them but I'm not sure if they were used at all. American locos imported during the 1880s and 1890s had bells and one of those bells is hanging at the building end on a platform of Wellington station.
What grades are these. They look like 1 in 50 for the loaded trains and at least a 1 in 40 for the empties. They sound awesome.🖒. Thanks
I have to confess that I don't know what the gradient is ... it's steep !! Of course, it's the same gradient for incoming empties as it is for the outgoing loaded trains. The sound is particularly good because it echoes around the remains of the opencast mine.
Andy
They never turn on their headlights, do they? It must be hard starting in reverse pushing a string of cars around a curve and uphill. Lots of wheel slipping. Some of them have air horns instead of steam whistles, or both? Are the buildings in the video factories, apartments, what? It looks like a very strange environment but would be neat to visit.
They do actually use their headlights after dark - see ua-cam.com/video/RAE7ZUGbG7c/v-deo.html - but they're not very bright. They're all fitted with both air horns and steam whistles. Unfortunately, at Sandaoling the whistles are rarely used. To hear both used alternatively (elsewhere) see - ua-cam.com/video/xPJx24HDOW0/v-deo.html The buildings are a mixture of offices, industrial and residential. The lower buildings are mostly residential.
Andy
so, from i am trying to understand from one of your last comments ,that the steamis are being retired and being replaced by trucks = lorries ? (the trucks =lories s speculation on my part)
How many kWh to store and transport this video?
Wowwwwww, awesome footage
Thank you for your comment. Please take a look at my other clips from Sandaoling - 29 in all this trip.
I am amazed you were allowed to film, that's awesome. I've never been to China but my thought always was is that it was a very controlled environment. Very interesting
When we apply for our visa it's best not to say we're visiting Xinjiang province, because it has a minority population that would like their independence. But once you have your visa you can travel freely wherever you want and, in general, you're welcomed anywhere with far fewer restrictions than in the west.
That is amazing to learn, wow. I'd love to go over there and see these steam operations. Any chance you might offer some tours?
I am already doing that through my associate based in Germany, Bernd Seiler. He has a tour going there in February. Please see -
www.farrail.net/pages/touren-engl/Steam-in-china-2017-Sandaoling-last+final.php
2020 still going???
Yes. Still going right now (March 2020) but they're scheduled to be retired in September this year. That'll be the very end of 200 years of industrial steam. Sad day! ...... Andy
3:40 that brake van looks odd! it just hangs on the back of the last car!
Nice to see steam still working normal freights in 2016!
Even more unusual is the small semaphore signal on the roof of the brake cabin. The guard gives stop/go signals to the loco driver with this when they're propelling empty trains back down into the mine. Some of my videos in the playlist show this clearly.
Thanks for that. I managed to find hotel names off a trip report but like you say, finding them all full would be a major problem! Do you know of an agent there that could be used? On my 2006 tour of China I didn't purchase any site/photography permits, I was planning to do the same, but will have enough cash just in case - is this sensible? (Cant do the farrail trip, I must set off in 6 weeks.)
You'll find it's warm in September. It's a dessert area and gets very hot in summer and very cold in winter. In September you'll see very little steam exhaust because it's not cold enough. Anyway, you can contact Yun on friendfitsjun@hotmail.com
Good luck !
Awesome videos. I am considering making the trip to Sandaoling before it's too late - is the main activity walking distance from the town? Can you remember the names of any hotels there (can't find any on internet)?
The line out of the mine is about 45 minutes walk from the town but taxis are cheap ! You could do with a translator. FarRail Tours are running a trip 8th December to 17th December 2017 - see www.farrail.com
There are three hotels in Sandaoling, none of them very good but good enough. I can't remember their names but could find out for you. They'll not be bookable online though. You need a local agent to book in advance. You'd be very unlucky if they were fully booked if you just turned up !
7:37 when realize your friend is going to ask your help for moving
Well, he managed it on his own. They very rarely need help here! ....... Andy
Nice video of hard working locomotives, but I have two questions if that's alright.
-Which steam, diesel and electric locomotives are strongest of there respective types?
-How was China able to keep steam in service as long as it did compared to other countries?
Thank you Devin for your comment. I'm not sure I understand your first question ... and I'm not sure that I would know the answer anyway! As regards the second - any of our countries could have kept steam operating as long as we had wanted. Steam power does its job well and is economically viable. However, the west had the will to clean up the environment and also has a constant drive to modernise (sometimes unnecessarily). China still uses vast amounts of coal to generate electricity - mainly because it has huge resources of coal to use up - these locomotives are running at Sandaoling with no fuel costs, because they have unlimited supplies of free fuel underneath them !!
Thanks for the info I didn't know that! I would love to see steam, diesel and electric work side by side, but one can only dream.
Sorry for not making the first question understandable. What I meant was, who is china's strongest steamer, strongest diesel and strongest electric. If you can't answer it that's cool.
It's a pleasure Devin. I don't know about the diesels and electrics but the most powerful steam locos were the QJ Class 2-10-2's. For an idea what they're like, please see -
ua-cam.com/play/PLNKEdhmODMJx1U6LtJ_E6LS2jLsnWaODM.html
Sadly there are only a handful of preserved examples left now. Two of them in the USA, I believe, the others still in China. They were superb machines producing almost 3000bhp.
Wind and solar to replace?
Unfortunately the Chinese authorities don't seem to care much about our shared environment (much like the present US government). However this does mean that we are still able to enjoy the sight of these wonderful machines working hard. We have just heard that a few of them will continue into 2018. This is 50 years after the UK gave up steam power.
China is getting more & more in to wind & solar these days.
It is mountains?
These are not natural mountains. It's a huge hole dug in the ground to get to the coal. They just look like mountains. There are some beautiful mountains nearby though. Take a look at another video - ua-cam.com/video/HY1Eoczv7Bw/v-deo.html&list=PLNKEdhmODMJxI2j-Vg4jtbeZqw2GfatEM&index=4 Andy
The rear end, is it some sort of a mini cab?
The cabin at the rear is the guard's compartment. He has a signal on the roof to instruct the driver when they run in reverse. It features in some of my videos.
I will watch more. Kinda want to have a closer look of them.
wheel slippage reduction finally works. :)
These frozen coal mines suffer badly from icy conditions and sometimes the rails are just too icy to work with. On this occasion the rails were dry on the mine side of the incline but still icy on the other side of the hill ! It was shot in minus 10 degrees centigrade.
Coal conservation impressive.
Looks as though this operation may continue into 2018 for a few months now.
I hate to put a damper on this, but the Sandaoling mine is shutting down at the end of 2019, so we don’t know what will happen to these Mikes. If you want to go see them, SEE THEM NOW! These steam engines may never run again after this last push of steam on mainline rails.
This is now the very last example of hard working industrial steam ANYWHERE in the world. My last information was that the steam would operate until September 2020. Do you have reliable new information? ........ Andy
Andy and Dandan Fisher - Steam Around the World I subscribe to Trains Magazine, which I suggest subbing to. I read about international railroading, and there was an article in it this last month about the mine, shutting down end of 2019. That’s all I know.
Latest news I have is shutting 2022, source from mine manager at Sandaoling.
很喜欢听火车声音，儿时记忆
I agree. This brings back memories from my childhood too. Hard working steam is a marvellous sound.
these locos deserve a well earned rest in a museum somewhere after being flogged to death hauling coal up steep gradients.
Are you offering? I'm sure they'd be very happy to sell you one !
Yes thanks for the reply A & D, i will when I win the euro millions! lol. I'm sure some museum or heritage center in China could fit them in somewhere.
I've read somewhere that some of these Chinese steamer actually arnt that old, some being made as early as the 90's iirc
Yes I think you are right Chris, according to Wikipedia the 8000 series JS class was built in the 1980s the last batch being built in 1988 so this would make the newest locos about 30 years old, maybe Andy and Dandan could provide some more information Ian H.
These JS's were built up to 1988.
Coal saving impressive.
I'm not sure what you're referring to William. The steam locos hang on here (now until 2018) largely because they have unlimited free fuel. Maybe that's what you're getting at. Thank you for your comment though.
steam loco has indefined power output it all down to how the crews work the loco and the condition of this boiler but these Chinese loco crews know how to get the best out of these workhorses and steam is better for the environment than any types of diesel locos has 80% of that smoke you see coming from its funnel is Steam and the black soot is carbon nature own carbon
Well ..... a couple of comments!! The maximum power output of a steam loco can be calculated and is usually quoted as "tractive effort" and this can be converted mathematically to "brake horse power" so, in theory it's possible to directly compare steam with diesel. Having said that, as you say, the performance of a steam loco varies much more than a diesel, depending on how good the crew are. As for the environment, I'm afraid that neither steam nor diesel power is "better" for the environment than the other. They're both bad - both pump out CO2 and hydrocarbons in vast quantities (and numerous other pollutants). I try to do my videoing in cold weather to get the steam condensation that you point out. It makes for better video!
Thank you for your comment though, please keep 'em coming.
Like
Thank you. Andy
Serious recurring wheelslip there. Sanding available while reversing? Sure looks like they're running out the clock on these ole girls. "Powerful"? Not really.
The wheelslip generally happens early morning or late evening when the rails are damp or icey. It's a steep incline in both directions to the summit here. The JS class have a power output of about 2500bhp which is pretty good for a 2-8-2 steam loco. They work at about 70% of their capability on these services.
Coasts over top of hill/ Green engineer ?
Yes, I guess, in a way, it is being "green". It's common practice at this summit to shut off slightly before the top because they have to slow for the bend and the level crossing (where you see the bus). It's pointless powering at full regulator to the top and then having to brake hard.
nice
Thank you !
Andy and Dandan Fisher I love this rustical coulors from this steam engines and the sound is so cool,
i think it is a really good movie. Thanks from Germany
;-)
Pitta Patta Pitta Patta Pitta.
It's a fabulous exhaust beat .... Andy
One drawback with steam IS THE POLLUTION
I agree that burning coal is very polluting and bad for our future. However, there is now only a handful of steam locos left in the world and they're a valuable piece of our history which we should value. The pollution from this handful of steam locos is tiny compared to that produced by all the cars, trucks, buses, planes and ships etc. There's no doubt that using electricity is far better .... but most of it still comes from burning coal !! If you'd like to save the world, walk or cycle to work, don't have a hot shower in the morning, switch off your central heating and don't go on holiday in a jet aircraft !!