This unusual metre gauge line ran south east from Dakunlun on the Boshan branch, south of Xibo in Shandong Province of China. Its unique 0-10-0 tender locos were believed to have been Chinese-built derivatives of original Orenstein and Koppel designed 0-10-0 tank locomotives. During a visit to the system on 15th-16th November 1999, four round trips were undertaken during daylight hours between the China Rail exchange sidings at Dakunlun and Xihe Colliery, a distance of around four kilometres. The working locomotives all appeared to be in poor mechanical condition. The original 'main line' to the left was no longer in use and presumably had served another mine or mines and communities further south. Regrettably, the railway closed shortly after this brief encounter, and an intended repeat visit for a longer period of time during the following year was never made.
In this scene, just like stepping back in time over several decades, No.97712 'Shengli No.4' (the number refers to the last date of overhaul - e.g. 12th July 1997) climbs the grade away from Xihe village and colliery with a loaded train for Dakunlun on a murky 15th November 1999, adding more coal dust and grime to the already coal dust-blackened landscape in this mining district of Shandong Province.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
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