China - De-Icing the First Train of the Day, December 2018
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ธ.ค. 2018
- The preparation of a steam locomotive at minus 20 degrees centigrade is not an easy task. Yet the loco crews at Sandaoling, in China's Xinjiang Province, perform the duty every winter morning at Dongbolizhan Station.
We see here, the crews freeing up the frozen valve gear with open flames and boiling water. A hot loco is used to get all the motion moving on a colder loco. Crews also have to loosen frozen coal in the tender and many other small jobs that European loco crews might not think about.
The first train, into the opencast coal mine, then has to take a run at the icy rails on the short climb from Dongbolizhan to the summit before the downhill gradient into the mine.
Recorded in December 2018.
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everyone who works for this railway should be proud to be operating some of the last steam locos in revenue service anytwhere in the world!
Apart from a single Garratt in Zimbabwe at Hwange colliery, these ARE the last non-tourist revenue earning locos in the world now. It's the very end of steam as an industrial power after 200 years of history - a moment and location to be remembered. Andy
MrBnsftrain . Too true mate. It looks like it has the whole world to itself. Strange horn for a steamer though 👍👍.
@@neilhobson3624 All Chinese steam locos were fitted with an air horn as well as a really nice chime whistle. They do use the whistle here but not often. Take a look at this video to hear both being used - th-cam.com/video/xPJx24HDOW0/w-d-xo.html
Andy
This landscape is a photographers dream, just incredible, those loco's are works of art.
I have to agree with that! .... Andy
There is nothing like a working ( as apposition to preserved) loco working hard.. At -20C and getting them to work on time is dedication, experience, knowing your loco and down right guts. Well done to them all for keeping them working.
Nice work with the camera, with you being at -20C too ......... so you need thanks for the effort too....Amacf
Thank you for that. I think they were working harder than me !! Andy
I've seen your videos before of steam in China a few years ago. I'm so glad some locomotives still operate. I thought it was all over in China. These guys have my utmost respect and admiration. They work hard. Thank you for getting out there in the cold and documenting this operation.
These two JS Mikes were built at Datong in the latter half of 1987. I know that because I toured Datong around the first of July 1987 and 8101 was the newest JS off the line and the one our group got a cab ride in. Datong built a little over 300 more JSs before they quit in late Summer of 1988, last JS was 8419, which is in the States, Iowa to be exact, at the Boone Valley and Scenic Ry. Under the Chinese system, the construction number of a steam locomotive is usually also it's road number. As far as I've been able to find out, 8101 did not survive to today. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for your comment, Paul. Everything you said absolutely spot on !!
Andy
I love the sound of the air pump sounds like the engine is breathing
These Westinghouse (type) pumps are common in most countries and it's a part of the steam scene around the world. It's not a sound we're used to in the UK though. Steam age trains here were all vacuum braked rather than air braked. A few preserved locos are now fitted with them in the UK and I have to say it just doesn't seem right to hear an A4 (or similar) pumping away when it's standing in a station!! ...... Andy
Thanks for sharing these videos as it’s fantastic seeing those magnificent steam engines working 👍🏻
It really is my pleasure to share this. These few locomotives are marking the very end of 200 years of steam power. Andy
Superb atmospheric video absolutely lovely to see Thanks for sharing. Enjoyed it along with your other latest Chinese videos so much on my smart Tv I had to log into the laptop to say THANKS
Thank you for that. I'm glad you're enjoying them. I have more of China to come and then a selection I've just recorded in Myanmar to follow in early January. Keep watching!
Andy
Beautiful. Nicely done. Thanks.
Thank you for that very kind comment. Andy
I mean, Why would you pay for diesel when you have all that free coal?
Doesn't diesel turn to jelly at those temperatures?
Diesel does gel at colder temperatures. Here in Canada in thee winter we use additives that prevent or discourage this.
Coal isn’t free, the RR has to pay. Also most steam engines are oil burning anyway.
@@njandparailfan6332 0:33 what's that in the tender?
RichardAndewSwayne I get that, but I’m saying most are oil burning locos, some are STILL coal but like I said, most are oil burning. For example SP 4449 is oil burning, I believe UP 844 is oil to.
Thank you Andy and Dandan. That was so awesome. And to contradict a reply from below LOL, This indeed is not a tourist RR, but a full blown working steam RR in 2018/19...God bless someone out there for not killing steam over in that part of China. -20C Good Griff
Thanks for your comment. It survives for 2 reasons. First, the coal mine has an endless supply of free fuel. Second, it's in Xinjiang Province and the Chinese are starving the area of investment as a punishment for campaigning for their independence. The locals are Uyghurs - not Chinese.
Andy
Surprised at the bowl of hot water. But these guys have been doing it long enough to know what works. Hostile conditions make for a great video, thank you!
I was a bit surprised at the time too. Especially considering that steam from the loco froze instantly on my tripod and camera. I think the water was to put out the fire started by the flame gun!! Andy
@@AndyDandanFisherSteam Ah yes now I look again I see it! Thanks for explaining :)
This is amazing. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your comment. Andy
just love your trains, since five years ago
Keep watching!! Andy
Fabulous footage- thank you, Andy - from warm Hong Kong
My pleasure. Thank you for your comment. There's lots more to come so keep watching! We went from minus 20 here, straight to plus 37 in Myanmar. It took a lot of careful packing! Andy
@@AndyDandanFisherSteam Great! Cheers, Paul
Excellent work by the crews and great video from yourself. Be a sad day when these go. Just got to wish you 'Happy Thermal Under ware' and the best of the season :-). Steve
Haha. Thanks very much. On the same trip we went from minus 20 here to plus 37 in Myanmar ..... watch out for more videos! Happy Christmas to you, Steve. Andy
Damn these things are beautiful, I volunteer at the Illinois Railway Museum in there Steam Department on there Steam Engines. It’s pretty fun especially working on Frisco No.1630!
Great video ,you can almost feel how cold it is.
Not as much as I could feel how cold it was !! Thanks for your kind comment. Andy
Veo que china todo lo hace en grande, hermoso vídeo ,gracias.
This is a very large coal mine still worked by these great locomotives. I have more videos to come .... keep watching and thank you for your kind comment. Andy
wow a steam engine with an air horn instead of a steam whistle
Nearly every Chinese steam engine has an air horn as well as a whistle! So did many Southern Pacifc locomotives!
Avoids lose of steam and they need air for air brakes anyway.
First time I've heard an air horn on a steam locomotive
@@gc1172 a whistle makes no difference in regards to loosing steam
The air horns are because steam whistles do not cut through fog. The same reason Southern Pacific GS class locomotives had them engines that ran the coast. I learned this a long time ago from documentary I watched on the Coast Daylight.
Omg this is spectacular footage! I had no idea the Chinese were still using coal-burning steam locomotives.
This is now the very last. Steam in China - and everywhere else - has a year or two at the most. Andy
Great video! ***A very good crew keeps 🚂 clean white smoke.
Like the sounds. Thank you.
Thanks for your comment. They're well experienced crews. Andy
I noted this as well! Beautiful white column. The fireman on this rig knows his job well.
There are plenty of lame comments from the children here...well, it's TH-cam and the young generation I guess.
Steam power isn't inherently evil, diesel took over for many reasons. It's still nice to see a hot boiler in action.
@@robertborchert932 The crews on these locos are among the best I've seen in the world. They know their job well. I was lucky enough to have two hours riding the cab in 2016 and was well impressed.
See - th-cam.com/video/yl78nSAYD2w/w-d-xo.html
and - th-cam.com/video/7yFb3IEqeGk/w-d-xo.html&index=7&list=PLNKEdhmODMJxI2j-Vg4jtbeZqw2GfatEM
Andy
Awesome and magnificent work🤔
Great capture 👍
Renato RS 🇧🇷 BRASIL
Thanks again for a very kind comment. Andy
Great to see the steam and belching and bellowing and creaks and groans and hisses and whistles...and on a cold winter morning. Kind of nice what to think what it would have been like during the peak of steam at somewhere like Kings Cross station in London during winter, with all the tracks running and all the hissing and noise and steam clouds....pretty cool...nice vid.
Thanks for your comment. I remember Kings Cross in the 60's .... a very smoky place!! Andy
It's ironic that the locomotive is a Japanese design from the 1920s called Mikado.
The Japanese locos which gave rise to the use of the name Mikado were built by Baldwin in the 1890's apparently. Wikipedia has a page (I'm not that clever!!) Andy
All the 2-8-2 wheel arrangement steam locos are refered as a "Mikado" type. You should've learned a lot more about locomotives before posting naive comments.
@@johnwang4793 We know that John. We're discussing the origin of the term. The names (Mogul, Pacific, Mikado etc) were decided upon in the year 1900 by Frederick Whyte in the USA. The term Mikado for 2-8-2's was chosen after a series of locomotives built in 1897 by Baldwin for use in Japan. Andy
@@AndyDandanFisherSteam - you guys call it 2-8-2, or Mikado... Polish call it 1-4-1, Germans call it 1'D1'... I am sure someone has written a Ph. D. thesis on the wheel arrangement.
@@PokoleizKuleckim Well, there's an opportunity for you !! Andy
Fantastic Documentary! Earned a new Sub
Thank you very much for that kind comment. Andy
Un bonheur de voir ces locomotives toujours en activité fin décembre 2018!
Mais c’est la dernière véritable vapeur industrielle au monde et elle est dans ses derniers mois ...... Andy
Excellent as always!
Thank you very much. Andy
Aghhh propelling a train at that speed! Amazing. Great footage.
I agree - it looks scary! Of course, there's no other train in the section so, in theory, no danger. The small cabin, at the forward end of the train, houses a train guard. The cabin has a semaphore signal on the roof. If the guard sees any danger he can put this signal to the "stop" position and hope that the loco driver sees it .... not the safest system in the world!! Andy
@@AndyDandanFisherSteam Thanks for the additional information. I thought the cab at the front end of the train might have something to do with the operation. But I was naive enough to think they might have been in radio contact with the driver!
@@JohntheHuxter Just to add to the ridiculous operating practice, as the loco goes past me and also just after (at 7:50 onward) you can see that the loco driver (on the left of the cab) has a "car type" wing mirror that he can watch while he's looking the opposite direction to drive the loco! I haven't heard of any accidents on this system but I'm sure there must have been some. Andy
If I wasn't told it was -20 I'd have never guessed.
-20* C = -4* F
@@MagnetOnlyMotors Yes, appreciated it was centigrade, that is still very cold.
Take a look at the ice on the loco steps at 3:30 - then you'll know how cold it was! Andy
I didn't know any steam was still operating in China. Good news. It's too bad they don't have a heated engine facility for overnight storage.
I'm afraid they have very few facilities. You're lucky if you have a heated facility for yourself in this part of China! Andy
Andy and Dandan Fisher Yeah, as I understand the typical heater in a home is the very stove you cook your food with. Often it is the heating system for some part of the house or the bed..
@@rkan2 That is still the case - but only in this part of China. Xinjiang province is being sidelined by the Chinese authorities because they are pushing for independence. The public are still living about 10 years behind the rest of China. Andy
@@AndyDandanFisherSteam stop BS, entire north china has central heating system, every home has heating system pipes, china is not your shat hole murica
My crew was doing similar just a few weeks ago. But in - 5c or - 10c. I immediately knew they were thawing out the cylinder cocks and air lines before the subtitles. Oh the sound of that poor clunking air pump... That needs an overhaul soon.
I had a chuckle at "icy rails" as im sure that was not a thing with the weight let alone 13 cars worth of axles leading. Icy rails is only an issue if the snow is deep enough to cover the railhead or reach the wheels to mix moisture with residual oil... It looked dry as a bone in the vid(as it usually is in extreme cold) haha... That is normal slipping with that kind of throtle use. Still a fantastic video and im glad revenue steam is still getting flogged on planet earth.
Thanks for your comment. With or without your experience of ice conditions, I can assure you that the first train of the day is always the hardest for the crews to get up to the summit. It has to be frozen condensation on the rails causing that. It's minus 20c remember. The slightest moisture turns to ice. My camera and tripod was covered in ice at 3:28, which I had to scrape off!!
Andy
This has an exciting atmosphere that as a train enthusiast I am addicted to lol!!
It's an aspect of steam operation that most "western" enthusiasts wouldn't be aware of. Sandaoling regularly had temperatures below minus 20c ..... Andy
There is steam coming from places steam should not be coming from...
Chinese engineering, use it till it dont work, replacing is cheeper than repairing in China.
Sadly :7
I guess being that cold, any blow-by will be more pronounced. They're just sweating power lol
They're actually maintained quite well considering the situation. As Matt says, the slightest steam at minus 20c shows up clearly.
Andy
@Milind Benjamin Funny !!! Andy
apart from one pipe going to the air compressor with a clear hole in it, all seems to be reasonably OK...the valves for clearing water out of the cylinders not sealing perfectly is nothing, especially considering the use and abuse these locos see every day.
Impressive. I never got to see locomotives in operation myself (they were withdrew from service in my country in 1984), but they are beautiful beasts to behold. It is sad to see them going out of service, but that's progress for ya. I certainly wouldn't want to be the one of the guys who has to wake them up in -20 °C every morning, and run them all day. It's hard work, and I imagine the smoke isn't very healthy to inhale either.
in 1967 the electrician drivers looked already with big eyes theses monsters in Vierzon, that were the type 230 Pacific I beleive, ; they were the last who disappeared in 1972 in france. But the team driver-stoker continued to exist on electric locs, till the second ( former stoker) vanished because of the generalization of the VACMA ( veille automatique ) I don't know the english name of this system called too " l'homme mort " ( dead man ) .
Happy and a good and healthy 2019!!!
Well, thank you .... and the same to you too !! Andy
how...could...anyone...give this a thumbs down????? BIG thumbs up from me, just marvelous
Thanks very much for your kind comment. Andy
Does China know the tourist fasenation with these locos world wide People will travel from everywhere just to see these locos working
they dont give a fuck lmao
They don't care. In fact one the reasons why China's railways stopped using steam is because the government was embarrassed by them.
I think there's a Narrow gauge line in China got converted to Tourist use running C2's
Better than a dinosaur park.
They don't care . It won't be long before they're firing up the cutting torches to chop these for scrap. I hope we can see some videos of that on You Tube. I love a good cutting torch video.
Steam is still going strong in China! Well done!
Steam is still operating but only here at Sandaoling now. I wouldn't say it's going strong. It's really hanging on by its finger nails !! This is now just about the end of real (non-tourist) steam around the world.
Andy
Just brilliant 👍👍👍
Thank you for your kind comment. Andy
Brilliant video.
Thank you, John. It was extremely cold at the time but the result was worth it, I think ....... Andy
Andy and Dandan Fisher - Steam Around the World As a BR railman now retired, I always thought our engines were the best. I find looking at these monsters makes me wonder how the drivers coped with them. Superb enginemen able to cope with all conditions and still keep the beasts in line. Brilliant. Cheers John.
@@johnbrown9092 They are good loco crews still getting the best possible out of their machines despite the out dated technology ...... Andy
WOW! Thanks!
Thank you for your comment. Andy
If you want to see a JS in a more accessible place, check out the Boone and Scenic Valley RR in Boone, IA (about 40 miles NW of Des Moines Iowa, USA). They have the last 2-8-2 produced in the Chinese locomotive works.
yes, but the reason anyone goes there isn't because it''s a js or any other class, it's because this is a fully revenue service steam system with engines working hard to earn their keep, not a tourist(heritage) railway.
KarlosBricks sums it up perfectly!! Andy
Steam is still going in the mines? YAY new years is officially better.
This is now really the very end of steam as an industrial power .... anywhere in the world !! There are odd locos hanging on for shunting work but nothing else like this. It's the end of 200 years of history. Andy
@@AndyDandanFisherSteam I remember you said the same thing of these mines a few years ago, but look, they're still running. So maybe we will see them for another couple of years? I will be there next year not so far from Sandaoling.
@@andredescheemaecker5865 The management at Sandaoling told us they expect the steam to continue until September 2020 but they're going to try to keep going until 2022. I imagine it depends how long the coal supplies hold out. Andy
@@AndyDandanFisherSteam did they say anything about preserving these final working engines or possibly having one brought over here to be preserved just wondering
@@RailPreserver2K I'm sure that if you go over there with a bagful of money, you can have yourself a JS loco in the US (or wherever). There are already about 3 or 4 Chinese locos in the US now. We helped to get a narrow gauge loco brought to the UK about 10 years ago. Andy
All was good, till i heard that lousy air horn
Actually the Hiawatha in the 1930's was pulled by a Steam locomotive with a Air Horn. Air Horns are just more practical.
They're all fitted with air horns and a nice steam chime whistle, which they rarely use. Take a look at this to hear both being used (in another location) -
th-cam.com/video/xPJx24HDOW0/w-d-xo.html
Andy
The nyc niagaras had air horns as well
Vileth Von dreyfuss So did Pennsy’s “Broadway Limited” and “Trail Blazer.” Both we’re headed by their S1 duplex, which had an air horn as opposed to a more conventional- and better-sounding- steam whistle.
Excellent video.👍☘️. Subbed.
Thank you - for the compliment and the sub. I have about 1000 videos on my channel. I hope you find more of them entertaining too ...... Andy
I offened wondered how you would get on, with sub-zero temperatures and condensate in lines both Steam and Air.. I take it that, these locos have been stabled for a period of time? The Driver Obviously knows he has icey conditions on the Rail but also having to keep momentum up, so as to get the wagon axle-bearing grease to heat up. Hope you had an Awesome Christmas Andy. Can't wait to meet you and your wife in Person. Cheers Adrian.
The locos hadn't been stabled Adrian. One had been kept working all night and the other - the one they're working on - had stood, warm, overnight for about 12 hours. At those temperatures, everything external freezes up quickly. As for meeting .... make a suggestion!!
Andy
This is the true spirit of steam locomotives👍🏻
You couldn't do this with diesel or electric ..... Andy
Now that is one hell of a cold start.
It takes some getting going!! Andy
Love old locomotives
Nothing quite like them!! Andy
Great video. Minus 20c my oh my!
-4f; not so cold
@@davidwpinkston4226 Cold enough !! I have recorded steam at minus 30c on the JiTong Railway in Inner Mongolia. Andy
Thanks for your kind comment. It was just a bit chilly (despite David Pinkston's comment)! Andy
Doing something constructive. Great work guys!
Thanks for your kind comment. We do our best ! By the way, you're not the BBC's Mike Bushell are you?!! Andy
No I'm not. I live in Markham, Ontario, Canada. I'm a huge steam locomotive fan.@@AndyDandanFisherSteam
Terrific!
Thank you for that!! Andy
Great stuff.
Thank you for that. I'm glad you enjoy the video. Andy
Great scene and camera work! Excellent work! Greetings from Italy. Stefano.
Thank you for that very kind comment, Stefano. Andy
I am VERY surprised that there's still a steam train running in China somewhere. I thought they were all taken out of regular service some years ago already. But I guess it's limited now to a few small trains in a few rural regions.
This operation at Sandaoling is still working into 2020 but is due to finish in September. Apart from a couple of tourist lines, it's now the last in China. In fact, it is the very last regular industrial steam operation in the world and represents the very end of a 200 year history. September 2020 will be a sad time ...... Andy
This is so friggin cool
In more than one sense!!! Andy
Cracking video
Thank you so much for that kind comment. Andy
Very cool
I'm glad you enjoyed my video. Please take a look at some more of my stuff - you might find some more that you like!! ..... Andy
Can someone explain why the steam is not turning in to instant snow, like those videos where the throw boiling water in the air with minus 30?
Well I'm afraid I cannot give you a technical answer to that ... but I can tell you that when I was blasted with steam (at 3:28) it froze instantly all over my tripod and camera !!
Andy
Very cool!!
Thanks for your kind comment. Andy
You are welcome! You guys make some awesome videos!
I know the 844 does now, but did steam locos in North America have lights over their wheels like this in the 20s-50s?
In the UK this wasn't the case but, I believe, it was normal practice in the USA. Andy
Yay, the Mikes still shout!
But not for much longer. Andy
Magnifique reportage de ce démarrage d'une vapeur par -20°C !
Merci pour ce partage .
.
Magnificent report of this start of a steam by -20 ° C!
Thank you for sharing .
Et merci beaucoup a vous, aussi. A very kind comment. Andy
What a disgrace, an air horn on a steam engine!
The sound of air horns carries farther than whistles. Therefore, it's more practical and safer.
AMEN
Yes 4449 has a Leslie A200 "honker" also a steam engine with an airhorn is better than one with ditchlights (Looking at you Canada! you ruined my 2100 with those lights!)
All Chinese steam locos were fitted with an air horn as well as a really nice chime whistle. They do use the whistle here but not often. Take a look at this video to hear both being used - th-cam.com/video/xPJx24HDOW0/w-d-xo.html
Andy
I really hope that after these locomotives are retired, that they get preserved. Perhaps a US tourist line will purchase one and operate it over here!
Buynot
Not likely. They are already very worn out and would require more than just an overhaul. They are just kept operating until they can be replaced with electric or diesel-electric locomotives, after which they will be smelted.
@@rescue270 That's a shame. They should atleast be kept for display purposes.
There's a growing interest in the steam scene in China and a few tourist lines are being developed. However, this operation is in Xinjiang Province and there's a lot of political unrest there. The province is being sidelined by the Chinese authorities. It's unlikely there'll be any tourist development in the area, so I suspect they'll end up being scrapped. I think the current management policy is to keep them going until the opencast mine is exhausted. I don't think we'll ever see diesels running into the open mine. It's possible the two deep mines will continue for longer and these may end up being diesel worked within a couple of years, or so.
I'm not certain, but I think there may already be a JS in the USA. There are examples of the smaller SY and the larger QJ classes for sure.
Andy
Amazing. I was under the impression China wanted to get rid of steam by the time of the China Olympics 10 years ago. Maybe they meant main line steam.
Everything else has gone in China ... even the industrial stuff. It's a miracle that Sandaoling is hanging on so long. It's in China's Xinjiang Province, which is starved of investment by the Chinese government. The local Uighur population has been pressing for independence for many years and the authorities in Beijing don't like it !! The province is around ten years behind the rest of China in my experience. Andy
They didn't come close, and have plenty still. But, they signed the Paris Accord with all the environmental improvements as a big political stunt.
@@gc1172 I'm afraid, Gary, they don't "have plenty". There's a handful of locos steamable around China for tourist purposes but you can count them on two hands! This is now the very last regular use of steam (in China and, just about, in the world too).
Andy
Good video. Thank you. Please consider more informational content. A map. Some narration. Some text explanations.Who, what, when, where, how.
Thanks for your comment. I try to put relevant subtitles where I think they're essential. I'm not keen on doing a commentary but I have been considering this. Please feel free to ask any questions you may feel you wish to. I'll always try to answer. Andy
Fabulous video, had to make a hot drink after watching it !
Thank you so much for that comment. You should have been there doing the filming !! At one stage (you can see it happening at 3:27) I was blasted by steam from the loco which froze instantly all over my camcorder and tripod. It took some getting rid of inside our bus before I could continue with recording !! Andy
Would I be right in saying trying to heat up a loco relatively quickly like this causes extra wear on things like the boiler when compared to firing up very early and warming more slowly?
I'm sure you are right. I'm not sure it would cause more wear in the boiler but it can't do any good for the valve gear etc. However, the conditions here are extreme. The policy seems to be to keep one loco in full operating condition all night long and allow the others to cool a little, although still in steam. At minus 20 to 30 degrees centigrade extreme measures are required to bring a loco back up to full working order. Andy
I wonder if water could reach freezing point in the boiler?
@@MustangsTrainsMowers I'm sure it would freeze in the boiler if the loco was left to go cold with the boiler full of water. However, the locos are kept warm all night and just need bringing up to working temperature early in the morning. Their fires never go out completely during the winter months. Andy
@@AndyDandanFisherSteam They probably bank the fires in all but one at night, that way the boilers stay in steam while that last one stays working through the night. Then in the morning the one that is still going is used to nudge the others about to get them moving as the crews try to thaw out the valve linkages and get the cylinders warmed up again.
@@renegadeoflife87 That is exactly their procedure. Andy
Please tell us this is a historical re-enactment and they are not still using coal burning steam engines for actual work. But I think I know the answer to this question.
This is genuine daily industrial use. It's now just about the last in the world and is in its last few months. Andy
Great Stuff ! But how did they get the hot one hot ?! XX
It stays operational all night. It's used to move staff and loco crew around and to do basic shunting as necessary. Andy
Are these locomotives fed coal by hand or is there some type of automation?
They're all hand fired - no coal pushers are fitted. Andy
I hope that after the withdrawal of steam locomotives from the freight service they will not be cut. And they will be operated in tourist trains.
I think that is NOT likely. This line is in Xinjiang Province. This is an area which is disputed. The local Uighur population want independence but China is violently opposed to this - Andy
What is the knocking sound from 2 minutes onwards?
It's the Westinghouse pump. This maintains air pressure in the air braking system .... Andy
;-) the high speed train network in China.. I love steam engines.
The high speed train network in China is the best in the world now. We owe the astonishing survival of this handful of steam locos to the local Uighur population who have been pushing for independence from China. This has meant that the Chinese authorities have sidelined this area and left it with no investment .... other than a dramatically increased police force !!
Andy
I really wanna visit that place! How did you get to?
You can fly to Beijing, then fly or get overnight train to Hami and then bus or taxi to Sandaoling. The area is heavily policed though and travelling individually is tricky. Contact me if you need more information.
Andy
Andy and Dandan Fisher Wow thank you. Sounds like quite an experiance!
-20 is probably an estimate because the temperate gauge froze....
It is an estimate .... by me! I've filmed in down to minus 30c and guess this to be about minus 20c. Not sure about the temperature gauge freezing though!! Andy
What's that clicking every second or so ?
I think you're referring to the air pump which maintains pressure in the air braking system. Andy
how easy is it to get to sandaoling from the UK? is it worth the trip?
Getting there is fairly easy. You need a visa (£151) and a flight to Beijing. Then an internal flight to Hami. Then the fun begins. In Xinjiang Province the Chinese police are now like an occupying army. It took us 4 hours to get through airport security. It's then a 90 minute bus/taxi ride to Sandaoling. There are police check points on every street corner and you will be challenged probably. You need someone who can speak Mandarin. I could help if you were serious. You can, of course, go as part of an organised group. Andy
@@TPWSProductions Done !! Andy
last of the iron giants in commercial use i hope i will not see the day when no steam locomotive runs anymore in the world. this will be the saddest day
I'm afraid this will happen and very soon - apart from tourist work, of course. Sad time! Andy
Soooo... what century was this filmed in?? I’m trying to recall the “efficiency” of these fine specimens; 1% or 2%? But who’s counting, huh?!
This is recorded in China's Xinjiang Province. This is a majority muslim area and the Chinese authorities are very anti-muslim. The area has been starved of investment for many years and there's an active programme of "re-education" going on at the moment. Fortunately for us, it has meant that steam power remains active in this one last location and should do into 2021 .... Andy
@@AndyDandanFisherSteam Oh, I absolutely love it and understand! It is still amazing that these basic machines can still be used these days! Excellent use of available resources, for sure. Put passenger cars on and make some extra tourist loot.
0:49 What? Did this Horn got built in after the Locomotive got built?
All Chinese steam locos were built with both a steam chime whistle and an air horn. Take a look at the following video. It shows them being used alternately.
th-cam.com/video/xPJx24HDOW0/w-d-xo.html
...... Andy
Why are the wheels red? Is it coloured that way, or are they that hot?
That one Fat Kid red s symbol of communist party
They're painted red, of course. It's just the livery they use. It's very similar to the standard German steam loco livery. Andy
Curious if this also means China is still producing steam locos?
They stopped around 1999.
These were built in the 1980's. The last was built in 1987. There are only 6 or 7 now working and when these few have finished, that's the end of real working (non-tourist) steam. Andy
Sandaoling, Hami, Xinjiang
Correct. It does say that in the notes - Andy
Lucky men right there
You might think they're lucky - but it's really hard work and done at minus 20c. Some might think they're not lucky !! ....... Andy
HI AMY AND DAN DAN!
EXCELLENT VIDEO!
ENJOYED!! AND THANK YOU FOR GETTING UP EARLY ON A VERY COLD AND FROSTY MORNING TO CATCH IT!!
THIS IS THE FIRST IF YOUR WORKS
I HAVE SEEN FOR A WHILE!
ALSO FYI THE AT&SF 2926 WAS TEST FIRED AT ALBUQUERQUE
NEW MEXICO LAST SUMMER!
I WAS NOT THERE FOR THE FIRST FIRE BUT WHEN I WAS THERE THE BOILER WAS STILL WARM!
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM KANSAS!
And a happy new year to you too. Thanks for the update. Andy
Amazing as usual, How many engines are left there at this stage?
Thanks for the compliment. Your question is a difficult one to answer without spending a lot of time on it ! I'd guess there are about 400 steam locomotives still surviving in the UK. Of these, about 200 are still able to be steamed - mostly on private lines. There are about 50 of these which are able to operate on the main line network, although not all of them are serviceable at any one time. I hope that helps! ..... Andy
Sorry ...... I was thinking you were looking at a video of the UK. I've realised that we're talking about China!! In China, there are hundreds of steam locos lying around, slowly rusting. However, there are now only two lines operating steam (I think). Shibanxi runs a handful of narrow gauge locos, mainly as a tourist line. Sandaoling, featured here, is now the only remaining standard gauge steam operation .... and indeed is the very last regular industrial use of steam anywhere in the world. They have a yard full of rusting locos but maintain about eight steam locos, of which there are about five or six in service at any one time ..... Andy
@@AndyDandanFisherSteam MY apologies. I was too vague. I was referring to the operations at Sandaoling. I remember last year references to a great reduction in engine number there and encroaching diesels. :-(s
@@TERRYBIGGENDEN Yes, Terry, there are far fewer steam locos kept serviceable these days. Diesels are only used to connect with the national network, to the best of my knowledge, although I've not been there since this visit in December 2018. It may have changed this year ....... Andy
locos seem very quiet; noise restrictions?
david w pinkston Steam is just not as loud as a diesel electric locomotive
They use their air horns instead of their steam whistles to keep noise down - which is a shame! They're all fitted with air horns and a nice steam chime whistle, which they rarely use. Take a look at this to hear both being used (in another location) -
th-cam.com/video/xPJx24HDOW0/w-d-xo.html
Andy
The horn seems wildly out of place for a steam train. Use a whistle.
All Chinese steam locos are fitted with both an air horn and a steam whistle. The whistles are used at Sandaoling but not often. Take a look at this clip. It shows both being used alternately - th-cam.com/video/xPJx24HDOW0/w-d-xo.html
Andy
theyre more 1000 Strength They can pull 12 Trucks and pipes
Is the duplex pump for feedwater or air - just curious.
Air brakes, I believe, but I'm no engineer! Andy
@@AndyDandanFisherSteam - Thanks.
YA THAT IS THE AIR BRAKE AIR PUMP FOR SURE!
THT TYPE IS CALLED A CROSS COMPOUND PUMP, 2 STAGE!
@@rossbryan6102 - Thanks for the info, I guess it also explains where the air for the air horns comes from :-)
@@rossbryan6102 I believe you! Andy
Brilliant stuff. You could cut the thick oil with a knife!
Thank you for that. I do my best to record these historical scenes. Andy
The compressor on the lead engine sounds terrible
its leaking steam juuuust a tad ;)
These locos are nearing the end of their working lives. They're maintained but only to a standard necessary to keep them working. It was the same in the west at the end of steam. Andy
Todavía existen a vapor 😮
This is now the very last regular working industrial steam in the world. The end of a 200 year history.
Andy
China is about the last place you would see a working steam engine...
This IS the last place you can see a genuine working steam engine (almost). Andy
Where were those engines built??
By Noah,....right after he built the Ark....
They were built at Datong in China up until 1987. They are ex. main line steam locos. Andy
mon père auquel j'ai montré ce film m'a dit qu'en 1956 dans le Massif central où il avait fait -30 °c ,alors qu'il était chef mécanicien, avait assister à une scène comparable . Il avait fait si froid dans la nuit que les roues , durant la nuit, s'étaient collées aux rails. Les employés avaient placé un fagot de bois sous la locomotive à vapeur, ce fagot était attaché à une corde qui passait entre les roues. Le fagot avait été arrosé de mazout puis enflammé. un ouvrier avait tiré successivement ce fagot enflammé sous l'engin jusqu'à ce que les roues d'un essieu se décollent. Le mécanicien avait alors rapidement reculé l'engin qui s'était ainsi dégagé de la glace. en Chine on emploie un chalumeau à essence . Cela 60 ans plus tard. Quelle chance d'avoir pu voir ça en 2018.
That's an interesting story. Thank you. During the winter here at Sandaoling, this is a daily procedure. Nevertheless, it's a remarkable sight for 2018.
Andy
The only thing you ought to be doing at -20C is looking out the aircraft window while sipping scotch.