A small gem in the land of megaprojects, megastructures, mega trains and mega cities still exists: the narrow gauge train of Jiayang valley. Little Train tells the story of the last working narrow gauge steam railway in China. Enjoy everyone watching!
Even the train in this video was only saved because had the idea to sell high-priced tickets to tourists. Also, the ecological damage is tremendous. . To put it bluntly, the people would be better served by turning it into a road. However, I agree that sitting in a nice room away from all that smoke and noise, this looks cool. Thank you for this documentary.
This is the perfect travel documentary. It takes an in depth look at every aspect of one unique site; an old steam locomotive going up into the mountains. By following the footsteps of a seller of vegetables into the market, anyone who has grown a garden can relate. This documentary captures the young (a school girl walking on the tracks from school) to the old (an old man who helped build the train through the Chinese cultural revolution. Great realistic scenes of everyday life mix with beautiful settings and great photography to capture every aspect of the culture and the people. This captures food (in a bird hanging over a fire), unique medicine (cupping), religion (burning money), holidays, markets and even the story of animals (this little piggy went to market). Small details like the price of a ticket, or the cost of vegetables, allows one to fill in the economic landscape, while well captured simple economic activity (making a bolt), or entering the room of a engineer washing up in his room show how things are done differently.This video was obviously shot by someone with local connections into the community and edited by someone with a unique understanding of what would fascinate outsiders. Great job!
Director, researcher & camera crew deserve an Oscar for such an amazing, thoughtful and historic documentary. The colours, the location, the stories within this story, the shear beauty of sequence is just a masterpiece ❣️ Thank you for making this 🎉
Also as a retired machinist-mechanic-welder, I love the idea of the locomotives being slowly made over with spare parts... but somehow being the same train... that's how it is with animals, too! Hey, not everything has to be shiny and full of software!
This is such a beautiful documentary. Not only it introduces the little train, but it weaves lives of the ordinary little people into the story. Great! Love it.
Traveling in this train and crisscrossing beautiful sceneries along its route is something straight from a fairy tale story. I wish someday I can make a trip along that route with this small train...
A superb glimpse into rural Sichuan Province. I was there once, long ago, visiting the small village of a student to whom I had taught English. This looks about the same as I viewed then, but I am sure the urban areas have changed a lot. We traveled not by train, but rather by a huge truck. If only China existed now as was back then... If only America existed as it was back then!
what a lovely documentary, as an overseas Chinese who grew up in Europe I always particularly enjoy watching such documentaries about China's rural areas and their lives. Thank you for this @Free Documentary. This somehow also reminded me of all the Chinese ''coolies'' who were an essential but perhaps far to less acknowledged labourforce for the US transcontinental railroad. Something you may not know is that the term ''coolie'' sounds like the Chinese term 苦力 (ku-li). (Ku) - meaning; bitter or painful. And (Li) - meaning strength. Although maybe a stereotype, I do believe the Chinese are extremely diligent workers.
Wow this is Amazing! thank you for sharing china with me. I’m from Southern California USA, and the documentary’s have allowed me to see the world. Thank you.
Love to see Narrow Gauge trains in Asia. Old gal still going on strong even after all these years. It really shows how we Asians can live with little and be content with life. Be happy as long as we know the future generations can live a better life with hardwork.
Beautiful. I would love to visit some day. I'm so happy it's not just us brits that Cherish Steam railways. I wish the little train a long and happy future.👍🚂🚂🚂
Even without the audio track, this film will be valuable in the future for images and activities that are recorded for history. Notice the clothes and the markets.
Wow A beautifully done documentary! I spent two months traveling in China, and yet this documentary highlighted lots of unique things that even I had not seen. Sorta wish I made a side trip to go see it.
Wow! What a gem of a doc!! If this is free on YT, then it is very effective. Will like and subscribe and look at your offerings. Thank you for quality. Thank you for sensitive insight.
Its preserved alright but that doesn’t mean that they have to make the railways stuck in 19th century making the traveling of villagers a very difficult task.
We went on this Railway 4 times in 2017 as My Chinese wife has her home town 50 miles away. On our second visit and journey a round trip. We got invited to have lunch with the crew... Who then charged us money for the pleasure. 15 Yuan just under a pound. I would have given 4 times that for the invite. We spent a whole day up at the end station and the Museum Town. Did the journey 14 years ago with my Father in law with us. Back then the museum town still produced coal and trains of the trucks would rattle down the valleys'. Wonderful memories. David and Lily England.
In his book 'transcontinental Train Odyssey' (2004), former Deputy PM Tim Fischer wrote in the China travel section that he asked the assigned guide about the China steam train on the side rail-line. This 'yes-man' guide informed "There are no steam trains in China", as recalled in his excellent book. This jolly train -lifeline reminds me of Kuranda Scenic Railway in Cairns, Australia. Thank you for enlightening me.
I don’t think there is any steam locomotive used in actual service in China now, there are few but some steam locomotives preserved for tourism in China. However, back in 2004, there are still a few steam locomotive in mainline service, and many in local and industrial little railways.
I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Thrilling documentary, good insight into Chinese culture and how China has evolved in comparison to today china. Chinese are a lovely people full of life in whatever form.
Nice to see mega projects didn`t take over this 'small gem' in China. This wonderful documentary -- 'Last Little Train' -- tells the stories of the hardworking, humble people who live in the Chinese countryside. Yea, 'Last Little Train' built to last!!
This was a very compelling, fun, interesting, and outright captivating docu. Well done! It had a bit of everything; both the technical aspects, historical aspects, and especially: the human aspect. From woman-train-technician, to a child following the tracks till home, to old men recounting their past experiences, to an old woman trying to make a living on the market. Rural life in China as it is, including superstitions and traditions. All interwoven with the little train. I've seldom seen something so well made.
Beautiful documentary. India too has such "little trains" in remote places, which greatly benefit local rural populations. However, we have almost no steam locomotives left, as most lines have been electrified.
excellent documentary. Very down to earth and not try hard to impress the viewers, unlike these Amercian documentaries from Discovery. Little people with little in their lifes and yet happy with what they have. Life is difficult for them but the local people are brave , optimistic and very hard working, something the rich, and middle class people lack of nowadays. We complain so much and give back so little. It also gives you hope that the living standard has improved so much over the years and I firmly believe more to come. One day I will visit this village myself!
This is AMAZING, that this beautiful Steam Train line still exists! Thank God it has been saved. We humans so easily discard the past history all over the world. We did it in the USA in the 50's. Steam died. This is like a dream.
It really is like a dream. Historical things give us a chance to actually time travel. It gladens my heart when I see little gems still exist and I wish some countries (like, as you mentioned, the US and China) would take more care in preserving the past.
Patrick, what is the point in preserving something that is not economically viable? Even the train in this video was only saved because had the idea to sell high-priced tickets to tourists. Also, the ecological damage is tremendous. . To put it bluntly, the people would be better served by turning it into a road. However, I agree that sitting in a nice room away from all that smoke and noise, this looks cool.
@@earlysda Just remember, if the world is ever hit with a big EMP, all your stuff would be dead while the steam engines would still work. A Diesel cannot run on wood while a steam engine can run on anything that burns.
pre cooked pork leg on the hot embers of the steam locomotive...resource alongside cooperation. So, so many wonders relating to maximizing what you have, not what you haven't...simple way of life needed of toil & labour, and of the same vein, chop-sticking for ambers Fantastic viewing..
We have a few narrow gauge trains and tracks still used in România. They are now used exclusively for touristic purposes and most of them replaced the steam locomotives to more efficient diesel ones. Although there are still some steam ones used.
Mocanita la Moldovita is one example still running steam locos although the pressures of popular tourism tend to spoil the rural charm of previous years.
Any steam engineer or fireman that ever stood on a footplate has cooked a fine dinner on their engine. I'm told my grandfather could make a killer pot roast.
I have been fortunate tospend decades traveling in China on vacations of 6 weeks or more and have been to many ancient villages in many places, drank water from a well dig before Christ was born, seen trees still living thousand years old, traveled purposely on the old slow trains because I love them. The 4 person a/c cars are great everywhere and I have acquired some incredible pictures as well and made dozens of friends that are like family. The last 4 years have been hurtful because of company, and business, Covid and ill workers so I am still waiting to go again to see all my great friends. Wechat is always a good link to see children grow and videos and pictures by the hundreds as well but it is not like being there with the great people that noone in government knows of or deals with. This train & life video has been one of the most rewarding documentary I have seen in all my travels. Everything about it was magical almost a dream to see. I was in Nanchang, Jiangxi when I felt a tremor that far away from Wenchuan when it harmed so many of these villagers and immediately went to the Bank of China there to put cash into the big jar by the hundreds of Yuan I had available. People thought it was a scene from a movie being made as I knew what that money would mean to the hopeless people that had their lives changed forever. This video helped some hunger I has not had being in China for so long and I am extremely thankful to the people who made this possible. They fed my soul and made me happy in all the trouble here in America right now with a bum president. When one of mr dear friends I mt years ago in Shanghai invited me to Yunyang and accepted me as her brother amongst her family I had a family again now on that day and still calls me brother Ray. She has a lovely daughter now that is a twin of her and I look forward to handing her the heaviest red envelope she will ever see after 4 1/2 years not seeing her. Again I thank the people who created this wonderful experience and I sent a link to 2 of my friends who live in that same province as well of the little train. I will love to pet one of those pigs before its demise as well. I will enjoy that train for sure one day. Ray C. Florida
Such a cute smoll train boi, I love it! XD I would love to ride this train, it might not be comfortable, but it's so adorable and fairy-taily! Also... the landscapes are so pretty and rustic ISTG it looks like some described in my MXTX danmei novels 😭😭😭
A small gem in the land of megaprojects, megastructures, mega trains and mega cities still exists: the narrow gauge train of Jiayang valley.
Little Train tells the story of the last working narrow gauge steam railway in China. Enjoy everyone watching!
Thank you for the upload.
5
Great content :)
Even the train in this video was only saved because had the idea to sell high-priced tickets to tourists. Also, the ecological damage is tremendous.
.
To put it bluntly, the people would be better served by turning it into a road.
However, I agree that sitting in a nice room away from all that smoke and noise, this looks cool.
Thank you for this documentary.
What a lovely documentary loved the bit where the retired engine driver visited the engine shed
Gem of a documentary. Glad the steam train will continue its journeys with the support from tourism. Thanks to all who make this documentary.
This is the perfect travel documentary. It takes an in depth look at every aspect of one unique site; an old steam locomotive going up into the mountains. By following the footsteps of a seller of vegetables into the market, anyone who has grown a garden can relate. This documentary captures the young (a school girl walking on the tracks from school) to the old (an old man who helped build the train through the Chinese cultural revolution. Great realistic scenes of everyday life mix with beautiful settings and great photography to capture every aspect of the culture and the people. This captures food (in a bird hanging over a fire), unique medicine (cupping), religion (burning money), holidays, markets and even the story of animals (this little piggy went to market). Small details like the price of a ticket, or the cost of vegetables, allows one to fill in the economic landscape, while well captured simple economic activity (making a bolt), or entering the room of a engineer washing up in his room show how things are done differently.This video was obviously shot by someone with local connections into the community and edited by someone with a unique understanding of what would fascinate outsiders. Great job!
O lord 6oooo6 you 9t7 you
gotta agree. awesome channel.
Director, researcher & camera crew deserve an Oscar for such an amazing, thoughtful and historic documentary.
The colours, the location, the stories within this story, the shear beauty of sequence is just a masterpiece ❣️
Thank you for making this 🎉
Big up to this documentary crew
Also as a retired machinist-mechanic-welder, I love the idea of the locomotives being slowly made over with spare parts... but somehow being the same train... that's how it is with animals, too! Hey, not everything has to be shiny and full of software!
This is such a beautiful documentary. Not only it introduces the little train, but it weaves lives of the ordinary little people into the story. Great! Love it.
Traveling in this train and crisscrossing beautiful sceneries along its route is something straight from a fairy tale story.
I wish someday I can make a trip along that route with this small train...
Thanks!
A superb glimpse into rural Sichuan Province. I was there once, long ago, visiting the small village of a student to whom I had taught English. This looks about the same as I viewed then, but I am sure the urban areas have changed a lot. We traveled not by train, but rather by a huge truck. If only China existed now as was back then... If only America existed as it was back then!
What a fantastic documentary about a small part of our planet that hasn't changed. Lovely people, lovely trains. Amazing video.
I appreciate the hard work you put in all of yours videos. Thank you for making such knowledgeable,informative and beautiful documentaries.
I'm a village r myself..I love to see village life wherever it appears...Thanks for the vedio...You narrate nice
This is one of the best documentaries that I've ever seen. I so much enjoyed every bit of it.
what a lovely documentary, as an overseas Chinese who grew up in Europe I always particularly enjoy watching such documentaries about China's rural areas and their lives. Thank you for this @Free Documentary.
This somehow also reminded me of all the Chinese ''coolies'' who were an essential but perhaps far to less acknowledged labourforce for the US transcontinental railroad. Something you may not know is that the term ''coolie'' sounds like the Chinese term 苦力 (ku-li). (Ku) - meaning; bitter or painful. And (Li) - meaning strength. Although maybe a stereotype, I do believe the Chinese are extremely diligent workers.
Wow this is Amazing! thank you for sharing china with me. I’m from Southern California USA, and the documentary’s have allowed me to see the world. Thank you.
Quality of these videos are really something else.
“Go to work with joy and return in good health” Perfect 👍
Love to see Narrow Gauge trains in Asia. Old gal still going on strong even after all these years.
It really shows how we Asians can live with little and be content with life. Be happy as long as we know the future generations can live a better life with hardwork.
Beautiful. I would love to visit some day. I'm so happy it's not just us brits that Cherish Steam railways. I wish the little train a long and happy future.👍🚂🚂🚂
Absolutely loved this, many thanks for posting.
You deserve a Oscar for documentaries
A piece of history. Amazing landscapes.
Even without the audio track, this film will be valuable in the future for images and activities that are recorded for history. Notice the clothes and the markets.
It was shot in 2000 and became a tourist attraction after 2010. Villagers have buses
Beautiful. We too have toy train here in Darjeeling 🌼🤘
Romantikus, hangulatos videó! :)
Wow A beautifully done documentary! I spent two months traveling in China, and yet this documentary highlighted lots of unique things that even I had not seen. Sorta wish I made a side trip to go see it.
Having worked and traveled 12 years in China, this is a GREAT video!
picturesque view, gentle and soft voice, nicely writen scripts with touch of humor make it a successful document video
Wow! What a gem of a doc!! If this is free on YT, then it is very effective. Will like and subscribe and look at your offerings. Thank you for quality. Thank you for sensitive insight.
What a fantastic film and story. This is the China I so much wish to visit and explore.
Very informative! Thank you for sharing here so that many can watch! Great travel documentary!
Beautiful little railroad. Thank you for sharing!
When was this recorded ?
Edit:Found out this railway was preserved and I’m so glad it’s still running and serving the community!
Me too! Especially in China, a place where pretty much everything historic is just razed to make way for new.
@@FreeDocumentary when did you film this ?
@@tanjoy0205 I don't think they film these. They just license the use of the documentary.
48:13 Looks like it was filmed in 2014.
Its preserved alright but that doesn’t mean that they have to make the railways stuck in 19th century making the traveling of villagers a very difficult task.
Thank you very much!
Great documentary. Thanks for bringing us this part of China.
Didn't think I'd watch a whole doco on a lil steam train but here we are.
Great documentary! Love it.
What a beautiful and powerful film!
There is one of these in Romania as well!
You can find it in the Maramureș region.
The colour, the location is amazing. Thanks for making this video🎉🎉
Amazing documentary! Thanks
What a lovely little documentary!
What a wonderful little railway! It's nice to see that even in China railways are preserved by its community!
Nice one! Thanks :)
We went on this Railway 4 times in 2017 as My Chinese wife has her home town 50 miles away. On our second visit and journey a round trip. We got invited to have lunch with the crew... Who then charged us money for the pleasure. 15 Yuan just under a pound. I would have given 4 times that for the invite. We spent a whole day up at the end station and the Museum Town. Did the journey 14 years ago with my Father in law with us. Back then the museum town still produced coal and trains of the trucks would rattle down the valleys'. Wonderful memories. David and Lily England.
In his book 'transcontinental Train Odyssey' (2004), former Deputy PM Tim Fischer wrote in the China travel section that he asked the assigned guide about the China steam train on the side rail-line. This 'yes-man' guide informed "There are no steam trains in China", as recalled in his excellent book. This jolly train -lifeline reminds me of Kuranda Scenic Railway in Cairns, Australia. Thank you for enlightening me.
I don’t think there is any steam locomotive used in actual service in China now, there are few but some steam locomotives preserved for tourism in China.
However, back in 2004, there are still a few steam locomotive in mainline service, and many in local and industrial little railways.
Exceptional video!
Imagine seeing your mother died in front of you because of hunger. Thats so heartbreaking.
Humanity can be brutal. Ego driven leaders don't care. *&$%%@
@@patricknoveski6409 am i sopose to care?
Communism doesn't care about anybody except the leaders.
fantastic and beautiful documentary! Just feel sorry for the pigs...
I love ❤ this sharing with my social media platforms.
documentário lindo, amei ... meu sonho é ir para a china... obrigada por compartilhar coisas tão lindas
Very beautiful and nostalgic.
Thanks for the Informative Video on the little train a great insight to different parts of life in China.
The train passes that beautiful scenery yellow flowers greenery
Fascinating insight into rural China. I think the video is more than 1O years old so I doubt it is the same today.
20 years old
Wonderful video. We have some narrow gauge trains still left in India. Some runs on steam, but many are converter to diesel.
21:40 this is pure countryside feeling
Great, Thanks
Really excellent photography. 'Disappointing' is as polite as I can be about the commentary.
This is so amazing! I hope they get more carriages less space and a cage carriages for the pigs and many more.. God Bless The Small Trains Of China...
I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Thrilling documentary, good insight into Chinese culture and how China has evolved in comparison to today china. Chinese are a lovely people full of life in whatever form.
wow !! Very interesting 👍🏻👍🏻
Really beautifully made documentary. What a magical and fascinating place.
Really enjoyed this, Reminds me of stories my Great Grandmother use to tell
Are there other documentaries with the same narrator?
I struggle with insomnia this video puts me to sleep every time I play it.
very nice and informative documentary
an amazing little train...reminds me of Lal Ratty we have in the Lake District....
Love you China's
From beijing city china!!🌋🌋🌋
Beautiful!!!!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏Thanks a lot!,
I didn’t want it to end…
Nice to see mega projects didn`t take over this 'small gem' in China. This wonderful documentary -- 'Last Little Train' -- tells the stories of the hardworking, humble people who live in the Chinese countryside. Yea, 'Last Little Train' built to last!!
This was a very compelling, fun, interesting, and outright captivating docu. Well done! It had a bit of everything; both the technical aspects, historical aspects, and especially: the human aspect. From woman-train-technician, to a child following the tracks till home, to old men recounting their past experiences, to an old woman trying to make a living on the market. Rural life in China as it is, including superstitions and traditions. All interwoven with the little train.
I've seldom seen something so well made.
Beautiful documentary. India too has such "little trains" in remote places, which greatly benefit local rural populations. However, we have almost no steam locomotives left, as most lines have been electrified.
excellent documentary. Very down to earth and not try hard to impress the viewers, unlike these Amercian documentaries from Discovery. Little people with little in their lifes and yet happy with what they have. Life is difficult for them but the local people are brave , optimistic and very hard working, something the rich, and middle class people lack of nowadays. We complain so much and give back so little. It also gives you hope that the living standard has improved so much over the years and I firmly believe more to come. One day I will visit this village myself!
A really beautiful documentary.
WOW. this looks like a paradise. no thrash no litter
I love this TH-cam channel
What an amazing documentary
This is beautiful😍
Great doco ,thank you.
Thanks for sharing!
always a pleasure
There is a DVD of this little engine when the pits it served where still working it's available from rob Dickinson hope that this helps some of you
This is AMAZING, that this beautiful Steam Train line still exists! Thank God it has been saved. We humans so easily discard the past history all over the world.
We did it in the USA in the 50's. Steam died. This is like a dream.
It really is like a dream. Historical things give us a chance to actually time travel. It gladens my heart when I see little gems still exist and I wish some countries (like, as you mentioned, the US and China) would take more care in preserving the past.
Patrick, what is the point in preserving something that is not economically viable? Even the train in this video was only saved because had the idea to sell high-priced tickets to tourists. Also, the ecological damage is tremendous.
.
To put it bluntly, the people would be better served by turning it into a road.
However, I agree that sitting in a nice room away from all that smoke and noise, this looks cool.
@@earlysda Just remember, if the world is ever hit with a big EMP, all your stuff would be dead while the steam engines would still work. A Diesel cannot run on wood while a steam engine can run on anything that burns.
@@gravelydon7072 grave, great, a big EMP hit and we could have a 20km train still running in China!
@@earlysda Bro who cares, it's ADORABLE!!!
Very nice documentary. People in this area love this train . I hope don’t lose it but in the temple of profit unfortunately it will replace by buses …
😍❤️love this episode
jossssssssssssss video iki.......rekaman gik negoro chino.sipppppppppppppp
pre cooked pork leg on the hot embers of the steam locomotive...resource alongside cooperation. So, so many wonders relating to maximizing what you have, not what you haven't...simple way of life needed of toil & labour, and of the same vein, chop-sticking for ambers Fantastic viewing..
We have a few narrow gauge trains and tracks still used in România. They are now used exclusively for touristic purposes and most of them replaced the steam locomotives to more efficient diesel ones. Although there are still some steam ones used.
Mocanita la Moldovita is one example still running steam locos although the pressures of popular tourism tend to spoil the rural charm of previous years.
Beautiful place 😊
Any steam engineer or fireman that ever stood on a footplate has cooked a fine dinner on their engine. I'm told my grandfather could make a killer pot roast.
Iam watching ever documentry of you,iam intrested to work with you,can I get achance sir?
I have been fortunate tospend decades traveling in China on vacations of 6 weeks or more and have been to many ancient villages in many places, drank water from a well dig before Christ was born, seen trees still living thousand years old, traveled purposely on the old slow trains because I love them. The 4 person a/c cars are great everywhere and I have acquired some incredible pictures as well and made dozens of friends that are like family. The last 4 years have been hurtful because of company, and business, Covid and ill workers so I am still waiting to go again to see all my great friends. Wechat is always a good link to see children grow and videos and pictures by the hundreds as well but it is not like being there with the great people that noone in government knows of or deals with. This train & life video has been one of the most rewarding documentary I have seen in all my travels. Everything about it was magical almost a dream to see. I was in Nanchang, Jiangxi when I felt a tremor that far away from Wenchuan when it harmed so many of these villagers and immediately went to the Bank of China there to put cash into the big jar by the hundreds of Yuan I had available. People thought it was a scene from a movie being made as I knew what that money would mean to the hopeless people that had their lives changed forever. This video helped some hunger I has not had being in China for so long and I am extremely thankful to the people who made this possible. They fed my soul and made me happy in all the trouble here in America right now with a bum president. When one of mr dear friends I mt years ago in Shanghai invited me to Yunyang and accepted me as her brother amongst her family I had a family again now on that day and still calls me brother Ray. She has a lovely daughter now that is a twin of her and I look forward to handing her the heaviest red envelope she will ever see after 4 1/2 years not seeing her. Again I thank the people who created this wonderful experience and I sent a link to 2 of my friends who live in that same province as well of the little train. I will love to pet one of those pigs before its demise as well. I will enjoy that train for sure one day. Ray C. Florida
Beautiful place, I would love to live there ...
Such a cute smoll train boi, I love it! XD
I would love to ride this train, it might not be comfortable, but it's so adorable and fairy-taily!
Also... the landscapes are so pretty and rustic ISTG it looks like some described in my MXTX danmei novels
😭😭😭
it is not new for me but i saw and travel when i was of child hood i mean stem engine train
a very simple living and peaceful community
The Opening reminded me of Howl's Castle.
Great content, any videos of the mosuo tribe? 👍👍
Not yet but I'll add it to our possible content list. Thank you!
what year is this documentary being produced?
2014
beautiful