China's Mighty QJ 2-10-2's

[@jamesrichardson559]

Notice @ 7:00 there is no up and down movement of the rail/ties in the ballast anywhere. Sure saves on power required and rail fatigue.

[@MichaelJohnson-dt8tv]

@kamesrichardson559- That’s a Hell of an astute observation! You must be quite a RR buff or a stickler for detail, or perhaps both. I was so mesmerized by the locomotives themselves, it would never have occurred to me to even think about the tracks.

[@farflungtraveler]

I guess that’s how light the QJ’s axle load is.

[@phoenixarian8513]

Do you often see the rails jumping up and down when a locomotive pass? That means rubbish tracks. Or the locomotive is too heavy for this kind of track. Guess the USA got such tracks. Their locomotives have such a high axle load that squeeze their tracks to noodles. QJ is designed to run on poor tracks (that's what Chinese got in that era). It has an axle weight of 20 tons so it won't squeeze the tracks. Of course the Chinese had considered this problem beforehand!

[@johnkeepin7527]

Reminded me of a journey I made in 1996. The train I was on stopped at Wuhan, and a freight hauled by two of those passed by in the opposite direction. That was the last occasion when I saw a conventional service train (compared with preserved trains) hauled by a steam loco.

[@douglasvick9703]

Theres a monster Chinese steam locomotive in The wonderful YORK railway museum.. If my memory is good it was built at Ashton in Makerfield....A wonderful history to it.!!!!

[@marmion150]

​@@douglasvick9703the loco the Chinese government presented to the museum in York is a KF 4-8-4 built at Vulcan Foundry, Newton le Willows in 1935.

[@danherrmann8755]

What a work horse. Love the sound.

[@johnlacey155]

These things have got a very sprightly exhaust note - that's for sure !

[@kimsongam5504]

这个视频是很好的怀旧视频，给新生的儿童展现火车发展历史的的好题材。👍👍👍👏👏👏💐💐💐

[@cosmincoco6983]

Oh,yesthis is 150 loco meaning a running axe ,five tractor wheels and o under the engineer's cabin . this is the big cow as my. Father said,the most Powerful loco. Thanks for images.

[@phoenixarian8513]

no you got it wrong. It's 2-10-2 in wheels or 1-5-1 in axles. There is another one axle under the "engineers cabin" as you mentioned. It's no way the most powerful as Bigboys or what has better traction powers. But it's simply the best possible solution for heavy freight on low standard tracks. You can't run BB because the curves are too sharp. (Not all tracks are accessable even by QJ in China let alone BB) You can't run fast because the speed limit is low. And you have a heavy train to pull. most Powerful no, best tool for the job yes

[@chris_fly]

Driver @0:57 onwards is really talented. He almost puts a 'creep' function into the locomotive.

[@b43xoit]

Is that anything more than Johnson bar fully away from center and opening the regulator just enough to get motion? I guess you have to feather it to regulate speed.

[@proactiveomnipresentvessel6569]

And to think this was in the early 2000s

[@WesternRailway1592]

​@Christy Li it actually was on the 2000s this was originally recorded in 2003 and posted in 2021

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

​​@@WesternRailway1592Very polluting locomotives. Contribution to global warming climate change via massive CO2 emissions. They needed slicing with cutting torches and recycling, melting down the scrap for cleaner traction taking over.

[@widodoakrom3938]

Nope this's from mao era

[@YourFriendlyOfficeAssistant]

Ultimately the design would be around 70 years old at that point.

[@Kashlaki]

After the war, the USSR built 156 factories in China. Every year during 1949-1956, USSR spent about 1% of GDP on non-reimbursable assistance to China.The first heavy steam locomotive was built according to the Soviet drawings of the "Felix Dzerzhinsky" steam locomotive and was called the "Anti-Imperialist". It was in 1952. The Soviet steam locomotive, in turn, was designed in 1931 based on the design of the American Baldwin. It's true. But this was not a copy, the Soviet steam locomotive was completely designed independently in a metric system, taking into account the requirements of the Russian Railways.

[@tvm73827]

Thank you for this great piece of history. Amazing how much China owes its rise to the assistance it received from the erstwhile Soviet Union.

[@key4073]

Ф. Д. - Феликс Дзержинский - от была запредельная мощь , довелось увидеть в работе , незабываемые впечатления.

[@Kashlaki]

@@key4073 Этот локомотив перевернул всю историю наших железных дорог. Спасибо.

[@ronalddevine9587]

Impressive looking, but how well did they perform, how reliable?

[@Kashlaki]

@@ronalddevine9587 In Soviet Union, 3213 steam locomotives of the FD 20 series were built with an axial formula of 1-5-1 in the period 1931-1942. The main production site was the Lugansk Locomotive Works. Many years later, in the period 1958-1960, some of these steam locomotives were donated to the People's Republic of China, in the amount of 950-1050 pieces (not exactly known). Soviet steam locomotives were designated FX or FD in China (after 1970). Soviet steam locomotives should not be confused with the Chinese QJ steam locomotive, which is very similar, but was produced in China according to the prototype of the Soviet FD20. Regarding Chinese steam locomotives, I have no data. But I think these steam locomotives were exceptionally reliable.

[@Leikoo]

Operating two steam engines in tandem is not quite easy as it look like, I think...

[@gwaithwyr]

Terrific video! I am sorry I never saw these beasts in action.

[@MagnetOnlyMotors]

1:55 nice barking 😊.

[@sandasturner9529]

Even to this day, I still wonder in awe of the steam locomotives, their old technology, and the scenery/backdrop/vibe they create whenever I see one. It kinda ties many elements history together for me.

[@donotwantahandle1111]

2:10 That's some beat they've got!

[@andrewthacker114]

Love watching these China steam trains.

[@timothywalsh2955]

These steam engines are a direct copy of the Baldwin 2-10-2's and are still being built new for the Chinese railroad grid.

[@phoenixarian8513]

No the Chinese stopped using steam even on Sandaoling. Also they designed this from soviet LV class but modified it with a big firebox and the trailing axle. Of course this is not a copy from the Americans! If they do they surely would like to copy 4-6-6-4 instead!

[@garryyoung8945]

Absolutely brilliant. That is quite a sight

[@michaelnewman1920]

Great video Peter thanks for sharing this

[@ryanwiese5280]

There are two of them in America run by the Iowa Interstate railroad.

[@Circa88]

Absolutely adore their QJs. Such unique machines, fun change of pace from the typical North American steam locomotive.

[@Chefpavel]

I believe Iowa Interstate bought the very last one to come off the production line.

[@timnewman1172]

@@Chefpavel The Boone & Scenic Valley R.R. in Boone, Iowa ordered & bought the last locomotive built by Datong(?) in the 1980's, it has just been put back into service after extensive repairs...

[@Chefpavel]

Ruh-roh. Wrong company. But I distinctly remember its arrival being featured on CBS Sunday Morning sometime in the 80's. I knew it was the last hurrah of a bygone era.@@timnewman1172

[@farflungtraveler]

There’s another in Kentucky.

[@tonyromano6220]

Amazing concrete ties and super maintained roadbed, with 100 year old Loco! (More a less)😂😂

[@railfanjackson4531]

Actually the QJs were fairly late in terms of steam locomotive production. This video was recorded in 2003. The last QJs were built in 1988. So the QJ only ended production 15 years before this video was filmed. Yeah, it’s crazy I know.

[@JPL04MEDAN]

Great video... Amazing steam Locomotive Greetings from Indonesian railfans

[@jamesdenny4734]

Not sure where Indonesia is, but welcome 👍🏻

[@solarflare623]

It’s still crazy to think that china was still using steam locomotives only a few years before I was born

[@fredwood1490]

I wonder if those were coal fired or oil fired? The tenders are very large, like for oil and water, and the smoke, even under load, isn't very dark. I am surprised to see two monsters pulling smallish trains, that 20 traction wheels pulling not that much load. I love how, most of the time, only one engine is under load and they switch off to save fuel and wear. How do they communicate with each other or is there a time element? Truly an awesome sight and sound!

[@petercrook4626]

The one I rode over the pass was coal fired, with two firemen, taking turns. The coal seemed to be mostly dust. The grades can be pretty steep. They communicate with whistles and horns.

[@phoenixarian8513]

Coal fired. China don't seem to own any oil fired steamers.

[@roberthuron9160]

There was a US intrusion into that Russian 2-10-2,as it was an USRA derivative from WW1! The original came out of Baldwin,and was based off the B&O S-1a Class! Uprated with Delta trailing trucks,and later improvements! The ancestry is a bit more complicated than most know! Anyway,there were/are several thousand of those locomotives,and yes, Sam Vauclain would be proud of his offspring!! Thank you for the attention,and information! Peter,thank you,as I have several videos of yours,the Indian ones,are fascinating! Thank you! Thank you 😇 😊!

[@amazingdecks1]

What's with the exclamation marks?

[@michaeltrilck5680]

You’re right,Sir! These Loco‘s ALL copies from american types… also the trucks and cars … all russian & chinese copies…

[@madame-rosalitaduchesse7636]

Voici loco a vapeur chinoise. Basée sur la conception des années 40 "felix drzhezhinsky". L'union soviétique.

[@philipgrice1026]

Baldwin was able to inspect and take measurements from a British steam engine that had been delivered to the Camden and Amboy Railroad, in the USA but had not yet been assembled. He based his design on the measurements he had taken from the John Bull engine. So whining about the Chinese using Russian designs based upon Baldwin engines is the height of irony. I think you just stepped in smelly doo-doo Robert.

[@SuperMikado282]

​@@philipgrice1026Hahaha, exactly.

[@shyviking]

Interesting to think about that steam and HSR have actually coexisted in China. Not by much and not for a long time, but still... I have tried both the "ordinary" intercity trains and sleeper trains, (running at 120-140 km/h; AFAIR) and the HSR trains (running at 250-300 km/h). They have all been relatively good rides, although there is not much comfort in 2nd class in the ordinary trains. The HSR trains seem to be inspired by German HSR trains in the design, and by japanese Shinkansen trains in the interior layout.

[@Белыйкролик-в2ф]

Steam engine trains were discontinued in China's railway system in 2003, and steam engine trains in coal mines were discontinued in 2005.

[@gj1234567899999]

Does anyone know if these trains are the pinnacle of steam train design since they were built much later than other steam trains and most other countries stopped making steam Engines by the 1950s? What I mean is in terms of reliability, ease of maintenance and ease of use, versatility, power, speed, does this train have the best balance? What trains would be better than these?

[@eal8645]

Not really. With minor improvements. They are actually copies of a Russian design back in the late 1940’s which in turn was a copy of German design BR 44.

[@phoenixarian8513]

No they are far from pinnacle. Remember this is in post war China and they have PATHETIC technological abilities as well as resources by then. They need it CHEAP and easy to build. This is simply the best possible solution in the limited conditions. They don't have big enough workshops or straight enough tracks to build and run 484s or big boys, so they built this 2-10-2 instead. They can't build powerful outputs (high boiler pressure) like BB does so they made really small driving wheels so it can give as much traction as possible at cost of speed. This is QJ. A relatively small locomotive (compared to American ones) with heavy burden on its tail advancing its road like weightlifting. That's how its name is called. Keep advancing regardless of how tough the problem is.

[@phoenixarian8513]

Also in this video most of the time the locos are running faster than their usual appearance like on the mainline hauling heavy freight. It's running light therefore fast. 6:10 is about the same speed as they are hauling a consist of freight in their dominant era. Yeah it's THAT slow.

[@Kysushanz]

New Zealand KA class was "advanced" for it's type, although a narrow gauge engine. As a child I used to love riding the "train" although the many trips through tunnels was less than impressive. I recall the mad scramble of people to close windows before we entered tunnels - the seasoned travellers knew where they were and generally shouted out a warning. NZ developed a method of delivering coal in such a fine dust that it was almost "fluid" and burned with very little emissions at all. But politics was involved and NZ had started the transition to diesel engines [which incidentally, were more polluting than this "new" invention] and I think the technology was sold to South Africa. So, if this was used by South Africa, then I suspect that the steam trains of SA were the final say in the development of this form of travel.

[@phoenixarian8513]

Oh one more thing, I've found an interesting document talking about QJ. What you need is traction, not speed. When the engine is running at lower than 15 kph the bottleneck is adhension. Pushing the engine at full steam would simply get wheel slip and therefore a bigger boiler or higher pressure won't do any good in here. When it's between 15-27 kph the bottleneck is cylinders. Only when running at 27+ kph the bottleneck is boiler. This is a FREIGHT locomotive! It is not designed to pull lightweight loads at very fast speed but to pull heavy loads regardless of speed. With fewer loads a 484 would run much faster but when it's heavy 484 would slip and not move at all yet this 2102 would go with no problem. (Yes 484 has half its weight on leading and trailing wheels which is VERY BAD as a freighter) Since traction is SOOOO important there is a "adhension booster" ie lifting either or both the leading wheels or trailing wheels to make it 0-10-0 to get even better adhension.

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

thanks for the footage

[@rafaelfernandez8311]

Si muy interesante desde las minas de carbón hasta el punto x. Transporte con maquinas que usan su misma materia activa.

[@jjsgarage3634]

Amazing steam power from China!! Cool! 👍🏻

[@sparklessconnectionselectrical]

Coal

[@wonttell4873]

You might want to look up a certain 4-8-8-4 running in the US right now. Based on specs I looked up, it's got more power than both of these combined.

[@lizzapaolia959]

No graffiti on the box car's. In the USA graffiti unfortunately is common on trains, especially box cars. Unfortunately.......... Thank you for sharing your video and God bless 🙏🎄

[@turboslag]

So ethereal to see steam running on modern rail. One hing I'd like to know, as I'm just a casual steam lover, what are those vertical panels on the sides at the smoke box end?

[@petercrook4626]

Smoke deflectors. They push air up to elevate the smoke so the engineers/drivers view is not blocked. This was shot in early 2003, btw.

[@turboslag]

@@petercrook4626 Cheers for that, I've always wondered what they were, having seen them on many British locos as well as here.

[@joshjones3408]

Man thats really awesome to see be careful thanks for the video 👍👍

[@JohnDoesItAll]

3:07 "wooooo" (steam whistle) followed by "tweee" from kid on a trumpet😅😂😊

[@quandaledinglell5047]

That was an air horn on the locomotive

[@joshjones3408]

I thank the old saying ...when you have to walk just walk softly but care one hell of stick...fits here cause there doing it ever so gracefully but when you look at them just right it's like dam ok pawpaw I want do it no more just don't hit me with that stick.. 😆😆

[@nikhilmurthy7096]

Compare semaphores at below timestamps: 4:31 and 4:41 (Top) 5:39, 7:12 and 7:23 (Middle) It seems that the semaphores in China are read from the train crew's left (slow down the video at 5:38 and notice the top right semaphore changing position!). Contrast that to America, where the semaphores are read from the train crew's right in the old days before searchlights and tri-lights replaced them! Do semaphore signal rules operate in China the same way in America? In other words, angled position means "Approach" and horizontal position means "Stop?"

[@HighballTrains]

I believe (looking at my cab ride video) that the engineer/driver is on the left side of the locomotive) thus the signals would be on the left. In the US the engineer is on the right, thus the signals , semaphore or color light are on his right. And yes, semaphore signals in China have the same meaning as any other country..

[@phoenixarian8513]

China Railways inherited the British rule of going LEFT thanks to history of being colonized. Therefore the signals are on the left.

[@fernandosantiagorodrigueze5532]

Also Steam Locomotives of Renfe?

[@pilsudski36]

Ya gotta love the caboose!

[@robinzhao4952]

This and other tank engines were phased out at least 2 decades ago in China. But great to see it here.

[@widodoakrom3938]

Looks like drg class 01 from weimar republic

[@yours_sincerely48]

Thanks for the upload. Amazing and Choo Choo sounds nice, rythmic unlike USA trains where you can hear the train pounding steel on the track...Pang Pang Pang.....as the go...

[@phoenixarian8513]

US railroad companies service their tracks poor as they care just about the charge of renting routes. Whatever foreign train derails on their tracks are not cared at all. Damn private ownerships. CN railway is government monopolized and had no such issues.

[@rockguitarist931]

@@phoenixarian8513 What are you talking about?

[@phoenixarian8513]

@@rockguitarist931 The private railroads in US my dear.

[@rockguitarist931]

@@phoenixarian8513 lol, whatever. You have absolutely no idea what you're saying if you think that US railroads don't care about operations just because they're privately owned and they're uncouth enough to use... (GASP!) jointed rails.

[@TrainTrackTrav]

Are there any lines in China that still use steam, or are the all fully dieselized now?

[@ArchsStanton]

*Apparently YOU've been under a rock for over a decade........*

[@phoenixarian8513]

No more steam I guess. However rather than dieselized it's electrified. Most engines in China are electrics.

[@trainknut]

Sandaoling was the last holdout, they ceased steam operations in 2018

[@Yitao_Su]

Tiefa line in Liao Ning in Northeast China

[@Yitao_Su]

SY locomotives from 1770 - 1772

[@ironphilly2366]

Apparently Chinese steam trains last longer then diesel

[@iggyjill]

Called proper maintenance

[@HTV-2_Hypersonic_Glide_Vehicle]

@@iggyjill yep

[@maximanuelotuffatz1341]

C'est normal. Il y a des trains électriques

[@chadbailey189]

this video from 2002, these are long gone

[@HTV-2_Hypersonic_Glide_Vehicle]

@christyli8016 😀 👍

[@SouthernMaineFoamer]

I remember watching this but in my “Lots and lots of toy trains Volume 2” dvd

[@petercrook4626]

They used quite a lot of my footage. Not recently though.

[@scottphelps1776]

When RJ Corman purchased one a friend of mine was asked to help retire it to American standards. He said the Chinese used a 50 volt system thst was very strange to figure out.

[@rockguitarist931]

I'd love to have an 1/8th scale QJ steam engine one day.

[@PeanutGDog]

Honestly me too, with how the connecting rods are I’d never get tired of seeing them move around so much

[@PeanutGDog]

@Christy Li the rods are so close to the outside as well as the color difference for the wheels to rods it’s so noticeable and mesmerizing

[@TheMischief9]

Really nice steam engine .... well maintained track ..... and they still use a caboose .

[@eolhcytoos]

The rake of wagons does not seem long or heavy enough to require the need of 2 such large locomotives, unless the terrain included steep gradients. Good to see this in action though. Thanks

[@tonyromano6220]

I wondered about that, maybe like class 3 in US RRs seem to have a hot spare…

[@phoenixarian8513]

Here is the words from Chinese railfans: QJ can haul around 2000 tons. In their dominant era they usually come in 3x to haul a 5000 ton train. Some of their boilers are scaled and therefore reduces available power (you can't always make sure you have freshly serviced locomotives) And they move slowly on such a load. Yeah its max speed is 80 kph but they actually use it a lot slower to pull heavier train.

[@johnbrown-rm8kc]

Awesome Video thanks 👍

[@envitech02]

What a majestic sight of these mechanical beasts huffing and puffing away, belching smoke and vapour. But entering tunnels would not be fun at all.

[@markusarz7699]

Wie hoch war denn da der Wasserverbrauch auf 100 km?

[@TheTomyossarian]

How do they equalize the traction between the units?

[@mrzyroplays]

By maintaining equal pressure

[@tonyromano6220]

Peter do you travel to film these? Or collect videos? Amazing stuff.

[@petercrook4626]

Back in the past I owned and operated Highball Productions. Since I was a one man company, I shot and edited all footage. I sold Highball and retired almost ten years ago. Jingpeng was in February, 2003.

[@davidhobman399]

Beautiful is all i can say well done china

[@iamatrainfan]

Did the train whistle

[@SWATkid9000]

3:05

[@assiebruins2545]

Real giants.

[@paulbennett5370]

Wow Excellent

[@jamesdenny4734]

One word.... AWWESOME !

[@dbug7276]

Magnificent pulling force. 👏 the 🙂 ♥️ ❤️ 💙 💖 😍 🙂 ♥️ ❤️ 💙 💖 😍 🙂 ♥️ ❤️ 💙 💖 😍

[@ellastarrr1st149]

Bet the firemen are working hard.

[@williamlloyd3769]

What a beast!

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

Seem to be all used as double-headers.

[@twickenhammrc]

Hello Peter, I'm sure we travelled together on a Derek Phillips trip. Was it 1999 when the train back to Beijing was late and some of us missed the flight home?

[@HighballTrains]

Hi Paul. This was February 2003, just after I got my US citizenship. Had to overnight my documents, pay the expedited fee and overnight back, then drive to Los Angeles with my new passport for an expedited visa, drive the 500 miles home then fly to Beijing. Exciting few days!

[@twickenhammrc]

@@HighballTrains ahh! Then it was later on a John raby trip to shibanxi that we met.

[@ИзяШнобельман]

Два паровоза тянут небольшойЮ в общем, состав. Может там подъёмы крутые?

[@54SIBIR54]

Разумеется, местность изобилует высокими холмами.

[@donalfinn4205]

Nice vid!🇨🇮🇵🇸

[@chrisblenkinsopp8588]

Nice choo choo trains...

[@MichaelJohnson-dt8tv]

They don’t seem particularly fast, but however fast they’ll go, you get the impression they could pull a 20 mile long train while doing it.

[@ravirayalwar7284]

Wonderful ❤ great 🎉 superb 😅

[@blauer2551]

Original design or copied from the British?

[@petercrook4626]

Don’t know, and neither does Wikipedia.

[@sandasturner9529]

Also I wish today's American locomotives didn't get rid of the passenger caboose

[@marvwatkins7029]

Mighty fine.

[@oldschooljack3479]

We've made some pretty huge technological advances... But we still mostly rely on boiling water into steam to provide for the majority of our energy needs. It is hard to beat steam when you need incredible power. It can be a bit inefficient as far as thermal unit conversion to usable energy units... And it has a high support/maintenace cost (steam locos require constant maintenance and support) but it just flat works.

[@danielcobbins8861]

China has immense reserves of coal, so it would make sense to continue with steam locos.

[@ŽivjelaBiH]

These trains got the wheels of an russian steam train

[@johnfellows2867]

these locos are based on a Russian design.

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

Well they are based on the Soviet State Railways class LV 2-10-2.

[@amgluk]

Russian project - "FD", axial formula 1-5-1. It's great that this video exists because there are no such exciting videos or films of the original FD.

[@simonapeters4372]

They don’t even run the headlight no safety

[@laurenceskinnerton73]

Nice.

[@jims6323]

That landscape looks like it could be on the moon!

[@pickle4034]

The martians live on earth and our closest astronauts live in China.

[@henryjewell3900]

The QJs that came to the United States were found to be reliable but not as powerful as an American steam locomotive of the same type and class.

[@558vulcanxh]

Possibly not as powerful but well on top of the job , and running on fully Nationalised well specified and maintained tracks. 😊

[@phoenixarian8513]

QJ was built under limit of axle load to 20 tons. Since the adhension is limited its traction powers are also limited. Simple. You want to pull more you can't be too lightweight or you will wheel slip. The Americans are heavier thus they can make more traction. Talking about "powerful" I guess you are talking about ability to pull more weight, not speed.

[@tvm73827]

Most unimpressive whistle/horn on the most impressive steam locomotive!

[@marvwatkins7029]

That's all the might China should have.

[@健一くん-n9g]

さすかに中国ですね、日本と違う凄い馬力で貨車を引いていますね。

[@ИринаРатникова-т7п]

Интересный паровоз. Но американский Большой Мальчик круче💪💪💪❤❤❤❤❤

[@simonapeters4372]

The only country in the world still making steam engines and excursion railroad in Iowa bought one instead of restoring an American engine isn’t that we’re all the flag waving Republicans live

[@Wheelgauge-bt7ox]

Very nice but that horn has to go!

[@subhranshuganguly2246]

India srapped them by 1995 much later tan US in 50s and UK in 60s. India does not have enough coal now and has to import some coal from Australia and Indonesia. I think China has lots of coal.

[@EDIIsmaelAldapaMendoza-zo5lb]

Yong bao

[@simonapeters4372]

Imagine that Chinese copying a Russian steam locomotive I think they copy everything there’s no quality there though everything they make is junk

[@williammuir638]

Awesome! Steam trains are best 😊