China steam finale - Jixi September 2011

This video shows steam locomotives at work at Dongchang mine, Beichang washery and the Xinghua tip at Jixi, Heilongjiang Provence, China. The action takes place at the washery and the tip, with coverage of the coal pickers too. There is a glimpse of an electric locomotive of the type that is planned to replace the steam engines some time.
黒龍江省鶏西市にある鶏西砿業集団鉄路運輸部の上游型（SY）。
爆煙です。
If you are used to steam on several lines at Jixi; no electrification poles spoiling the view; winter steam effects; and donkey carts, you may find this video disappointing!
We were at Jixi from 8-10 September for two and a half days. At Chengzihe we recorded 7 SYs at work: 0951, 1058, 1351, 1369, 1437, 1544 and 1545. The Beichang washery and the two lines leading to it were free of electrification poles, although a stack of poles lay near the level crossing with the road that leads down to the church.
No overhead wires were seen in place anywhere, but a number of poles had the fittings attached to support wires.
The only diesel noted at Chengzihe was DF10D 0157, one of the two larger diesels which have worked at Hengshan for some years.
The gathering of locomotives at Dongchang for the shift change remains. A water column remains at Nanchang, but the other servicing tracks there are now occupied by a repair building, seen in the video. Instead of coaling at Nanchang, locomotives travel to Beichang, often coupled in pairs.
The short spoil line near Xinghua is also free of poles. The points controller there told our guide he expected diesels to take over from steam in about six months.
Apologies for some wind noise on the tip - my external microphone broke on this trip and it is windy up there even in summer.

[@woodhonky3890]

So amazing to see steam locomotives actually working.

[@blackthorne57]

Great video, good to see so much steam action in the second decade of the 21st century. Let us enjoy it while we can.

[@Rocketboy1950]

A great mix of both the railway and the human element, well done.

[@otakurailfan]

good to still see steamers working hard

[@LIMowersAndMore]

Sadly they’re retiring them all, but in major mines and narrow gauge they still use em!

[@northstar1950]

Interesting that these locos seem to have air horns, presumbably powered from the braking system rather than a steam whistle.

[@PenilessCentless]

If u look closely, u can see that some whistles are steam powered, some are air powered though

[@Steven_Rowe]

Wow my idea of a holiday, just steam dreaming. It so good that this has been recorded and shared around the world THANKS I'm a steam fanatic

[@jamesbelcher8509]

Northern Pacific 4-6-0 Ten-Wheeler 474 2:25 [train whistle] 0:11 [train chugging] 0:30 [train whistle] 11:27 [train whistle]

[@Chinareport]

Thank you for making and posting this wonderful video! We were beginning to worry there was no reason for people to come to Jixi, but you have just proven us completely wrong !! Wow, will see thru the other video's, meanwhile many thanks from us. e will link your video up to the location of Jixi on our map, see if we can find some more train fans to share in all this excitement.

[@robertgift]

Nice video showing all kinds of things! Thank you.

[@erickthecfrengine]

Whistles: 0:30 0:33 0:46 1:57 2:02 2:06 2:25 3:12 4:02 4:07 4:16 4:54 11:04 11:09 11:26 11:59 13:31 13:45 13:48 13:52 13:55

[@mysock351C]

14:22 Why bother with the oxen to pull the cart when you can use the wife instead.

[@Domdeone1]

Best video of `working steam` Ive seen thanks. true enthusiast to make it out there. brill!

[@RiflemanMoore]

I'm amazed at how cleanly they fire these engines given the black porridge in the tender.

[@johnsamu]

Great video, watching this in 2023 so a lot has changed in the meantime. I am surprised about the excellent video quality/resolution/colors. How did you make this video. Maybe you used old fashioned film??

[@Kikai_Taro]

Railways are attractive because of restrictions such as railways, weight, sound, heat and water. Already, it's not just mobility, it's a structure with a will.

[@robertgift]

Fun video. Thank you. Like the red paint on the drivers. 14:36 single-cylinder diesel? In China, fromy bicycle I pull my wife on her bicycle. She say I strong as ox and twice asmart!

[@Денис1-с6в]

14:35 - Классная чертопхайка!

[@ToritheGSMR1702-mz3rc]

Wow lots of whistle action in this video!

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

A fantastic video. thank you

[@steamsearcher]

Having a lovely Chinese wife gives me a bias towards most things Chinese. Well done on capturing the feel of struggle in a land where very little is wasted. I have long holidays with the family and sort of live there for a while. Diesels and a coal mine would not quite work as they need very clean servicing facilities. Steam can be serviced anywhere, David Scott.

[@algrayson8965]

American coal mines are served by diesel-electric locomotives. Coal burning power plants likewise. Servicing facilities are elsewhere. There is no reason to have servicing facilities near mines or power plants.

[@oberleitungsdraht]

Einfach nur grandios !!! Vielen , vielen Dank !!!

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

It’s very impressive of how long the Chinese held on their steam engines for such a long time.

[@SPUPRR]

Not really. Pretty easy when Humans are property of the government and the government sets your worth(pay). Plenty of disposable workers.

[@Yellow_1173]

They aren't all as old as they look. Some could be from pre-PRC days, but most are actually much newer. There are pictures of them still building these as late as the early 2000s, though I doubt they are anymore. Until they really started advancing their tech it was just easier and cheaper to build what they already knew.

[@samanli-tw3id]

They live on top of a sea of coal.

[@Basinrails]

2:03 sounds like a low pitched star brass 5 chime

[@itsjustnopinionok]

7:05 I have nothing to complain about when I see these people working so hard.

[@hexunyang9846]

So proud of my hometown :)!

[@tremsobretrilhosbahiavli9484]

Great video 👏👏👏

[@psycotria]

I'm certain that in some applications, steam power makes better sense than diesel or electric, due to availability of suitable fuel, maintenance or labor. Dieselization = unemployment for many.

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

Beautiful whistle too.

[@ЮрийШугин-ж7э]

Уважение к паровозу было всегда паровоз это сила

[@steamqj]

I have got to second that what my old mate Peter has just said super vid . I have never seen coal pickers go at it like that before. lets hope for a bit longer yet!!!! they did look a bit clueless looking at that electric pile of junk.

[@fjbutch]

Great vid....awesome to see steam still used today...

[@EMDSD14R]

indeed they are unqiue...they have both air horns and whistles...the air horns are mostly used in heavly populated areas to get peoples attention faster..along with the high powered headlights..they also blow the airhorns and whistles while working in the yards also..they are a trade mark of these locomotives..they also use the whistle to without using the airhorn..its amazing that each engines air horn can sound different in the same class

[@TheFowler99]

do they still have any QJ 2.10.0 working there ?I went in to manchura just before talamane square uprising, the journey from harbin to chagang junction I will never forget.

[@williamou417]

The QJs are 2-10-2 and none of them are running in China

[@italianirish10]

this steam sounds like it had a plenty of power u can hear the pressure of chugging sound wish the usa had the same thing coming back from the old day it will be awsome to see more and more steam loco in usa. bring back the old days with the coal

[@mysock351C]

14:38 The little Daihatsu clone cart actually as an old industrial stationary engine in it. Guess you do what you have to do to get to work and back.

[@trainspotting_and_tech2023]

Steam locomotives with electric horn! 😁

[@spearn0x]

It’s actually just an air horn, it is really uncommon to see air horns on these steam breathing monsters

[@jonichielochielo3209]

Namanya saja china rusak cepat untuk diganti

[@raztaz826]

Very interesting, good filming.

[@MT-Leung]

Hello The Chinese steam the horn good sound i like it. 2012 yr all steam retired,some steam to USA on the track run. Chinese steam has special taste,good power, steam can long term on the run no maintance may be 100000km still on the run 20/07/2012

[@OCBsebastian]

Would be a shame if they would be replaced by diesel or electric locos. But really interesting video. Would have thought that China would have given them up ages ago.

[@fernandorodrigueslopes130]

Bom saber que em alguns lugares da China preservam essas belas locomotivas.

[@trainman071]

i like the Chinese believes. old fashioned hard work. their culture tells a big story

[@ibermodeltren]

Great video

[@yiwenqi6857]

These steam locomotives are only used in the local coal mines, i.e., which are only used by the coal mines company.

[@Turitea]

Loved it - thanks!

[@NJPurling]

Are those people on the tip taking the recovered coal fragments for domestic use? There were a lot of people with wagons & tractors that suggested they were 'harvesting' a lot more coal in order to sell it on.

[@ОлежкаСчастливый]

*Похоже на СССР 30-60-х годов.* 👍💖

[@Satishbhilalaa]

Nice video

[@bluedoris88]

at last, a decent whistle at 13.40 . thanks again

[@ToyotaCorolla-qs7ml]

bluedoris88 13:40

[@b3j8]

Hey how about that, switch lamps! One of those wouldn't last the week, maybe even a day, here in the States.

[@Kamyo78]

The cow at the end is very cute.

[@jayreeder1018]

When used as draft animal it's called an Ox

[@firewoodwizard]

no air brakes except on the engines but excellent hand brakes and brakemen.

[@MrFentonguy]

Mikes seem to be the loco of choice in this area

[@donaldhawkes5226]

steam train heaven amazing ...actual empolyed working steam trains

[@wolstenholme100]

I don't know the answer but it puzzled me too, given that this is a coal mining area with better quality coal.

[@skydive7054]

the smoke is so dark man... british should send over their welsh coal

[@М62]

Red sun in the sky Red train in the rails

[@dergenmusic2081]

Awesome video! Are these steam locomotives still in service today?

[@supersimon126]

One word "Workhorse!"

[@strepkins]

I see here lot of colums for electrification, but without catenary. It is electrification in progress? In 07:33 is old electric locomotive in depot. It is preparation for future operations? Sorry for my bad English. :-)

[@pearlyhumbucker9065]

Looks are deciving. The birthdate of this loco does not date back to the times of the beginning of electrification. This loco is an open pit mining loco, built in East-Germany. Between 1958 and 1988 LEW in East-Germany built over 1300 of these locos, half of them were exported, among others to China.

[@AUSSIETRAINDRIVER]

That's awesome! Still Running?

[@wreckdiver001]

Great video, love steam power

[@strepkins]

I see here lot of colums for electrification, but without catenary. It is electrification in progress? In 07:33 is old electric locomotive in depot. It is preparation for future operations?

[@DuEHobbyfilmer]

😊 Nice Video 👍

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

Man those are some great SYs there

[@laurencesidhu1428]

Now is 2019 which is ending soon, Are there any steam locomotive running in China nowadays? Which city? I am anxious to take B & W photos of them so as to give a final salute to these Old Faithfuls.

[@euclideszoto997]

@@wolstenholme100 watching these videos is a treasure. This is living history with the steam locomotive. Once these go it will never be the same again. All we will have left is videos.

[@1219magnum]

2-8-2's? tracks look well maintained. were those people collecting coal given to them? some of those people don't look afraid to work, something alot of americans ain't used to doing.

[@samanli-tw3id]

Why those engines have lorry horns?

[@seven-sixteen802]

ประเทศอื่นๆยังบูรณะไช้ได้อยู่ แต่ไทยเราจอดทิ้ง เสียของ หน้าเสียดายจริงๆครับ ในไทยไม่ต่ำจาก200หัว

[@Petermax99]

You did a good job with the film i have often wondered when China would start ditching steam and going over to Diesel they are much more cost effective to operate give better performance

[@tony1961chl]

Hola , si aun existe éste sistema de trenes en china, pueden volver a grabar con mayor resolucion? el video está muy bonito,gracias.

[@khein2204]

they replace it with high speed train

[@Elfnetdesigns]

America: UP's Steam Program China: Hold my Eggrolls...

[@JonatanGronoset]

I like this.

[@thenatnatboy]

why the chinese steam looks so much faster and powerful? Is it because they provide them with alot of maintainence?

[@MIGASHOORAY]

thenatnatboy I think these engines only get on the job maintenance say the fireman WITH A SHIFTER AND A HAMMER. AND OIL CAN. Like at 9.03

[@MIGASHOORAY]

DOES ANY BODY THINK THE CHINESE will be nostalgic for STEAM ERA when its gone ,like in UK the only jobs left nowadays for older people IS RESTORING OLD CLAPPED OUT MACHINERY ETC.?.

[@MIGASHOORAY]

thenatnatboy these engines are working mostly FLAT OUT ,OVERLOADED AND UP HILL SO NEED FULL HEAD OF STEAM

[@lamoboy]

now THAT is steam power not those other steamers with an annoying diesel attached to their backs

[@GrumpyL5]

Really good video of the trains and people. Those big locos work really well even for shunting and over some very basic track at the tip. Some of the locos had some sort of name plates (or communist party signs) at the front over the smoke box. Any idea what they are or say?

[@laurencesidhu1428]

Some were the names important personnels : Chairman Mao, Marshal Chu Teh, or Mottos of improvement such Struggling Forward, etc. I visited Beijing in 2009 with my Princes. We went to the Museum if Railways in the outskirts of Beijing. Saw locomotives with the above mentioned Chinese names or mottos.

[@danielthoman7324]

They say.. work hard!

[@princerahul3320]

Steam still working in China?

[@CENsystem]

The last age of steam

[@trainspotting_and_tech2023]

De-electrified line?! 🤔 Or never electrified?

[@wolstenholme100]

Electrification was taking place as we filmed, with the masts already in position but no electricity supplied.

[@huixue4804]

wow， too real...........

[@templeviewgate]

I thought train will sound "chug-chun" chug-chun.

[@49BigPoppa]

just curious, whos the manufacturer of all the rail cars?

[@danielthoman7324]

National Steel Car...Canada

[@josedossantossantos7699]

estas locomotiva me deixa com saudade quando exitia no brasil

[@boilikee]

most old steam trains look alike. if you look at the chinese steam trains from 1980 and newer there is a notable diffrince.

[@Shiraz354]

thnx

[@jeanpierre3930]

鷄西?

[@anth5122]

No high viz jacket to be seen

[@DCxViper]

Why do China trains look a hell alot like US trains? Just woundering.

[@charlesgreathouse7376]

They copy the best. The locomotives are a copy of a Baldwin Locomitive Works design.

[@MegaZsolti]

I wonder why don't they use crossbucks at unguarded crossings...

[@saomiaoyutoushi]

七年时间，恍若隔世。现在在中国再也找不到这样的镜头了。

[@Kamyo78]

Coal it's cheaper than diesel fuel, what's the big deal.

[@형촌]

あばよ、俺の古里、もう帰れない、懐かしいけど、

[@franzotto448]

7:15 was machen die Leute da, sortieren die den Schutt nach Kohle und Steinen. 7:15人们在做什么，用煤和石头分类瓦砾。 7:15 what are the people doing, sorting the rubble by coal and stones.

[@PatrioticCoservativeAmerican]

Does China still use steam locomotives as of 2021? If so how much of China still uses steam locomotives?

[@archstanton5973]

Nope LONG gone. The steamers in this video were gone a few years after this was taken and it's all diesel now. The city itself, Jixi, is unrecognizable today from when this video was made. China changes at light speed.

[@Soniasuczka]

Fajnie mają w tych Chinach.

[@iistest]

這才是真真的火車 我記得 平頂山也有 明年再去看 今天的分都快被交警扣完了 該死的交警

[@М62]

7:43 𝒘 𝒂 𝒕 𝒆 𝒓

[@h.n.602]

China on the top of technic....but when i See this Video i feel i was in 1920.....

[@michaelcarnevale103]

wow

[@howard87422]

that's me home

[@mao6298]

雞西? 在東北啦