Steam in China 2000 - Jingpeng Pass

[@williamscott3698]

As a teenager in Montreal Canada, I witnessed (and photographed) the last days of steam in the late 1950s. This video reminds me so well of watching steam trains on bitter cold January days!

[@philipashbourn1538]

I got to Montreal in 1963 just missing steam alas.

[@thomasdeturk5142]

What year were you born?

[@thomasdeturk5142]

I was going to say that one of those young people in Canada during the 1950’s he wanted to be an engineer because when he was a teenager, he was watching steam trains and then when he was in his 20’s he witnessed the end of steam, and then he purchased 6060 and saved it from scrap and then I’m very very proud of Harry Home for saving the steam locomotive 6060.

[@davidahumada9355]

This video: *exists* Captions: [Laughter] [Applause]

[@robinier]

I watch this if I'm having a bad day. Mute and play good music in the background. Something about the steam painting the sky. Thank you for posting.

[@wisentwisent9150]

This is a great video of double headed steam 2-10-2's in Winter ! Thanks for recording and posting it.

[@blackthorne57]

Thank you for watching. All gone now.

[@mrsp3992]

Must have been an incredible sight and sound! Thanks for posting.

[@davidhewson8605]

50yrs ago , China now . I was brought up with steam, Welsh village . Siding opposite our house were my grandfather and me used to pinch coal !. 1958. Wish I could go and see the Chinese steam trains but at 71 perhaps to late. Watching this I am on the footplate now. Like the sound, synco to offbeat as trains blast up hillside. Thanks playmates. Dave

[@blackthorne57]

I was 70 on my last visit to China in 2011 but sadly it is too late to see real working steam there now. The very last Chinese steam locomotive working in China dripped its fire for the last time on the 15th January this year. Steam on the Ji Tong line stopped in 2005. At least we have photos, videos and memories.

[@peterhoffman2639]

A wonderful video. On of the best I've seen. Excellent composition and lighting. Wish more railfans would see this.

[@blackthorne57]

Thank you

[@celestinofaginas1281]

Superb video of the multiple steam locomotives which are probably not around today. If scrapped, R.I.P. Chinese QJ 2-10-2 steam locomotives

[@farflungtraveler]

We have 3 of them preserved in America.

[@celestinofaginas1281]

@@farflungtraveler Well that's good then. I know about the 6988 and 7081 Chinese QJ 2-10-2s, both are owned by the Iowa Interstate railway. What about the 3rd Chinese steam locomotive? Which museum is that on display in?

[@farflungtraveler]

@@celestinofaginas1281 It’s not in a museum, but it’s owned by the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation, the same current owner of C&O 2716. However, it’s still waiting to be moved to Ravenna for its eventual return to service.

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

Simply wondrous! There was noting like it before and never after. The smells must have been fantastic. Thanks so much for shooting and sharing.:-)

[@Bruno.Trains]

Hello from France wonderful video thank you for posting !

[@mauriceperret5111]

Mon enfance a connu cette époque. ..Que de souvenirs !

[@wisentwisent9150]

I remember seeing double headed Pennsy steam engines on the Pan Handle Division, westbound through Scio, Ohio, in the Winter when I was a kid That was a steam show, never to be forgotten!

[@owdengineer]

Awesome steam super power... many thanks for your work in putting this together, possibly the best ever steam video

[@blackthorne57]

Thank you

[@AiyoSirisena]

Thank you for sharing these wonderful and very interesting videos. You are very courageous to go to these sites and record these, now historic activites with steam trains. Also they give us a true account of the topography, remoteness of these rarely accessible locations in China and what life is like for people living there. Some of the images are ghostly, and sounds are haunting. Thank you again!

[@blackthorne57]

Thank you, glad you like them.

[@thproductionwensleydale624]

Even thought this is a thing of the past according to a book I have (saying that steam trains like this ended in 2005) this is what you call China's Railways at there best. Brilliant film. 😊👍🚂🇨🇳

[@blackthorne57]

Yes, steam on the Ji Tong railway, including over the Pass finished in 2005. This ended mainline steam in China and probably the rest of the world. Steam continued on industrial systems in ever diminishing quantity until 2020 with just one system, Sandaoling open cast mine possibly just continuing into 2021 but with Covid19 who knows? Thanks for watching.

[@janemil4350]

I was rideing a steam lok once, right in the front with the workers for 6 hours. It was a huge one fueled by oil. It was capable of 120km/h, erverybody was shakeing/ jumping up and down in the riddim of the Engine at this speed. Had lots of fun. I was presented with this hornor by a friend, working for a museum ❤

[@marymackenzie2864]

Me again Sorry !! Makes all the hairs on the back of my neck stand up .What skilled drivers and firemen ,the weight the gradients and no wheel slip. Love the goats ,very partial to a little cashmere round the shoulders !!!

[@StryderK]

At least two of the QJ, Qian Jin class 2-10-2 locos have found their way to the U.S.

[@brandonm30]

Three actually the third one was privately owned and two are with Iowa interstate plus a 2 8 2.

[@stampycatfan01lol]

Three, actually. Also, a couple of SY’s made their way to the US as well.

[@SkyScreamLP]

not quite the "Steam" I was searching for but still enjoyed

[@norfolkrover]

Not sure I can visit a sanitised heritage railway again after seeing this. I grew up in Doncaster Uk where mallard and flying scotsman were built and all th ex drivers said it was a filfthy job that wouldnt be allowed today.

[@blackthorne57]

I grew up train-spotting at the end of platform 10 at Kings Cross. The Doncaster locos worked from there, not preserved but doing the revenue earning work they were built for. Steam in China was the next best thing after the UK finished with steam. Now the world has finished with steam.

[@mauriceperret5111]

Congratulations , from France

[@RsRj-qd2cg]

It's amazing that China Railways built the last QJ in 1988. Meanwhile GE was building the Dash 8. Steam fit China's needs though. The QJ has similar horsepower to a Dash 8. Steam is more labor intensive, but labor is cheap in China. Few pollution and safety requirements. Runs on coal in a country where coal is plentiful. It made sense for them to keep the steam age going until the early 21st century.

[@stanleyramosebudi3857]

I like the pumping and the pushing of the mighty qj,what is their horsepower in number?

[@balmesh]

Thanks George! Priceless. They seemed to be taking it easy, though?

[@blackthorne57]

I think the weight of the trains was well balanced to the motive power. The loco drivers were all very good and kept the trains rolling at optimum performance. I believe there were also bonuses for crews that were economical on fuel (coal).

[@Septimanien]

Super, merci !

[@johnsamu]

It's all high speed trains nowadays in China. Traveling by steamtrain is much more interesting and adventurous but high speed trains are much more comfortable/reliable and fast. It is sad to see this old technology disappear for all the obvious reasons. It's a pity you didn't had a high resolution 4K at that time (2000) because it's a sight you can,t film today anymore.

[@hughmcinally9361]

Wow! One of the best steam train videos on KZbin. How on earth did they run those setups through tunnels? Oxygen masks? Thanks so much.

[@blackthorne57]

Because of the extreme low winter temperatures, the locos had fully enclosed cabs. This made conditions on the footplate a bit more tolerable. If the tunnel was short and the gradient allowed, the locos were not fired while in a tunnel. On a footplate ride in Turkey, the tunnel procedure was a wet rag over the mouth and nose and crouch on the cab floor!

[@marymackenzie2864]

What beasts , wonder what the outside temperature was . Icicles or what !

[@blackthorne57]

The outside temperature about minus 20 degrees C. We went in mid-winter to get the best steam effects. The skilled loco crews received bonuses for fuel economy. Some locos had mechanical stokers but they preferred to fire by hand for better control of what went into the firebox. The Cashmere goats were a hardy bunch, finding very little to eat on the hills, I expect there was top-up fodder back at the farm.

[@El_Transportacoches_33]

3:41: what? Airhorn in a steam locomotive?

[@blackthorne57]

Yes. Most Chinese steam locos had both a steam whistle and an airhorn. There has been much discussion when each was used. From my experience it seemed to be the choice of the driver. I agree it does sound odd!

[@El_Transportacoches_33]

@@blackthorne57 Okay. I say this because in the US, the 4449 of the Southern Pacific also had these two characteristics.

[@jasonwhipp5721]

@@blackthorne57seemed in a couple places that they saw you with a camera and knew you wanted the whistle rather than the horn

[@samanli-tw3id]

Milwaukee Road Class A also had air horns.

[@trhxlove3012]

Good video

[@blackthorne57]

Thank you

[@MrKotBonifacy]

"Play it again, Sam..." ;-)

[@highflyinryan76weezer25]

sadly they stopped using steam on the main lines in 2005.

[@PandaBearKing]

2020，not2005

[@blackthorne57]

@@PandaBearKing You are incorrect. Only steam at industrial location (coal mines and steelworks) continued until about 2020. Main-line steam finished in 2005 and the Ji Tong line was the last.

[@Astr0_Feline]

Look how long the freight car is

[@burnsfrank3556]

Can you explain why the smoke from the first locomotive is darker than the second one?

[@blackthorne57]

The locomotive with the darker smoke is having coal loaded into the firebox. The lighter 'smoke' is if fact steam condensing in the very cold atmospohere.

[@احمداللامي-ف3د]

البخار قوه عظيمه والقاطره البخاريه قوه ومتانه في الحمولات الثقيله

[@GR-Kevin]

Interesting that they have whistles, and train horns per se

[@SteffiReitsch]

I love to watch them, but man, those steam locomotives could really put out loads of climate busting CO2!

[@blackthorne57]

These locos do not produce any more Co2 than other locos of the same size. It looks worse than it is because the videos were shot in mid-winter when the air temperature was about minus 20 degrees C. Much of what you see is condensed exhaust steam. This would not be visible in a warm climate.

[@SteffiReitsch]

@@blackthorne57 What you say is true about the weather making it look worse , but steam engines emit more CO2. Look it up, pops. Coal is inherently a dirtier fuel than diesel.

[@DeseretFoamer]

​@@SteffiReitschbut the Glaciers are gunna melt in 2020

[@SteffiReitsch]

@@DeseretFoamer They're melting now.and will be melting for centuries to come and sea level incrementally rising. But that's the least problem with this. The biggest problem will be FOOD.

[@DeseretFoamer]

@@SteffiReitsch I personally blame the Indians for this

[@DASDmiser]

While they are still around, they ought to put some of those babies out on the high speed lines on a cold day just for the photographers.

[@blackthorne57]

This video was shot in 2000. Steam finished on the Ji Tong Railway in 2005. There are no QJs earning their keep in China today. Apart from possibly a few industrial 2-8-2s in the far west, all revenue earning steam in China has now finished. Possibly a few NG tourist lines and static museum exhibits. I am pleased I took the opportunity to visit when I did. Thanks for watching.

[@burnsfrank3556]

They must have two sets of drivers and workers if they have two locomotives connected, right??

[@blackthorne57]

Yes, both locomotives have a crew of two, a driver and fireman on each loco. Diesel locomotives working in multible only requiire crew on the front loco.

[@spankyham9607]

Look at that delicious carbon footprint in the sky!

[@blackthorne57]

These steam locomotives produce no more carbon that every other steam locomotive of similar size. What you can see is mostly water vapour / steam that is visible because the very low air temperature (minus 20C) causes the exhaust to condense with dramatic effect. This is why we travelled to China in mid-winter because in summer there was much less exhaust to be seen.

[@spankyham9607]

@@blackthorne57 I know, but we have a lot of "Gretta's" in this world that don't understand that. They see smoke and that is the end of it.

[@burnsfrank3556]

They have two sets of train loco, do they have two groups of crews, right?

[@blackthorne57]

Yes, each loco has a crew of two, a driver and a fireman.

[@samanli-tw3id]

@@blackthorne57just like the double header train in The Brave Engineer

[@peterhaan9068]

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

[@SFtruckerWolf]

Hölin heikin housut puttoo, housut puttoo and in down hill ei puttookkaan, ei puttookkaan, ei puttookkaan.

[@cosmincoco6983]

I am a railway man's on,I charged with coal the locomotive to help my father...never forget the noises of chimneys

[@rogerbillings6151]

Will some American please go over there and install some decent steam whistles? ;)

[@rogerbillings6151]

I should say, I love these videos, but some better whistles would be great.

[@burnsfrank3556]

most of the diesel train is actually electric train with a diesel generator.

[@sto1asgoetia600]

Is that master of the railway?

[@robintheslavewr1513]

No these are china class qj 2-10-2 you're thinking of a Japanese 2-8-2 Mikado

[@hasanfoyejul5500]

love & thanks from Bangladesh

[@saomiaoyutoushi]

已成追忆，如今在中国再也看不到了！很遗憾！

[@ironphilly2366]

did know that steam train are super common as freight locomotives in china because they steam trains because they only want the good oil to run the express trains in china and the good coal to go to America while these steam trains use the bad coal don't worry about there tubes being clogged they have powerful boilers to handle all this.

[@blackthorne57]

Not are super common but were super common. The only place in China still using steam locomotives is an isolated open-cast coal mine in the NW of the country. It is possible that even those may now be out of use.

[@yz8302]

No Orett is still here

[@blackthorne57]

Please explain your comment, I do not know what No Orett means.

[@thomasdeturk5142]

If I was a billionaire, I would Purchase Some QJ Locomotives From China and Donate them to the City of Flagstaff in Arizona and The City of Portland in Oregon and I’ll restore the QJ Class Locomotives in Oregon and I’ll put a QJ Locomotive on Display In Flagstaff in Arizona next to the Last Main Line steam locomotive Santa Fe 3759 That was the last and final to pull freight.

[@ИльяБ-т7н]

Euro-5 standart

[@hanafitan7731]

this is technology of 100 years ago

[@bbcisrubbish]

And it still works.

[@audiobook7486]

in my country, its activated for tourism

[@pauls9331]

Yep, that design is almost a hundred.

[@ИзяШнобельман]

Наш паровоз вперёд лети... В коммуне остановка....

[@lambvindaloo]

that was hell of carbon emission

[@blackthorne57]

Much of what you see coming out of the chimney is steam condensed into water vapour in the very cold air, of course there is CO2 as well .

[@jchristian8413]

the Chinese are amazing people.