The Fight to Save China's last Steam Train | Autentic Documentary

This little steam locomotive takes you on an exciting journey into a remote and original China. In Sichuan, a mountainous region known primarily for pandas and earthquakes, time seems to have stood still. The route has become the most important means of transportation in the valley, taking children to school, workers to their jobs, and pigs to the market.
But the railway has reached a critical point. The mine has been shut down, and the villagers are actively fighting to keep the line in operation.
Documentary by Ralf Quibeldey, 2014.
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[@rottenroads1982]

Steam locomotives must always be preserved. They are a part of our history.

[@ThatSpaceCore-vv4qr]

And working

[@Master10k2]

Problem is that China isn't known for preserving their history. Most of the Great Wall of China is fairly new, with only a few sections having been preserved and the "Great Leap Forward" lead to the destruction of countless historical monuments and ancient relics. Most of which can now only be found in Taiwan.

[@jasonlemuel5078]

Yeah thwy did in museum not as public transport Excursion service probably a good idea not daily use commuting

[@manga12]

thought they still ran coal fired steam in the shangdong coal mine or did it finnaly shut down

[@drewbarker8504]

What a fantastic piece on rural China, and the narrow gauge line connecting it. The railroad reaching a turning point and bringing in tourists seems like a common theme these days.

[@RailPreserver2K]

Ive heard of this rr and i hope the locals can turn it into a museum or heritage railway.

[@thestarlightalchemist7333]

It already has been, this video is from 2014, about when the tourist operations were beginning.

[@RailPreserver2K]

@@thestarlightalchemist7333 ah okay, thanks :)

[@johntaylor8822]

What a fantastic video. I identified with the peasants. In Australia over the years I have lived on several small farms, growing blueberries commercially, and my own vegetables and fruit. We all seek happiness, it is often found in the simple things.

[@AutenticDocumentary]

Thank you! It's amazing to hear about your experiences on small farms in Australia. Finding happiness in the simplicity of growing your own food truly is special. Wishing you many more joyful moments! 🌱🍇🍓

[@railtrolley]

This railway is China's Puffing Billy.

[@LolLol-xy4rh]

This is the best documentary about a little railway and in in China I’ve ever seen and that’s something from someone who’s seen a lot of documentary’s

[@FoxIslandRailroadCo]

I’m proud to see guys my age in the locomotive shop keeping these old girls running!! Well done, gentlemen 🔥

[@ChutintornGongsakdi]

Wonderful documentary. Documentaries like this will only make people more empathetic of each other.

[@ironsight_guy]

5:14 *"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-!!"*

[@tomcarr1358]

Great chunks of unvarnished information. Very refreshing and in amazing contrast to the 21st C. life in the cities. I assume that the overhead electricity wires were for shunting only. Visually very compelling.

[@TheSonic10160]

They're for a coal-hauling railway that's on the network, linking mines and washeries

[@KnapfordMaster98]

I'd seen videos of this little railway in years past, and always wondered who on earth was keeping them in safe working condition. It's so cool to see the team at work in the shop machining brand new parts. Not at all what I expected. I seriously hope this little line and area can carry on as they are.

[@cadetkohr5508]

Honestly, this might be the thing I love most about China. So much is not lost in the name of progress, but preserved despite it. Something I wish we could see a bit more of here in the US...

[@the_mississippian_railfan]

Crazy to think it was only 10 years ago steam started being taken off the mainline freight in china

[@davidahugill99]

The Chinese people are not our enemies , war is obscene .

[@a-ramenartist9734]

The chinese people are not our enemies, their government is. America has to protect places like taiwan and japan as their allies, that's unavoidable.

[@MarcABrown-tt1fp]

Well if they keep up with the subterfuge and naughty backhanded foreign policies, you might be in for disappointment. I'd like to think its possible for the CCP to democratize completely spreading the workload of governance across it's nation and empowering its citizens. Hell china would easily beat America then, but wouldn't hopefully need to.

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

Yeah, the Chinese people are not our enemies, their government however is, to an extent. But lets not talk about that, lets just talk about the things that are actually fun[like these railways].

[@primojonpresents571]

A lovely documentary and great to see real China away from the cities. A lovely heritage storybook Railway that is on par with many heritage lines. The scenery is stunning, the history very interesting and the people and communities are real.

[@user-yc9uw6if3k]

Родной КП-4, а точнее его китайский собрат C2, люблю эти паровозы всей душой, все они, чем-то уникальны.

[@manhunter433]

Saw another documentary, China was the last major country still primarily utilizing steam locomotives, depending on region.

[@tua09769]

there are the darjeeling himalayan trains in india.

[@TrainMann]

@@tua09769 those are just tourist trains.

[@tua09769]

@@TrainMann So what?

[@TrainMann]

@@tua09769 they're comparing actual, industrial steam locomotives to tourist line's.

[@tua09769]

@@TrainMann So what. the engines are steam. the trains go to point a to point b like all other trains. doesn't make it less of a train.

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

Is this the Jiayang Coal Railway? It doesn't seem like the mine is shut down, there's an electric loco with the coal wagons, doesn't seem like they're empty either. Anyways, good on the people for wanting it preserved, i don't think there are many purely industrial[well, industrial-focused] railways preserved around the world, much less places like mainland China. The C2s[the locos running on the railway] should be fixed up a lil too, they don't look too good. Or atleast given a new coat of paint. Also, of course it does, the locos were there first, they should have right of way. Also, fun fact, most of the steam locos here, if i am correct, were built in the 1980s and 1990s, and no i'm not joking, the C2 class was built since 1958, up to the early 1990s. The last Chinese steam loco was a standard gauge SY class built in 1999.

[@TattooedTraveler]

I've actually drove the last Steam Train in Europe, now I need to go here, great documentary.

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

You mean the Wolsztyn-Poznań Passenger Train headed by Pt47 and Ol49 in Poland?

[@TattooedTraveler]

@@ukaszwalczak1154 BR 52 in Bosnia, got a video on my channel

[@TattooedTraveler]

@@ukaszwalczak1154 I should have said "service steam"

[@TattooedTraveler]

Got a video of it on my page

[@glennmoreland6457]

What a great documentary 🙂🇬🇧

[@PvtGlarb]

great video! it really makes you look around you and appreciate all the things you normally take for granted

[@clarksonoceallachain8536]

Complete opposite here in the cotswolds, people are restoring more steam trains to be put to service, the number is only increasing

[@donactdum6635]

5:15 that just sounded like a meme of the AUGHHHH moan lmaoo

[@NathanielPiscian]

😂 damn it I can’t unhear that

[@ajoychatterjee7224]

AMAZING DOCUMENTARY

[@indiansoul912]

Beautiful documentry🎉

[@esesel7831]

this was beautiful. thank you

[@Unknown_Ooh]

Where's Hyce at?? 😂

[@Alec-mh2db]

Haha in Colorado

[@Nick-zp3ub]

The Chinese were still building steam trains in the 80s. I'm surprised that UK heritage railways haven't bought up the old locomotives as they are starting to be withdrawn from service

[@QLDrailfan798]

this is so God damn wholesome, i love it!

[@flippydafox3313]

Very cool video those locomotives look as if they could fall apart just buy taping them but amazing how long they’ve been in use

[@johnvcramer5517]

Hard work and dedication is a great way to live we in the USA should learn to live that way.

[@lordvader1672]

This chinese railway that operates steam reminds me a lot of the Talyllyn Railway

[@YurtFerguson]

Is this a re-upload? I remember watching this a year or so ago.

[@pontushaggstrom6261]

aren't there still steam locos used in chinese mines?

[@MarwiX_CZ]

Please GPS or link to one of the station on this route. I can't find this route on maps...

[@auntclechris]

5:15 first sounded like someone screaming into the mic

[@AshCatTrainz]

It has such a adorable whistle lmao

[@mlgodzilla4206]

Sometimes I forgot how big narrow gauge engines are.

[@user-zb9mr4nm6r]

Отличный фильм

[@BralonGrimes-xs2gz]

Is this a narrow gauge engine or standard

[@pontushaggstrom6261]

Narrow gauge, i'd say 2ft. Any railway narrower than standard (1435mm) is considered narrow gauge!

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

@@pontushaggstrom6261 762mm gauge, or 2ft 6in gauge, unusual gauges like that are common in China, Poland[our main gauge is 750mm], 760mm gauge in Bosnia and some other areas, etc.

[@MisatoBestWoman]

These trains are beautiful save them!!!!

[@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834]

please do you know the gauge????

[@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834]

ok apparently 2' 6"....

[@CoalChrome]

Cant believe theres still a portrait of Mao up

[@pontushaggstrom6261]

I feel like i've seen this documentary before. On another channel.

[@user-ic5bt5jb7b]

Fun fact: China produced steam locomotives up into the 1980s!

[@willcall8506]

.... They still use steam locomotives for industrial purposes.

[@NathanielPiscian]

Hopefully they do save this engine

[@liamchrysleraltoveros5461]

If everyone else that you know I'm at Philippines arch nemesis but how that train doesn't retired

[@MagnetOnlyMotors]

Very interesting stuff, wonder if they know how dangerous an old engine can be ? 😢😢

[@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834]

not very

[@tefukarime]

5:15

[@TGE.Continued]

As old as Jacki Chan

[@daanbos5918]

Funny how there’s not a single full shot of the steam locomotive in the entire video

[@RailPreserver2K]

Wrong😂

[@charliewhiskey8440]

What do you mean? Half the documentary was shot on or at the train.

[@theventuracountyrailfan]

1 suggestion: change the name to authentic not autentic but great video

[@ETALAL]

🙏🌻🐝❤️👉💯

[@F4productions4072]

That is the saddest clapped steam engine I’ve seen still in service

[@mr.sir.]

That's because it's in communist 🇨🇳

[@deez8202]

@@mr.sir. nah it is because no one is bothered to actually properly manufacture spare parts and all.

[@grimreaper3882]

Also, did you hear what he said? "It's a big responsability to be a driver because if an accident happens and someone gets hurt it's deducted from our salary". Really mate? That's the biggest problem in a situation like that?

[@mr.sir.]

@@deez8202 My point still stands

[@aplane9625]

I wonder what class it is or if it’s a custom built

[@HunterTWR]

Don’t scrap it, just keep it in a shed until climate change is reversed.

[@Brickticks]

This video gets a dislike because it’s about chima. However, if they ever do need a buyer for the engine, may I suggest Herchend Family Entertainment? They already have five operational 2 foot narrow gauge steam locomotives, and I’m certain they could make room for one more.

[@charliewhiskey8440]

"This video gets a dislike because it’s about chima." Huh? That's the stupidest thing I've read this year.

[@Brickticks]

@@charliewhiskey8440 Sorry, typo, meant to say china.

[@gonzoengineering4894]

​@@Brickticks still stupid