Steamy afternoon in Pingzhuang

Our afternoon in Pingzhuang began with a rather sad, but inevitable, vision of the future – an out of use JS class steam locomotive (JS 1001) sitting alone in a locked compound.

JS 1001 in a locked compound at Pingzhuang

Things improved from here on in – we were lucky enough to be at Gushan Yijing when SY 1079 headed past with loaded coal wagons at 13:41 and moments later we were treated to a light engine movement from our fifth SY of the day – SY 1441.

SY 1079 passes Gushan Yijing with loaded coal wagons

Around 3.15pm we returned to the fields to see SY 1441 working tender first with some wagons. Shortly afterwards SY 1017 came through the level crossing light engine and later returned in the failing light with more wagons. It seems practice here to split long lines of wagons into two and bring them back with two separate workings.

More photos: Pingzhuang Gallery