This abandoned temple has since been torn down. A lot has changed in this area in the last year I have heard including more security checkpoints and police presence. When I was here, I felt very s... (more)

Every morning that was sub zero, ice would be an issue. The locomotives pipes and valve would come in frozen and needed to be thawed and drained before the next crew headed out on their shift. Eve... (more)

Almost to the top of the grade. This is at Kengkongzhan Station, the junction for Dongbolizhan Station. This train will keep going straight through to Xuanmeichang Washery to dump its load.

The mountains can be seen through an uncommonly clear horizon. This train will climb up the height of these walls over the next two miles loaded with coal. A coal truck can be seen racing down the... (more)

The sun has fallen out of sight as a loaded train thunders past 82 Station to build speed for the climb out of the pit.

The old pit can be seen below the unused coal tower at Dongbolizhan Station. It isn't common to have a train in the yard during the day as they normally stay busy between the mine and coal transfe... (more)

Fully loaded and pulling hard out of the mine past 82 Station cinders flying everywhere, whistle blowing, and drivers pounding the railhead. I will never forget my time in China and only wish I co... (more)

A special run out of the Sandaoling open Pit coal mine with what is called the "Sparkly Train". The crew runs the steam locomotive hard on the edge of wheel slip and creates an amazing show of bur... (more)

Stray dogs roam all over the railroad out in the blistering cold. At the crossing guard shack they are offered some leftovers just as one of the morning trains heads out of the yard and down to th... (more)

The last night shift crew arrives back into the yard after their twelve hour shift. The train won't sit long in the yard until the next crew heads down to the mine for coal. The locomotive on the ... (more)

A short distance from the open cast pit at Sandaoling there are a couple of more traditional deep mines almost adjacent to each other and both served by this one line from Nanzhan. A JS is bringin... (more)

Inside the Workshops at Sandaoling Coal Railway a worker stands alone. What he's thinking we'll never know.

You can join our next photo tour to Sandaoling if you want to see the last original steam locomotives! The short group tour going to be in January 2019! Contact us: monrailpic@gmail.com

JS 8190 storms past JS 8167 as the latter waits to enter the loading area for another load of coal.