An empty train reverses out of Xuan Mei Chang for another load of coal as the sun sets at Sandaoling.

A worker is unfreezing a pipe that goes underneath the railroad as a loaded coal drag throttles into the curve near Keng Kou Station. I was fortunate to have gotten snowfall but apparently not all... (more)

A loaded coal drag heads to one of the two unloading point at XueMeiChang with a Class JS Mikado on point Photo was taken from the former movie theater in the old town that railroad employees a... (more)

An empty coal drag is putting on a show for railfans on the outbound track as the sun sets in Sandaoling. The coal loading facility can be seen in the distance.

The biggest snow storm in 5 years has arrived at Sandaoling Coal Mine Railway but that hasn't stopped the trains. Here we see a loaded coal drag marching up the near 1.5% grade as it curves to... (more)

In the last bastion of mainline Chinese steam, a Class JS 2-8-2 Mikado simmers away during crew change in the pre-dawn hours at Keng Kou Station

It's not very often to see snowy Sandaoling desert.

JS 8358 shunts the Nanzhan yard and a track worker inspects the track gauge.

I'm fascinated by the loud speakers along the tracks here. Our guide said they use to call out trains with them, "82 station this is blue loader"

Illuminated by the locomotives lights, this workers gets his locomotive ready as the sun starts to paint the sky at Dongbolizhan Station.

The sun sets on another day but the steam action continues through the night. Taken at 82 Station.

No ones around to shut the water off as it pours over the side of a full tender. Every morning at Dongbolizhan Station, new crews would inspect, clean, oil their locomotives before backing them up... (more)

82 Station is down near the mine's loadout. Would love to spin up that orange phone and see who answers. Most of the control board operators appear to have a fairly relaxed job. We would not have ... (more)