The fireman enjoys his breakfast dumpling that he just finished cooking on top of the boiler.

The rear signal car worker leans out as one of the side dump cars dumps out its load of coal at Xuanmeichang Washery.

Tons of steel pounds past as the fireman looks on.

An industrial backdrop made up of buildings for the deep mines at Beiquan Erjing.

One of the remaining coal heated stove cars once used to transport workers down to the open cast mine from Dongbolizhan Station now sits on the deadline amongst tons of scrap at Jichangzhan.

Workers repair a broken hose between the locomotive and tender during the Chinese New Year. Much of the country is off from work but the railroad never sleeps. A worker pounds the hose on with a v... (more)

Early dawn is very still at Dongbolizhan Station.

Everything freezes in the sub zero temps as workers work all morning to get everything thawed out using large flames.

Loads of coal head towards the Xuanmeichang Washery.

The yellow glow from the road crossing guard shack illuminates the dark dawn hours as a lone JS class heads down to the mine with a few workers in tow.

Access to this tower wasn't easy but glad we did. It is starkly different from the other control towers. This tower over looks the mine tracks at Beiquan Erjing.

Two lines of hoppers cars nicely frame an old locomotive cab laying in the Jichangzhan yard for scrap.

Overlooking the open cast coal mine Xikeng. Blue loader stands tall.

Racing downgrade to the Xuanmeichang Washery.