OMG thanks so much for posting this "little train"! When I was a child, maybe 20 years ago? there were many lines just in front of the house of my grandma. I could still remember sometimes that workers nearby would stop the "train" by the rail, then get on the coach cars linking to the "train". But later the rails got removed for city constructions. Thanks so much for picturing this!
Hmm... In my shelf of ancient models and "stuff" are a Joe Works HOn30 Jeffery mining motor and a steeplecab electric. This delightful video makes me want to imagineer a funky mining operation and put them to work after all these years...
Fascinating - many thanks for sharing - just my 'cup of tea'. The long closing shot is pure industrial railway - something I have been trying to create on my (very small) model railway. (Did you see the Ninja turtle on the last wagon???!!!) Thankyou again!
Visited the area in 2001. Although concentrated on the standard gauge steam including China Rail mainline op's and shed. Came across on similar on way to train station to start return journey to UK. Had a small photo article in 7mm NGA magazine as well.
Superb video! I made it to Fuxin, but couldn't get to the narrow gauge. Did you have any problems getting into Wulong mine? (angry employees etc?) How long does the line operate? Its a little hard to tell on Google Earth. Planning a revisit in a few months, would be great to see this!
chinesemodeltrains.com There are no problems outside of the mine, but it needed some discussions to get inside. We tried it at the back entrance (where the narrow gauge comes out) und showed some pictures of chinese and international railways. After a while the gate keepers led us in for 5 meters, then we were allowed to walk the 50 m towards the locomotives. All guys were friendly, but maybe we were glad not to be seen by one of the bosses. The line outside streches for roundabaout 1 km southwest towards the spoil tip with an incline. At the the end of the incline are several tracks, but not used daily.
Apparently, they're some wider. 2'6" or 3' (more probably a corresponding similar metric gauge 750 mm or 900 mm). Trying to compare the gauge against workers, their legs, shoes - but I've no idea of how tall they are actually. The gauge is like mean worker's leg length, or precisely 3 shoe lengths (at 3:25). Comparison against motorbike wheel on the cable incline gives more like 750 mm/2'6", but this is less precisely.
No, not really. The mines were founded by the Japanese in the thirties, so the first locos were truly of Japanese origin. But maybe the engines now on the systems are newer ones build in China, basing on the originals.
+ARCHICAR1 YES! I thought that too, looks like German E-69. I think it was inspired by it. Chinese are proficient at copying other nations technology that is reliable and cheap. They copy lots of Soviet and Russian tech.
