China

Tongchuan is situated in Central China and is the last stand for the class JF. These engines were build in the 50's and are the oldtimers on Chinese railways. The JF's and the very nice railway lines of the Tongchuan coal mining area make it worthwhile to travel there. However, seven JF's and the beautiful lines are not a guarantee for success. Only a few trains operate in daylight and two of those operate with diesel locomotives. It can be very frustrating! At night in your bed you can hear many steam trains and the only thing you can do is to put plugs in your ears!

Latest news: No longer line services with class JF, only shunting. (December 2001)

JF-2113 is shunting at Tongchuan station.		JF-2113 is the only Non-Boxpok-Wheel-Engine in Tongchuan.
Seven JF's are existing at Tongchuan, but there are also three QJ's for shunting and short-distance freight trains. QJ-6532, QJ-6550 and QJ-6652 are the whole stock.		On a gray morning JF-2371 is heading a train to Wangshiwa Coal Mine - it was the only photo of the day...
Wangshiwa Coal Mine is one of the most interesting places of the line. JF-2113 with a loaded coal train.		A typical thing for Tongchuan: After two tender first trains the engines came back with only one train: JF-2368 with JF-2369 as banker...

Maybe the best Tongchuan-Shot: JF-2113 is heading a train to Wangshiwa in the morning of one of the seldom days with nearly clear blue sky...