Sandaoling Mining Railway JS8225 storms up the last stretch of 2.5% grade before the summit at KengKouZhan. Soon this train will surmount the grade and coast downhill into the washery where it's l... (more)

In the pink light of a rising sun, JS8225 storms past JS8190 with the first coal train of the morning. These trains run like clockwork with a train around sunrise every morning throughout the wint... (more)

JS8225 steams out of the coal yard after unloading her train. Soon the massive 2-8-2 will return to the opencast pit mine for another load of coal.

JS8081 makes a dramatic departure from the unloading point after dumping her train of coal. Over half of the coal trains at Sandaoling are unloaded at this coal yard where the coal is trans-loaded... (more)

Sandaoling Mining Railway JS8225 looks more like an American mainline 2-8-2 than a Chinese mining engine, as the massive Mikado storms upgrade on the double track Sandaoling Mining Railway.

Sandaoling Mining Railway JS8190 thunders upgrade while another coal train lead by JS8167 backs down into the mine for another load of coal. Soon JS8167's will be loaded and she will follow in JS8... (more)

Sandaoling Mining Railway JS8197 storms uphill with a heavy coal train, one of many this locomotive will haul on this cold January day in 2016.

Double steam part 2! A steam crane is hauled upgrade by JS8081 after completing it's work for the day delivering heavy mining equipment to the mining area at the bottom of the opencast coal mine.

Sandaoling Mine Railway JS8167 thunders up the last stretch of the long climb out of the opencast pit coal mine. The snow cover TianShan (Heavenly) Mountains rise in the background.

Sandaoling Mine Railway JS8197 storms uphill with a heavy coal train on a cold January day in 2016. This is just one of the dozens of steam powered coal trains that thunder out of the opencast pit... (more)

Deep in the massive opencast pit at Sandaoling, a steam crane is hard at work delivering a piece of mine equipment to the mining face. The semi truck will carry this equipment to the mining area. ... (more)

Sandaoling Coal Mine Railway JS 8190 makes a beautiful steamy sight as it works upgrade through the Big Curve on the Sandaoling Mine Railway.

Sandaoling Coal Mine Railway JS 8190 storms upgrade out of the long straight and into one of the sharpest curves on the mine railway. Within 5 minutes, this train will have surmounted the 2.5% gra... (more)

Late afternoon in Sandaoling is a magical hour for steam railway photography. On one such day in January 2016, JS8167 silhouette against the setting sun as the locomotive shoves an empty train awa... (more)

Sandaoling Coal Mine Railway JS 8225 thunders uphill and through the big curve on it's way up and out of the opencast pit mine with another heavy coal train. Sandaoling is the LAST great steam sho... (more)