On a coal January day in 2016, JS8190 storms past her sister, JS8225, leading a heavy coal train upgrade at Sandaoling. Just minutes before, these two steam locomotives were working as a team, whe... (more)

On a coal January day in 2016, two mainline 2-8-2s thunder upgrade with a heavy coal train at Sandaoling. Doubleheaded trains are extremely rare on the Sandaoling Mine Railway however, JS8190's tr... (more)

Sandaoling Coal Mine Railway JS 8190 thunders upgrade out of the giant opencast pit coal mine. The locomotive is just beginning the steepest part of the 4 mile climb out of the pit with 3 more mil... (more)

At Sandaoling Coal Railway on the 25th of February 2016, JS 8197 sits under the coal stage at East Yard whilst the driver sits next to the water column checking his modern smart phone. Such are so... (more)

Sunset in Sandaoling

"Jordan spreader" in action

Sandaoling Mining Railway JS8225 pulls up out of the wesat side ofg the opencast pit with another train of spoil. When this photograph was taken in 2010, Sandaoling had over 20 steam locomotives i... (more)

The dirty afternoon sky has all but taken the last remaining light as a loaded coal train blasts out of the open cut coal mine at Sandaoling in north west China. Such is the frequency of these tra... (more)

At sunrise on the 14th of January 2012, a loaded coal train drifts downhill from Beiquan underground mine at Sandaoling in the north west of China.

The workers train has just departed west yard at Sandaoling on the 3rd of March 2014. Engine crews would change over at this location twice a day to work their 12 hour shift and service the engine... (more)

On the 3rd of March 2014, the snow capped Tian Shan mountains are a backdrop for a loaded coal train returning from the underground mine at Beiquan on the Sandaoling Coal Railway in north west Chi... (more)

At sunset a loaded coal train drifts down towards the unloading point at Sandaoling Coal Mine in north west China. Date 4th March 2014.

In the morning light of a cold clear February day in 2015, JS8173 leads the first of many coal trains out of the big pit. In the next 10 hours of sunlight, JS8173 will haul 8 more loaded coal trai... (more)

JS8167 storms upgrade out of the giant opencast pit coal mine at Sandaoling, while JS8173 starts its train in the background. Soon JS8173 will load it's train and follow JS8167 up out of the pit. ... (more)

In the waning light of a gloriously cold and clear February day, JS #8173 storms through the Big Curve on the way out of the opencast pit coal mine at Sandaoling. This train is one of many 1300 to... (more)