 |
|
Only a few instances could I enjoy this spectacular view before the two engines entered ShangDian summit tunnel, scorching me in steam and soot. Anybody believing that taking this picture meant putting life at a risk,
may be reassured that there a niche just beside me where I could retire until the train had passed.
And believe it or not: On an earlier trip to China, we met locals wandering though tunnels including their
bicycles, totally unconcerned about trains that could have passed there any time! |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
The
freezing cold can almost be felt when seeing at this picture, taken
before sunrise at ShangDain, where temperatures could drop as far as -40° centigrade. At such
arctic conditions, things as simple as changing a filmroll could
become a pain, let alone a night on the footplate of a QJ! Dec 24, 2002. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Just another freezing winter day: Ice layers on the engines and freight cars reveal the temperatures when that doubleheader steamed into the summit. Dec. 27, 2002. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
The front plate on the QJ that just emerged from the tunnel reads: "Let's promote JiTong's progress". Is there any better means for doing so than by a brass lettered board on a QJ? |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
DaBa near the summit was a typical Mongolian village with houses built of mud and bricks. It had no road access and could only be reached by a hike from the
pass road. December 22, 2002 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
While the summit and the western side of the pass were still snow covered, had the wind blown all away at SanDi onDecember 30th,
2002. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
In November 1997, the JiTong Passenger used to run only every second day, since there was just one trainset. Here, it is seen on the barren landscape at the third level above Reshui. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
JiTong railwaymen usually were not only friendly towards foreigners, but mostly also very helpful. How many times may they have been asked for freight schedules over the years? On a freezing day in December 2002, the switch guard in at Galdesitai not only provided me with actual timings of the next movements, but also allowed me to shelter in his heated shack. It was only thanks to him that I got noticed about the crossing scheduled here and finally got this shot! |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
The line above Reshui offered plenty of scenic locations for the entire day, but the ever blowing wind was a big obstacle in the open landscape and could waste many great photographs. When I was waiting on a freezing day in early March 98, the heavy wind dropped for just a few seconds, allowing me that picture of a freight on the second level above Reshui. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Could there have been any better finale for a successful day than such a Silhouette at the Resuhi-Viaduct? Dec.29, 2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(c) Markus
Fischer, Zürich |
|
