Zhongwei - Gantang

Zhongwei - Gantang

Der Abschnitt von Zhongwei nach Gantang war in den 90er Jahren wohl die schwierigste Hauptstrecke weltweit, die von Dampflokomotiven befahren war. Hier starten zwei QJ einen Kesselwagenzug vom Bahnhof Mengjiawan nach einer kurzer Diensthalt. Diese Strecke wurde 1995 elektrifiziert.

The Zhongwei to Gantang section (Ningxia Province, China) of the (Beijing-) Baotou to Lanzhou mainline used to be the most difficult line work for steam locomotives worldwide during the early 1990's. Crossing the Tengger desert with the help of several S-curves and heavy gradients, the engines were usually working 'flat-out' from Zhongwei to the summit... These two QJ's have just started an oil tankers train from Mengjiawan station after a short service stop and are now starting the big fight against the gradient. The line was electrified in 1995.

Photo : Alexandre Gilliéron, 8/1994