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China (Sandaoling + Tiefa?) 2023 (March?) (for “JS” 2-8-2’s performing the last real work by steam traction in the world, and “SY” 2-8-2 photo-charters) Can you remember the early years of the 21st Century, when we would regularly fly to China, and travel – often by overnight train – to the far reaches of Inner Mongolia, to freeze our b******s off waiting for “QJ” 2-10-2’s on the Jingpeng Pass, or at Bautao, or perhaps Tiefa for the passenger trains – with the most stunning smoke effects from the engines in the still winter air, not to mention the sounds, so effectively captured on video! (Although not yet HD, nor yet 4K, because we didn’t have it then!) But now we do…… but sadly all of that has gone – however with two exceptions – Sandaoling mine at Hami, near to Urumqi in the extreme north-west of China, where powerful “JS” 2-8-2’s still pound noisily out of the pit at Sandaoling, and where operations are now expected to last until at least until our visit in 2022; and Tiefa, where two “SY” 2-8-2’s are retained in operational condition, and we plan to use them on our passenger and freight photo-charters.
Main photo courtesy Zhang, CBR Rail Ltd. Subject to renewal of our CAA ATOL licence
Day 1….. Depart London Heathrow early evening by Air China flight overnight to Beijing…..
Day 2…… arriving mid-day; check into Paragon hotel; afternoon visit to main sights of Beijing – Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City – before dinner and overnight.
Days 3 – 6 …..Depart Beijing 07:05 by Air China flight to Hami arr. 11:05. Transfer to Sandaoling, for hotel check-in and photography of the industrial operations at the mine (“JS” 2-8-2) until late evening on Day 6 to transfer to Hami for Air China flights via Chengdu to Shenyang, and transfer to Tiefa.
Days 7 – 9…..photographing and train riding on the Tiefa system, with both freight and passenger stock.
Day 10 …..Transfer to Shenyang airport and depart by Air China flight via Beijing to London Heathrow arr. 15:55 same day.
Price based upon half-board accommodation in the hotels, and return flights by Air China, all transfers, and the services of a local guide, £3,450 (single room supplement £395). Note that this price does include ALL flights, but it will depend upon the group size reaching its minimum number.