17.1. - 1.2.2003
17.1. - 1.2.2003
| date | itinerary |
| 17.01. | departure Europe - Beijing |
| 18.01. | morning arrival Beijing, continue by overnight train K339 to Jiamusi |
| 19.01. | 11.22 am arrival Jiamusi, continue to Huanan (C2), arrival in early afternoon, depot visit, night pictures, charter bus, hotel Huanan (best hotel in town but without shower facilities - we will use the public shower and sauna house in the city) |
| 20.01. | Huanan coal railway, line siding, guest house in Hongguang, this private house is very, very basic, no shower! This accommodation might be not clean. |
| 21.01. | line siding, evening return to Huanan, hotel Huanan |
| 22.01. | charter bus for line siding Huanan limestone railway (QJ), 19.36 train to Jiamusi, overnight train Jiamusi - Harbin. or: Qitaihe Coal Mine Railway (SY, QJ, electric locos) Quicky: departure from Europe to Beijing |
| 23.01. | morning arrival in Harbin, charter bus to the forestry railway Weihe (C2), line siding, Hotel Weihe Quicky: morning arrival in Beijing, continue to Weihe, arrival Weihe next day |
| 24.01. | charter bus for line siding Weihe, hotel Weihe |
| 25.01. | charter bus for line siding, afternoon charter bus to Harbin, overnight train to Jalai Nur |
| 26.01. | Jalai Nur open cast mine (SY), hotel Jalai Nur |
| 27.01. | morning: Jalai Nur, afternoon train K276/278 Hailar to Tongliao |
| 28.01. | 09.11 am arrival in Tongliao, charter bus to chase trains Tongliao - Daban (QJ), depot visit Daban, hotel Daban |
| 29.01. | charter bus to the famous Jingpeng pass, hotel Reshui |
| 30.01. | Jingpeng pass, charter bus, night pictures in Jingpeng, hotel Reshui |
| 31.02. | Jingpeng pass, charter bus, evening charter bus to Chifeng, overnight train to Beijing |
| 01.02. | morning arrival Beijing, flight back to Europe, arrival at the same evening |
The former forestry railway of Huanan survived by serving several small coal mines around Hongguang (km 45). Timber transport nearly seased. The line has some very steep gradients, and normally coal trains leaving Lixin are banked by a C2 up to the summit. There are plenty of good photo positions, in my opinion this line is the most photogenic narrow gauge line, remained in Heilongjiang province.
The guest house in Hongguang has no shower and is really not good. However, to stay there is the only possibility to see trains on the best section of the line in the early morning.
Hunan limestone railway is a QJ operated standard gauge railway. It has steep gradients and several good positions. Normally there are two return trips per day. The line was dieselised December 24th, 2002. We try to operate a special. If we fail, we'll go to Qitaihe, a coal mine railway some 60 km south of Huanan.
Pictures of both lines are here.
Weihe forestry railway: no date for the closure is known yet. But one important difference compared with Shanhetun could be seen: the track maintenance never stopped and repairs were seen everywhere with quite a lot of new sleepers. However, chances for survival are no better than in Shanhetun.
Jingpeng is so famous that is makes no sense to describe it. 2.300 tons heavy freights, hauled by two mighty QJs, working hard to climb up the pass at Shangdian. Large viaducts, several tunnels, fantastic mountain scenery, this all together with the colours of autumn is a spectacle in its own.
Daban is where all QJs for the pass are maintained. Sometimes you can find more than 20 steam locos here in steam at the same time. Where else in the world you can experience such enormous steam power? The shed visit is a must here!
The new line to Xilinhot has been inaugurated in August 2002. The line is designed for 2.300 ton-trains, the same load as permitted for the Jingpeng-pass. The line is partly steep and crosses a desert- and semi-desert area.
Notes
The tour is planned with the dedicated photographer and video filmmaker in mind. The itinerary is designed for those who think it more important to get the perfect shot in the morning sun than a substantial breakfast. Lunch will mostly be a packed lunch. However, the dinners are mainly delicious and will make a great end to the day. The hotels used will be mainly middle class, in remote areas sometimes basic. The train rides are soft sleeper if available, else hard sleeper. Day-trains are booked hard seater.
The chartered buses offer a local standard which, sometimes, will not come up to European standards. China is often not as clean as you may like it, so please be prepared. Carrying a bar of soap in your photo bag is not a bad idea.
Price
| Winterspectacle | 9 to 21 participants | 2.555 Euro |
| 17.01. - 01.02.2003 | 6 to 8 participants | 2.840 Euro |
| single room supplement | 190 Euro | |
| Winter-Quicky | 9 to 21 participants | 1.980 Euro |
| 22.01. - 01.02.2003 | 6 to 8 participants | 2.190 Euro |
| single room supplement | 160 Euro |
Please let me know whether you are willing to join a group with less than nine participants or not. Maximum number of participants: 21.
The price includes:
Not included are:
Prices are calculated for a special booking class of the airline, which is limited.
