The front of the internal combustion locomotive, which has been used for more than 30 years, has mottled traces and a sense of thickness of age.
Figure | Wen Hunan Daily, Chief Reporter of New Hunan Client
Guo Liliang
In the early morning of August 24, "old driver" Huang Chengde rode a motorcycle to the 762 narrow gauge railway locomotive garage as usual.
There are four 380-horsepower diesel locomotives parked here, and the "Taihang" brand logo on the front of the car is hidden in thick rust, looming; the mottled wagons record the vicissitudes of the narrow-gauge trains.
The historical imprint on the locomotive.
"Old driver" Huang Chengde has been driving trains for 34 years, and because of his good skills, he was rehired back to his post after retiring last year.
The driver checks in on the test ride to prepare for the ride.
Located in Yongxing County, Matian Mining Co., Ltd. is located in Yongxing County, and is mainly responsible for the supply of large materials inside the mine and the export of raw coal consolidation. The railway gauge is only 762 mm (the standard gauge of the railway is 1432 mm). When it was completed that year, the total length of the line was 15.8 kilometers, with 7 small stations, and two locomotives operating 24 hours a day.
The original locomotive was an old 18-ton steam locomotive, which was changed to a 28-ton steam locomotive in 1987 and a 380-horsepower diesel locomotive since 1991.
A 1937 German wrench is still in use, making it the oldest footprint on this narrow gauge railway.
At Jiangjia Station in Martin Town, Yongxing County, two trains meet here.
At its peak, this railway undertook the transportation task of more than 800,000 tons of raw coal per year in Matian Coal Mine, and several freight cars, as well as special trains and rail cars for public works maintenance, shuttled back and forth on this narrow track, and more than 240 people were train maintenance, station maintenance and train divisions.
In the 1980s, Martin Mining also added a new passenger train to facilitate the travel of nearly 20,000 employees and surrounding people in the mining area. Over the past 50 years of operation, it has transported more than 30 million tons of coal, making positive contributions to local economic construction.
The driver, Hu Haibin, added water to the locomotive in the garage to prepare for the car.
Locomotive maintenance worker Cao Yi carefully checks the brake part of the dump truck before leaving the car to ensure driving safety.
At the narrow gauge railway terminal, the morning shift meeting before leaving the train, the safety supervisor explains the safety precautions to the driver and passengers. This is their daily "compulsory course".
In the locomotive cab, the driver Hu Haibin carefully controlled the locomotive and observed the driving situation from time to time.
During the train, a dump truck suddenly dropped tracks, and the driver and passengers used the jack to raise the carriage to correct the wheels. This happens occasionally because of severe wheel wear and track line problems.
When driving in curves, deputy driver Li Du observed the situation outside the window. To ensure safety, the speed of the vehicle is controlled at an average of about 10 kilometers per hour.
The small train passes by a golden rice field.
The train arrives at the Nova Coal Mine coal silo to load the car, and the driver and crew load the coal with the workers.
Captain Li Yongfeng sat in the last car to observe, so that emergency braking could be carried out at any time in case of emergency when driving. Whether it is windy, rainy, ice or snow, the "observers" must stick to their posts.
Narrow gauge trains carry raw coal through residential areas of the mining area.
The train arrives at the terminal station to unload the coal pit, and the connector directs the driver to control the dump truck to unload the coal.
Zhang Jialiang, the duty officer, waved a signal flag to pick up the car.
Zhang Jialiang, the attendant on duty, pulled open the railroad fork for the train to change tracks.
The last train of the night arrived at the terminal to unload the coal from the pit.
After the train completes the coal transport task, the driver parks the locomotive in the garage.
In recent years, with the reduction of traffic and the change of enterprises to sanctioners, only 37 people have been retained on the narrow gauge railway. Only two trains operate on the narrow 11.15-kilometer-long track from the Sieving Mill Station to the Nova Well Mine, running 3 to 6 times a day, maintaining an annual capacity of about 400,000 tons.
Compared with automobile transportation, narrow gauge rail transportation has lower costs and high safety factors. "At present, we are the last 762 narrow gauge railway in operation in Hunan. Because the domestic narrow rail parts have been basically discontinued, the driver and passenger personnel are older, coupled with the hard work and low treatment, it is difficult to find a young successor, and it is very difficult to continue to run. Li Zhenjun, general manager of the supply and marketing company of Martin Mining Co., Ltd., said, "A few years ago, some people proposed to dismantle the narrow-gauge railway, and we strongly opposed it. The sale of the steam locomotive in the early years has made our hearts ache. ”
Coal unloaders covered in soot and sweat are hurrying to have lunch.
A coal unloader rolls a cigarette with a hand stained with coal ash while resting.
The narrow gauge railway is normally stopped for maintenance, and the maintenance personnel replace the sleepers for the railway to ensure safe driving.
Mechanics are in the repair workshop, repairing the axles of the train.
It is understood that at present, there are only a few narrow gauge railways left in China, and the Narrow Gauge in Jiayang in Sichuan, the Narrow Gauge in Xuchang in Henan, and the Narrow Gauge in Xinglong in Heilongjiang have all lost their original functions, or will be demolished or developed into tourist routes.
At Jiangjia Station in Martin Town, Yongxing County, the train slowly moves forward. On the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway next to it, fully loaded trucks whistle past.
[Editor-in-charge: Wu Xia]
[Source: Hunan Daily· New Hunan Client]