tarboat's photos with the keyword: ningxia

Kiln workers at a brickworks close to Guyaozi in the deserts of Ningxia Province, China. Yes it was snowing. Photo by tarboat junior.

QJ powered coal train crossing the bridge over the Yellow River at Wuzhong on the Daba to Guyaozi line in the deserts of western China. Photo by tarboat junior.

QJ 7200 at the head of coal empties hurries through the desert from Guyaozi to the new coal mine at Yangchangwan in Ningxia Province, China. This branch had only been open for a year when I visited the line in 2006.

In gently falling snow and low visibility QJ 7200 charges uphill with coal empties past the small temple at the Guyaozi brickworks on the Daba to Guyaozi line through the desert. This 70km + line was quite recently built and carried coal and oil products in a remote area of Ningxia Autonomous Region. Looking at Google Earth it is clear that this line has been doubled since my visit in 2006 and a coal-fired power station built close to the new colliery at Guyaozi.

Coal screens on a small drift mine in the desert near Yangchanwan, Guyaozi, Ningxia Autonomous Region.

QJ 7036 takes the empties towards Yangchangwan Mine as the snow gently falls on the Daba - Guyaozi coal railway.

The visit to the desert line between Daba and Guyaozi was intended to make shots amidst the dunes and wide open spaces. The weather had other ideas and the falling snow soon reduced visibility and required a change of tactics. QJ 7205 nears Guyaozi with a long train of empty coal wagons. This is a reprocessing of an image that I felt could be improved upon.

The weather conditions were dull with poor visibilty during my visit to the Daba to Guyaozi coal railway which crosses the desert lands of remote Ningxia. By the time QJ 7205 passed Lingwu towards Guyaozi it was snowing steadily and the light was almost gone even though it was not yet midday. There wasn't time to wait for better conditions so it was up with the iso setting and live with the grain. Can't do it again as the line was dieselised soon after.

The remote desert line from the Guyaozi area coal mines and chemical industry to the connection with China Rail at Daba was not an easy option due to the fairly sparse service. The weather in winter was often unpleasant with visibility reduced and low light levels. However, when you did find a train the results could be very good. After chasing around in the gloom for some time we were able to catch QJ 7200 having just crossed a loaded coal train (which can just be seen in the left distance) whilst heading the empties towards Guyaozi. The next day it snowed!

On the new extension to the In the Yangchangwan coal mine QJ 7036 works hard through the desert dunes with empty coal wagons.

The visit to the desert line between Daba and Guyaozi was intended to make shots amidst the dunes and wide open spaces. The weather had other ideas and the falling snow soon reduced visibility and required a change of tactics. With a brick built temple to the left, the line is seen rising up to pass the brickworks situated behind me. QJ 7200 is charging out of the mist and snow with coal empties for the mines

Out in the desert to the east of the small town of Linwu the Daba- Guyaozi coal railway passes a brickworks a few kilometres from Guyaozi. On a dark January day it had just begun to snow, a precursor to a severe blizzard that nearly trapped our bus after dark, and QJ 7205 heads downhill with a loaded train heading for Daba and the interchange with China Rail. I understand that China Rail has now taken over the operation of this line.

In the gloomy deserts of Ningxia Auntonomous Region QJ 7036 heads for the Yangchangwan coal mine at the far end of the Daba - Guyaozi line.

QJ 7036 in the deserts of Ningxia with empty coal wagons for the Yangchangwan Mine on the Daba-Guyaozi Coal Railway.

The light falling snow is already beginning to accumulate on the dunes as QJ 7036 heaves a long train of empties across this viaduct on the extension of the Daba-Guyaozi Coal Railway to the new mine at Yangchangwan. View On Black

In Ningxia Autonomous Region, west central China, the Yangchangwan coal mine opened in 2004.

Cold desert conditions as a QJ class 2-10-2 heads the empties towards Yangchangwan Mine on the Daba-Guyaozi Coal Railway. View On Black

QJ 7200 heads a loaded towards Daba at Lingwu on the Daba - Guyaozi coal railway.