Day 1: 
Arrival in Beijing from your home airport, where you will be met by Mike Ma and Jim Colley. Once we're all assembled, we will eat at a restaurant before boarding our overnight train Z15 (20:50) to Harbin. Soft sleeper if possible. Overnight on train.

Day 2: 
Arrival at Harbin (06:34). Transfer to train 4031, departing Harbin at 07:02 and arriving in Suileng at 10:57. Here we will have a late breakfast if there is none available on the train, before joining our special steam charter train on this 130km forestry railway. We travel on part of the line, with photo/video stops. For the night we 'go native', staying at a hostel in the forestry area - rather basic, but the only place available!

Photo: Tom Kitching

Day 3: 
After our 'survival' night at the hostel, we rejoin our charter train to explore more of the system again, with photo/video stops. Evening train back to Harbin, where we overnight at an hotel.

Day 4: 
We rise early to to board Train N5 (07:30) to Jiamusi (13:31). Charter bus to Huanan, where we overnight at an hotel.

Day 5: 
A day on the Huanan Forestry and Coal narrow gauge steam line. We will charter a railcar to take us up the line, where we can await the passing of the steam hauled coal trains and empties at various locations. This is where we can photo/video the steam narrow gauge banker on the coal trains - perhaps unique in the world today. Overnight at our hotel in Huanan.

Day 6: 
Another day for line siding on the lovely narrow gauge line. We can arrange drop-offs for your chosen locations once you have seen the line, after which you will be collected for return to our hotel in Huanan.

Day 7: 
We can take some early morning departure shots of the locos leaving the yard at Huanan before driving to Jiamusi in our charter bus to take Train K340 (11:30) to Harbin (18:40). Transfer to Train N91 Harbin (19:58) to Manzhouli. Overnight on train, soft sleeper.
 

Day 8: 
Arrive Manzhouli (09:42). Transfer to Jarlannur Open Cast Pit, with loads of SY steam locos hauling coal out of the huge workings. Chimney first and tender first shots amidst the Chinese work scene, with over 30 locos on the roster. We spend the day in the area for photos/video, spending the night in an hotel in Manzhouli.

Day 9: 
Another full day at Jarlannur open cast workings. Overnight at hotel in Manzhouli.

Day 10: 
A last morning at Jarlannur before returning to Manzhouli for Train 1302 Manzhouli (13:18) to Tieling. Overnight on train, soft sleeper.

Day 11: 
Arrival at Tieling (08:16). Bus to Tiefa Mining Railway, where there are over 20 steam passenger departures per day from Diaobingshan Station, plus coaling by steam crane and watering at the opposite side of the tracks to the platforms. This is a very extensive system with its own passenger and freight services. The freights are usually diesel now, but all passenger trains remain steam-hauled. An amazing diversion are the police women directing the traffic outside the station - we hope you have the opportunity to witness them! Overnight at hotel.

Day 12: 
Today we have arranged a special KD6 ex-USA charter with freight cars. This loco is the only one of its type available to steam in China now. It will be at our disposal all day for photography/video at various locations around the system. Overnight at hotel.

Day 15: 
A morning visit to the stabling point for the SYs and to see the morning passenger departures. We then take our charter bus to Beipiao for a quick visit to the mining railway, which, when last checked, had 3 SYs in steam, although up to 6 have been reported in the past, so we will see what turns up! Evening drive to Huludao, where we overnight at an hotel.

Day 16:
We visit the Huludao Limestone Railway, which has JS steam locos working to their limits on the gradients - very impressive! There will also be the opportunity for a photoshoot around the loco turntable, which is still in use. Evening drive in charter bus to Nanpiao for overnight at hotel.

Day 17:
We visit the Nanpiao Coal Mine Railway, which has SY steam on steep gradients and long bridges, with a backdrop of mountainous countryside. We spend the day on this system at various locations.

Day 18: 
Another half day at Nanpiao before driving to Jinzhou for Train 2590 Jinzhou (13:50) to Beijing (22:20). Overnight at a Beijing hotel near to the airport.
PLEASE NOTE: 
If anyone wishes to leave the tour early and forego the last section, this is the ideal time to do so (please see separate price for 18-day tour).

Day 19:
Morning flight Beijing to Urumuqi, then train to Hami. Overnight at hotel at Hami or Sandaoling.

Day 20:
All day at Sandaoling Mining Railway and Open Cast Pit, with lots of JS-hauled steam. Overnight at hotel.

Day 21:
Another day for photos/video at Sandaoling before leaving for our overnight train from Hami to Urumuqi. Soft sleeper.

Day 22:
Early morning arrival at Urumuqi for morning flight to Beijing, where a bus will collect us at the airport to visit the Beijing Railway Museum in the afternoon before making our way to The North Garden Hotel (Central Beijing - www.north-garden.com). This is a nice hotel to relax in and does super breakfasts! If anyone would prefer a cheaper, basic hotel, there is the Oriental Peace Hotel across the road - the rooms are acceptable, but the breakfast is Chinese only and not to everyone's taste! Both are a few minutes from Tienenmen Square.
 

Day 23:
Mike Ma will check if the steam at Futuyu will be working on the line. If so, we will drive by charter bus to the line - a long drive over the mountains, so it is only worth doing if steam is positive. The 7th February Works are now diesel except for a standby steam, which may also have vanished by October, so is not an option. If steam is not working at Futuyu, we will drive out to the Great Wall for photos. You do not have to climb to the top unless you wish, as there is a cable lift up and a tobogan down (yes, quite safe on its own track and you get to work the brake!). If we select this option, then late afternoon and evening will be free time in Beijing. Overnight again at The North Garden Hotel.

Day 24: 
Transfers to Airport for flights home.

We hope you will agree that the prices charged represent remarkably good value! As an enthusiast himself, Jim is happy to ask little more than to cover his costs. Prices INCLUDE:

all transfers where possible;

all hotels and sleeping car arrangements;

full board (includes one local beer and one soft drink per day - the rest up to you!);

airport tax;

internal flights;

tour leader (English-speaking);

Chinese visas for UK residents.

Prices DO NOT INCLUDE:

flights to and from China, because of the diverse locations from which clients travel. UK clients will find that Emirates currently have flights from Manchester, Birmingham and London for around £400, via Dubai. Jim Colley uses those from Birmingham himself and invites anyone who may wish to join him on the flight out to contact him to make appropriate arrangements;

beverages and snacks not provided as part of the tour;

your own personal expenses;

laundry services;

telephone charges;

visas for non-UK residents.

PLEASE NOTE:
Anyone joining/leaving the tour at unscheduled times is responsible, at their own expense, for their own transfers/flights to the joining/departure point. EE Railtours is not responsible for such events and cannot be held responsible for any mishaps or delays. Neither can the tour be delayed if such incidents occur.

Alterations to the Tour:
We reserve the right to visit alternative lines to those on the itinerary if we hear that the motive power is not operating, or if a steam line has been dieselised. We will inform you of any major changes to the itinerary. We make every effort to ensure that steam, where advertised, is available, but EE Railtours cannot be held liable for any majo