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SOUTH CHINA STEAM TOUR
11 - 28 April 2007
2009 ITINERARY UP SOON-CONTACT US FOR TEXT ONLY ITINERARY.
(March/April 2009) |
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STANDARD GAUGE AND NARROW GAUGE LINES
This tour has a different itinerary from that shown in some advertising because of the rapidly changing steam scene in China |
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Day 1:
Departure from airport of your country for Chengdu, China. |
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Day 2:
Arrival at Chengdu Airport. Travel directly on to Weiyuan narrow gauge line, where we will check out the line and locos. This is a short, but very scenic, line which is nearly life expired. There are only one or two freight trains per day, using one of the two C2s available. To supplement these services, we have requested a freight charter to enable us to take some good photos/video in daylight. Overnight in Weiyuan. |
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Day 3:
A day on Weiyuan narrow gauge railway, plus charter train. Late afternoon departure for Chengdu. Overnight in Chengdu.
Day 4:
Drive to Qianwei for Shibanxi narrow gauge railway, which normally has three steam in operation on this beautiful line up into the hills. There is no road, so the railway carries everything that has to go up to the villages. This line must rate as one of the best narrow gauge railways in the world, with an intensive service of freight and passenger cars hauled by the magnificent little C2 steam loco. Great scenery, tunnels and village stations make this a photographers/video paradise! Overnight in Qianwei. |
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Day 5:
Another day on this superlative line, then evening drive to Chengdu. Overnight in Chengdu.
Day 6:
Today we drive to Jiangyou local steam railway, which has a fleet of operational SYs. We will look around the workshops/repair depot (complete with an old English wheel turning lathe) before driving to the dispatching yard for photos. Mike Ma 'found' this steam system for us in 2006. When we arrived, the Director said we were the first group to visit, personally showed us around, took us to lunch and put on a bit of extra steam for us as the yard was quiet at the time - so we're hoping for an equally friendly reception in 2007! Overnight in Jiangyou. |
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Day 7:
We spend more time on the Jiangyou railway to fully explore the system, as we did not have time to see it all in 2006. We heard some steam, but could not see it! Overnight in Jiangyou.
Day 8:
Drive to Chengdu in the morning, with a guick visit to the giant panda sanctuary, if time. Early lunch, then train N851 (13:42) to Guiyang. Dinner and overnight on train in soft class sleeper.
Day 9:
Arrival in Guiyang (07:19). Breakfast before boarding train K156 (09:30) to Yizhou (22:32). Overnight in Yizhou. |
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Day 10:
Today we visit the Sancha - Luocheng local railway. This is a very scenic line for photography, but usually has only one steam JS hauled freight per day, so we have requested to charter another JS with a mixed train for the day to travel on and stop for runpasts. Night train K142/143 (23:03) to Zunyi.
Note: This line is being taken over by China Rail in the Spring. Mike could not get a definite date from its management, but CNR will immediately end all steam on takeover. We could be lucky, but, if not, then Mike has suggested we go direct to, and spend more time around, Zunyi and Liupanshui. |
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Day 11:
Arrival in Zunyi (14:40). We will transfer by bus to the Zunyi Industry Steam System, where there are a number of SYs that have been sighted. This is a bit of a mystery tour here because, although sightings have been made from passing trains, we can find no reports of anyone visiting the area. Mike has made enquiries and has ascertained that there are a number of steam at work, so perhaps we can get another 'first' in visiting this system! Overnight in Zunyi.
Day 12:
A morning on Zunyi system before driving in the afternoon to Guiyang for train 2079 (19:30) to Liupanshui (arrival 23:27). Overnight in Liupanshui. |
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Day 13:
We spend the day around the Shuicheng Steam Transport System, which has a number of SYs in operation. Night train 2079 (23:37) to Kunming.
Note: If Sancha is not possible, we will spend an extra day here, as we believe there are two other steam lines in the area - motive power unknown. Zunyi will be set back a day in the itinerary.
Day 14:
Arrival at Kunming (06:56). We will transfer by bus to the interesting industrial steam line at Zhongyicun, which has a number of active steam. This line has been visited only very rarely. Overnight in Kunming. |
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Day 15:
We make a visit to the Kunming metre gauge line, which is diesel operated but has an interesting museum. All passenger services ceased on this line in 2006, when all the rolling stock were sold to Burma Railways. However, there is still a limited freight service, so we hope to get some photos/video of this before the track is removed to make way for standard gauge operation. Train K114 (12:58) to Panzihua (arriving 18:10). Overnight in Panzihua. |
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Day 16:
Panzihua Steelworks. This has always been a difficult place to obtain permits for, but Mike managed it in 2006 and we got some great pictures of the busy steam scene around the furnaces. However, due to restrictions on time and a national holiday, we did not get to the workshops or slag heaps, and missed a number of steam locos, so we are hoping to make up for this in 2007, as the Works are continually threatening to finish the steam there. Overnight in Panzihua. |
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Day 17:
Another morning around Panzihua Steelworks. Afternoon flight from Panzihua to Chengdu. Overnight in Chengdu.
Day 18:
Morning transfers to Chengdu Airport for return flights home.
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Please note:
A group of Japanese enthusiasts recently found some QJ steam locos in use some distance from Shanghai. Mike is investigating and, if it seems worthwhile, we may do an add-on, which would entail flights from Chengdu to Shanghai area, say two days with QJ steam, then return flight to Chengdu for flights home. Mike's findings will be posted here as soon as they are received.
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---------------- END OF TOUR --------------- |
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GBP |
USD |
| Tour price per person (excluding flights) |
£1400 |
$2720 |
| Single supplement per person (can be avoided if willing to share) |
£234 |
$455 |
| Deposit required with booking |
(£250) |
($485) |
| Please note: exchange rates may fluctuate |
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We hope you find the following information helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries whatsoever about the tour.
Prices:
The price in China includes:
- 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
- Tips
- Tour leader - English speaking
- Chinese visa for UK residents
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We do not include other beverages, snacks, your own personal expenses, laundry services, telephone charges, visas for other foreign nationals, etc. NOTE: Anyone joining/leaving the tour at other times is responsible, at their own cost, for their own transfers/flights to the joining/departing point. EE Railtours is not responsible for these and cannot be held responsible for any mishaps or delays, and neither can the tour be delayed if incidents occur.
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Accommodation:
The hotels we use are comfortable, medium class where possible, but in the more distant areas they can be more basic, along with the amenities. Please be aware that, for the most part, accommodation and transport in China will not be up to Western standards and does not operate to the same high safety standards. Hotels, any charter services and the trains are to the standard of China, which may not be up to your Western expectations. We expect you to be aware of these failings and to use your own judgement on safety when photographing around the railways. EE Railtours cannot accept any liability whatsoever in the case of any damage or accident. It is advisable that you carry a good insurance cover.
As this is a rail tour, we do endeavour to use rail travel where possible. We try to book all sleeping accommodation in soft sleeper class (which has four berths) where possible, but, if this is fully booked for some reason, then overnight travel is hard sleeper class, which is six berths, open compartment. So, the earlier you book, the better chance of our 'bagging' the better berths! It is also advisable to keep a few basic toiletries within easy access on the train (toilet rolls are useful at most places!).
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Food:
The food provided in China is usually cooked from beef, lamb, pork, chicken or egg, with various vegetables such as rice, chips, tomatoes, celery, cabbage, spinach, green beans, mushrooms, beansprouts, etc.
Daytime food while we are chasing trains can be bread, biscuits, sausages, instant noodles and fruit, unless there is a restaurant nearby our location.
Food may not always be served up in a form with which you are familiar. You may wish to carry your own eating utensils.
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Alterations to 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 major breakdown causing those services to be cancelled. We would, of course, do our utmost to provide an alternative, if within travelling distance, to avoid disruption to the rest of the itinerary.
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