"Watermelons" in Xinjiang... (HD)

I only had one day instead of the planned four days along the NanJiang line in Xinjiang (Tulufan/Turpan - Kuerle/Korla), before being kicked out by the local police (Fortunately in a friendly manner, but the result was the same... Recently, Beijing has strongly increased security levels in China, and the whole Kuixian pass now seems to be off-limits to foreigners!), and apart from that this single day wasn't too productive either... Before noon, the sunlight is best for eastbound uphill trains from Baluntai to Wusite (Kuixian summit tunnel...), but after finding this nice spot almost all trains rolled downhill in the other direction! Apparently, there had been a strong storm around Tulufan/Yuergou the night before, resulting in a lot of trains being held there, and those were now all coming through... Finally, after more than three hours in the burning sun (The sun is very intense at this altitude!) this train came up, climbing the stiff 2,2 % (!) grade with two "Watermelons" (DF4B) in front, and one in the back, dwarfed by the impressive mountains... :-) The background noise is from the river, and the wind... (Near Baluntai, Xinjiang, China, 26/06/2009)

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• DF4B
• Nanjiang
• Tianshan
• Baluntai
• Xinjiang
• China
• rail
• railway
• diesel
• train

[qualqui]

Wow, what BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN MAJESTIES,....the sheer size in contrast with the rail line, the train, the river valley below,...totally BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY,....and oh,...that rowdy and very NOISY TRAIN!!! Just like my neighborhood, built next to the train tracks and station, and those locomotive sirens are so loud, the boxcars rumbling by so fassssst,...thumbs up to ya qj7205 and thankin' ya for the COOL UPLOAD!! =D

[qj7205]

@qualqui I'm happy you liked it! :-)

(Just a pity I couldn't record more videos along this amazing line... I planned four days but after the first one I was kicked out of the area... :-( Apparently it's a restricted military area...)

[chunlusun]

Spectacular - Thanks for bringing the best of China to the world.

[qj7205]

You're welcome!

This is indeed one of the most beautiful places in China... :-)

[applecounty]

Wonder why the PRC are getting jumpy?

[robmasterman]

Absolutely stunning as always, your videos are unique without a doubt...5* Bob

[qj7205]

Ok, here it is: chinarail be slash nanjiang doc

(Youtube doesn't allow posting links...)

[qj7205]

I'll give you a link to some interesting articles tomorrow! :-)

[qj7205]

Yes, that's right... :-) Actually, I myself am always very thrilled while railfanning a whole day along such lines... You've been waiting for a long time, sometimes up to a few hours, and then finally you hear a train approaching... The sound gets louder and louder (I like noisy trains... ;-) Haha...), the train finally passes you, with deafening motor sound, and then it slowly goes away again... I find that feeling fantastic, and that's what I want the viewers of my videos to feel too... ;-)

[NN2Blue]

Actually do you have a link for any articles on the future of this railway line? Cheers! Mike