Sandaoling Stall (edited)..mpg

Recorded during early 2009 whilst visiting with a friend rather than with a group.
Sandaoling Open Cast Mine was a sight to behold, rather like a model railway on a grand scale spiralling implausibly out of a huge hole in the ground. The system was by then, still 100% steam worked using mainly huge JS type 2-8-2 tender engines. Trains leaving the pit exited in one of two directions with mined coal leaving at the opposite end to that in this video. Spoil trains were heavy in the extreme bearing in mind the gradients and sharp curves.
In this slightly edited video we witness a JS propelling it's near 1000 ton load up the incline. Unfortunately for the crew, they've been brought to a halt by the presence of a track gang. Getting going again was never going to be easy, but the train does gain momentum. However, on passing the camera with a steepening of the track and severe curvature the JS begins to loose it's feet. Even superbly skilled enginmanship is insufficient to overcome the odds and the train stalls. After setting back (virtually to the same place as it had originally started from) another more successful attempt is made but even now, the loco has a rough time of it and is down to a slippery crawl as it leaves the rim of the mine.
Our grateful thanks must go to the mine's authorities for allowing us unlimited access for a couple of days... wander where you will, and no superfluous safety regalia, a refreshing change from the UK where you wouldn't have been allowed. within half a mile of the place unsupervised.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Trains
• train
• Railway
• Railroad
• Industrial
• Steam
• Loco
• Locomotive
• China
• Chinese
• JS
• JS Class
• Mine
• Mining
• Stall
• Slipping
• Incline
• Opencast
• 2-8-2
• Tender Engine
• Sandaoling

[Renownvidz]

Thank you. It's only amateur stuff with a cheap little Sony Handycam.

[Renownvidz]

It's north western China.

[Renownvidz]

Makes for good video though! lol

[adfgfds]

It looks like the track gang may have put something on the track.

[floodedcar123]

Good camera work.

[Curious142]

Is this China, or maybe Mongolia, or maybe Africa?

[blackthorne57]

Thanks for a great video. You were fortunate to witness such drama, they usually race up the incline with fully open regulator without a problem.

[aussietraindriver]

curves with gradients kill a train!! I know this from experience!

[aussietraindriver]

more sand, more sand!!

[deloreanman14]

Great work by the fireman, as well. Squeaky clean exhaust...a true expert.