‘Last’ steam train in rural China witnesses history

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Most of people in China today can enjoy the convenience brought by modern means of transportation, such as the fast-evolving high-speed railways, extensively spreading subways or even private cars. However, in a small town in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, the traditional coal-powered steam train is still their major method for daily commuting.

Wooden benches and windows without glasses… one can even smell the coal that powers the engine while wobbling forward in the carriages without lights. The green train, widely known as “Jiayang small train” in the Qianwei County of Leshan, has been running for 60 years, connecting the towns of Shixi and Bajiaogou.

Local people get on the train. The old-fashioned coal-powered train came into operation in 1959, initially used to transport coal. / CGTN Photo

In 1938, the Sino-British Jiayang Coal Mine was established in Bajiaogou. Twenty years later, the 19.84-kilometer-long railway was constructed to transport the coal. The tracks are 762 millimeters wide, half the size of the standard ones. Even today, some retired coal miners clearly remember how the narrow-gauge railroad changed their way of working.

“We had to carry the coal out of the town by manpower in the beginning. After the railway was opened, the coal was hauled by the train to the dock and then ferried to Chongqing,” said 92-year-old Chen Shaorong. He told CGTN that the coal was used for steel-making.

Old buildings decades ago in the living area of the miners are kept. This has become an attraction for tourists. / CGTN Photo

Later, the train began to carry villagers living alongside the railway, to fairs in town, schools or homes of their relatives. The carriages would get extremely crowded on the fair days when local farmers would bring their farm products or even poultries for trade.

“I’ve taken this train since I was in my 20s. Now I am in my 60s, you can imagine how many times I’ve taken it over those years,” said local farmer Li Yueyin.

Local farmers living alongside the railway take the small shabby train to the fair in town. For decades, the steam train has been their major method of commuting. / CGTN Photo

In recent years, more and more tourists from home and abroad are attracted by the time-honored vehicle, which is widely considered as the last narrow-gauge passenger steam train in China, or even the world. During good seasons, especially spring when all kinds of flowers bloom, many swarm here to experience the so-called “living fossil of the Industrial Revolution.”

To meet the demand of the growing number of tourists, the train operation company has added some sightseeing trains equipped with air-conditioning, soft seats and glass windows. Each tourist is charged 80 yuan (12.7 US dollars) for s single trip, as compared to 5 yuan (0.79 US dollars) that locals pay for the relatively shabby ones.

The “Jiayang small train” passes through blooming flowers. A large number of tourists come to experience the time-honored train in spring when they can also enjoy the beautiful sceneries. / Courtesy of Zhang Xiang

The train hasn’t hauled coal any more since years ago, as two of the three coalmines in the region have closed. But in the town of Bajiaogou, seeing the buildings of that era, it seems that time has stood still over the decades. This has also become an attraction for tourists.

The train operator has a bigger blueprint with more investment. But no matter how prosperous the tourism will develop, for locals, taking the small shabby train will be their lasting habit, as well as a significant memory.

1629km