tarboat's photos with the keyword: suihua

Sunday morning preparation at Suihua depot with QJs 3245 and 2767 prominent. This junction shed was very busy with locomotives arriving and departing all the time.

QJ 680 with eight wheel tender heads north out of Suihua with a passenger service. At this time the lines around Suihua were 100% steam worked and locomotives were changed on most trains here.

QJ 6843 with twelve wheel tender heads north out of Suihua with a long freight. At this time the lines around Suihua were 100% steam worked and locomotives were changed on most trains here.

QJ 6797 takes a trip on the turntable at Suihua depot before resuming work on the line towards Nancha

A QJ starts a northbound freight away from the extensive yards at Suihua, north of Harbin. The jibs of the coaling cranes in the depot peep over the train and the water tower is to the left along with the smoke of the many locomotives to be found there. This was a very busy junction in 1992 with almost all services steam hauled and locomotives changed here.

Guided by a flagman, QJ 680 backs onto the turntable at Suihua depot well north of Harbin. This was a very busy locomotive changing station and the turntable was in continuous use, often with a queue waiting.

Naming railway locomotives is not a great tradition in China. However, there have been occasions where locomotives have been chosen to be specially decorated and named. In these cases there were no half measures and the locomotives were kept in splendid external condition. Back in 1992 whilst linesiding at Suihua, QJ6800 passed with a heavy coal train. This locomotive was named 'Iron Bull' (Tieniu Hao) and was the favourite of the Suihua depot. It has survived and is now plinthed at Jixi diesel depot Bob Turner advises that: 'The Iron Bull movement was founded soon after the war and revolution to encourage young workers to restore equipment that had been out of service from damage or lack of parts, etc. At that time the Chinese economy was in very poor shape and reconstructing China's railways was a very high priority of the new Communist government. The Iron Bull movement also focused on improving reliability and maintenance standards of the locomotives.' According to a posting in the Steam in China mailing list by Robin Gibbons: 'On 15 February 1949, Suihua depot's MK1 No 96 created an unprecedented domestic record in running over 106,000 kms, spanning two [No 1 overhauls], and was named "Tieniu Hao" by the North East Railway Bureau. Not long after, the Tieniu movement spread vigorously throughout the railway network. Afterwards, No 96 was sent to help in the Korean war and remained in Korea as a gift from China. In 1988, Suihua depot named QJ 6800 to promote the 'Tieniu' spirit in the modern era. ('tieniu' is a nickname for a tractor, i.e something indefatigable.)'

QJ 6843 JS 5693 and JS 5740 at Suihua Station and freight yard. At this time the rail services at Suihua were nearly all steam operated and most trains changed locomotives here.