Jiayang Coal Railway

[Ywolfgl]

Nestled deep in China's southwest interior lies the Jiayang Coal Railway. About a good 3 hour drive from the capital of Sichuan Province Chengdu, this 762mm (2.5 ft) is one of the last narrow gauge railroads to still operate in China. Powering the line are Class C2 ex-PKP 0-8-0 steam engines from the 1950s. Old and tired they still solider on providing a vital link to those who live in villages not yet accessed by road.

In this picture, we view villagers boarding the train at Bajiagou, the end of the line for the big town of Yuejin/Shixi to attend the weekly market that is an important part of the people's livelihood in this part of the country

 

[bnsf971]

Is the "coal" in the name of the railroad a cargo it hauled, or just named because that is what fuel the locomotives use?

 

[Ywolfgl]

Both! It hauled coal out of mines but also uses steam.