I'm a retired employee of Wujiu Group. I've worked in the enterprise for 38 years, and I've been a locomotive driver since I was 21 years old. I have an indissoluble bond with the steam locomotive, and it's my "old friend" and "old partner". Although I have retired for many years, I often see it in my mind. It has excited and encouraged me in my work. I will never forget every running and busy moment, and I clearly remember every part and even every single piece of it. On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Wujiu Group, I couldn't help but pick up the brush to record the transportation feats in the history of mine building and leave them to Wujiu people as memories.

Series one: "DB2 type 88 small steam locomotive"

Series two: "DB2 type 92 small steam locomotive"

In July, 1959, the special railway line from Wujiu to Coalfield was connected with the Yalin line of national railway. Three railway stations have been built in the east of the mining area, on the west side of the power plant gate and opposite to the infrastructure section. Wujiu Coal Mine rented railway locomotives to transport coal to Daxinganling forest area. In 1979, we purchased DB2 small steam locomotives No.88 and No.92 produced in Showa, Japan from Dahushan Locomotive Depot.

Series three: "upstream steam locomotive"

    From 1981 to 1983, two small steam locomotives, No.88 and No.92 of DB2, were scrapped, and Wujiu Coal Mine successively purchased three steam locomotives, No.1134, No.1225 and No.1546 of the upstream type, from Tangshan Locomotive and Rolling Stock Factory to undertake the task of transporting raw coal abroad. In December 2012, a diesel locomotive Dongfeng 4DD0288 was purchased from Dalian Locomotive Works to replace three steam locomotives.

Series four: "Huanghe heavy Rail car"

At the beginning of mine construction in 1957, passengers entering and leaving the mining area were pulled by locomotives of Wuerqihan Locomotive Depot, and the passenger cars departed from Wuerqihan and entered Wujiu through coalfield station. In 1972, Wujiu Coal Mine purchased two railcars to travel back and forth between Wujiu Mining Area and Subsidy Institute (two kilometers outside coalfield station), and passengers had to walk to coalfield station. In 1984, Wujiu Coal Mine purchased a Huanghe brand heavy rail car, and installed heating and lighting facilities, which was used to shuttle passengers from the coal field to Wujiu Coal Mine. In 1995, the office building of Wujiu Station was designed and built by Wujiu Construction and Installation Engineering Company. In 1999, Huanghe's car was scrapped beyond the limit, and in the same year, a new northern GC-170 railcar was purchased. In 2005, with the adjustment of railway trains and the rapid development of highway passenger transport, the Yellow River train group completed its passenger transport mission and stopped transporting passengers.

"Elegant demeanor of 59 steam locomotives"

The only operable steam locomotive in China.

Picture drawing by Zhao Yingxin

Text by Wang Li