Roderick Smith will present on the following subject:
Narrow Gauge Railways in China
As befits the third-largest nation in the world, China developed a large national network and a lot of private industrial railways (on multiple gauges).
Up to 1983 it allowed tourism only in groups, and was famous for its mainline steam. The industrial network was largely unknown, and knowledge grew only slowly.
Since 1983, Rod has had nine holidays to China, independently and group, covering mainlines, standard gauge industrial, and around 35 narrow-gauge industrial systems (mainly 762 and 600 mm gauge), carrying coal, limestone/sand, timber, salt, seaweed/reed, passengers and tourists, using steam, electric and diesel locos, and some railmotors.
For 2026, Rod will cover about seven operational systems in Sichuan, and a glimpse of two which got away
* Jiayang coal railway (762 mm electric & steam; the best-known and most-visited line; aka Shibanxi/Shixi; coal, passenger & tourist, fed by narrower gauge tunnel line from the mine).
* Jianghe (600 mm diesel fed by tunnel electric).
* Yongrong coal railway, Guangshunchang (600 mm electric).
* Mojiang (762 mm electric, passenger & coal).
* Yongchuan coal railway, Yongchuan/ Honglu (762 mm electric).
* Baishui area: a few mines in one day..
* Dazhou area: a few mines in one day.
* Rongshan: Prison railway (coal), visiting forbidden; a narrow window visiting while working; then visiting allowed after closure.
* Pengzhou: Closed and dismantled, but a plinthed loco survives.
