railography photo galleries : China : Hohhot Bureau : Baotou Area : 88-036-01 : (10 of 26)

Steam's Last Great Hope

QJ 8001 was a unique machine, equipped with a Gas Producer Combustion System similar to that fitted to South Africa's Class 26 and the Rio Turbio 2-10-2s. Sadly, the tide had turned by the time QJ 8001 emerged from Datong Works in 1987 and DF4 diesels were flooding off the production lines at Dalian and Ziyang. The future of steam had already been decided and QJ 8001 was soon laid aside. Had the railway management been wholeheartedly behind the project, things might just have turned out differently but we will probably never know.

QJ 8001 visited the coaling stage at Baotou Xi Depot on 12 April 1988 and there was just long enough to grab a quick pic before depot officials ushered us away.