Article: https://www.trains.com/trn/steam-operat ... -in-china/

On January 15th 2024, the Sandaoling Mine Railway ceased steam operations, with the withdrawal of JS 8089

With this would beg the inevitable question, will preservation come for the locomotives?

The answer is unknown, but we can go over the preserved Chinese steam outside of China

United States:

Iowa Interstate QJ 6988 (waiting for its 1472 in Silvis, IL)
Iowa Interstate QJ 7081 (stored in Newton, IA)
Boone & Scenic Valley JS 8419 (operational at the Boone & Scenic Valley Boone, IA)
Valley Railroad SY 3025 (operational at the Essex Steam Train & River Boat Essex, CT)
New York Susquehanna SY 142 (undergoing its 1472 at the Bel-Del Railroad Phillipsburg, NJ)
RJ Corman QJ 2008 (awaiting restoration at Irvine, KY under KSHCO ownership)

Japan:

China Railway QJ 6200 (front end displayed at Aioi, Hyogo prefecture, Japan)
China Railway RM 1163 (front end displayed at Aioi, Hyogo prefecture, Japan)
South Manchuria Railway PL 248 (displayed at Tusukubamirai, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan)

Europe/UK:

China Railway QJ 2655 (displayed at Speyer Technical Museum Speyer, Germany)
Beijing Capital Steel & Chemical "Dahuinchang No 4" (Ffestiniog Railway Porthmadog, Wales, UK)

Did I miss any? Let me know

It's been awhile since I got any news from China, but there are many steam engines preserved there, some of which occasionally operate. Recently the Huanan narrow gauge has been rehabilitated and received new (to them) passenger equipment, and is intended to be a tourist/museum type operation.

The engines at Sandaoling are awfully used up and ratty. While they probably will paint up a few and display them, they have had the absolute minimum of repairs for many years. If I was to go looking for a nice JSB locomotive, I believe I'd snoop around the city of Pingdingshan. They were doing a thorough overhaul on a JSB in 2006, even as they were getting diesels, and were planning on keeping a few of their best steam engines, tools, spares, and steam skilled employees. I'd love to hear what remains there today, in one of those walled off sidings...

There are large and varied steam collections in Beijing and Shenyang, at least 11 displayed QJs in Daban, and about a dozen SYs and a KD 2-8-0 under cover in Diobingshan. Many more steam engines are displayed throughout the country, with a spectacular outdoor collection of around 80 locomotives displayed in a park made on the footprint of a steam terminal in Harbin (IIRC).

Corrections and updates welcome...

*

In York, England:

https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.o ... locomotive

IIRC, there is a factory fresh (albeit rusty) one at the bottom of the Indian Ocean as well.

KD6 473 ex USATC 5197 from Fushun restored and operating at Churnet Valley railway Staffs. England.
Ray.