cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/47916332
The two trains pictured:
More info about (and photos of) the driver, Han Junjia:
It shows how much can actually change if we allow it
In the west it would be:
- Young guy, train from the 1980’s
- Old guy 26 years later, train from the 1970’s
I have seen more ÖBB 4020 trains again recently.
Cool af! The unique circumstances of late operational steam engines with the rapid development of China that lead to this is wild.
That Fuxing train.
🎶 Oooh, he’s leavin’
On that midnight train to Fuxing 🎶
Jesus Christ they stopped using the steam locomotive in 2024!!!
Turns out if you have a gigantic coal mine and the destination is not too far and you have a lot of old spare trains that run on coal, a steam locomotive is a pretty good choice. They’ve also become quite popular attractions in their retirement and quite a few overseas museums want them, since operational locomotives are reare and restoration is expensive.
Where I grew up they still run old steam trains as a tourist attraction. It’s pretty fuckin rad actually.
Honestly so cool that the last one was made in 1999 like damn
Love how proud he looks in the recent photos
He had drip in the first pic.
