Ji-Tong Pictures 1 - Jingpeng to Shangdian

September 2002

All photographs © Copyright Duncan Cotterill 2002. All rights reserved.

Autumn Colours at Hongguan

Spectacular autumn colour was rare during our visit. Individual trees had turned gold but it was very difficult to find places where a good display of colour could be included in a railway photo. This was about the best we found. QJ 7012 & 6110 head away from Jingpeng towards the pass with an eastbound freight.

Even at the end of September, many of the trees remained green and the last crops still hadn't been harvested. As we sat in the warm sunshine waiting for the next train, it was difficult to believe that this was the same place where we'd sheltered from freezing winds in winter. QJ 6905 & 6986 head into the Brickworks Valley on an eastbound freight.

The trees are starting to turn gold in the Brickworks Valley as QJ 6638 & 7112 take a run at the bank up to Shangdian. The colours won't last long though. By the time the tree on the right changes colour, the ever present wind will have stripped those on the left of all their leaves.

A bright morning at long last. QJ 7112 & 6638 catch the light as they run onto Simingyi Viaduct. The temperature had dropped markedly overnight leading to crisp white exhausts which would last most of the day. A pleasant change from having to rely on hit and miss black clag to give your pictures a sense of action.