Early morning in the Sandaoling yard.
With the first snow of the year covering the mountains in the background, the SY gets clearance to continue its trip to the washery.
A JS heads to dump a load of overburden in the morning light, its last run before the crew change.
A JS engine and the spreader head out to the overburden area to clean off some tracks.
One of the few remaining SYs at this location transporting the crew for shift change.
A JS loaded with coal for the washery has to stop on this incline while waiting for the downhill train to pass.
One of the crew on JS 8167 prepares his engine for the day.
5 JS engines taking on water to start the day
Normally running out of the mine tender first, it was nice to get a photo with the cars connected to the tender.
Almost at the washery the SY slows as it crosses a narrow tunnel exiting the mine.
Clean the windshield and check the tires...a JS awaits some maintenance in the shop.
SY 1593 Pulls a work train through the yard.
An SY with 11 coal cars climbs a hill out of the pit as it heads for the washery.
While the SYs pull 11 cars to the washery, the JS engines, like this one, pull an additional 2 cars for the same trip.
The SY work train continues its work in the yard after being idle for several hours.
At the washery.
Waiting to have its 11 coal cars dumped, the JS waits at the washery and is reflected in a small pool of water.
A crew train pulled by the SY prepares to stop and unload a crew at quitting time. Moments later the new crews will get on board and head to their trains at the other end of the yard.
The SY pulled crew train arrives just after sunrise for the crew change. In a few moments there will be 5 more engines arriving.
As promised, 4 JS engines pull along side the SY as crews swap for the next shift.
Unknown writing on the lockers in the crew room-if you know what it means please let me know.
Heading for the scrap heap? It appeared that this engine was being used for parts as crews were actively removing parts with their cutting torches.
The spreader on the move: leaving the open pit on the way to the overburden dumping area.
JS 8078 waits quietly in the shop.
The JS pulled work train runs along the edge of the pit to destination unknown.
Winding its way along the long spiral out of the pit, this JS heads to the overburden dumping area.
A look inside the gritty repair shop.
Left on it's own this JS sits idle as the repair crews work on more pressing issues with some of the other engines.
In the barren landscape of the open pit, an SY and the JS cross paths on their runs to/from the washery.
Working in the shadow the the dreaded diesel that will replace it in the not-too-distant future.
Sunrise glinting on the rails.
