First train of the day

The Shibanxi line in Sichuan is the only steam operated narrow gauge line in the world providing a daily public service. The Chinese have realised that this is something special and are now promoting it as a tourist line and this is beginning to work with large numbers of Chinese tourists riding the line. The early morning train does not have any tourist coaches and is filled with locals and agricultural produce. On this day the sun had yet to rise as the train left the reversing point at Mifenyang and photography was only just possible at a high ISO setting.

The two girls watching the train had been asking me on the previous evening about why I was staying there and were amazed that anyone should want to travel so far just to photograph their train. I did notice that later in the day they were recording the steam action on their mobile phones. :-)