<strong>China's spectacular steam trains: </strong>British photographer David Kitching has spent the past twenty years taking stunning photographs of China's steam trains, including this 2009 image of the morning passenger service to Shenbutong copper mine -- with a plaque on the front celebrating the Beijing Olympics. Kitching's photos are the subject of a new book: "<a href="https://www.amberley-books.com/chinese-steam.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">Chinese Steam: The Last Years</a>", published by <a href="https://www.amberley-books.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Amberley Books</a>.
China's spectacular steam trains: British photographer David Kitching has spent the past twenty years taking stunning photographs of China's steam trains, including this 2009 image of the morning passenger service to Shenbutong copper mine -- with a plaque on the front celebrating the Beijing Olympics. Kitching's photos are the subject of a new book: "Chinese Steam: The Last Years", published by Amberley Books.
Courtesy David Kitching/Amberley Books
<strong>Long-term passion:</strong> 62-year-old Kitching has been passionate about steam locomotives since he was a child. "I really missed the experience of mainline steam trains after they finished in Britain in 1968," he says. This 2006 photograph shows a silhouetted locomotive at Jalainur mine at sunset.
Long-term passion: 62-year-old Kitching has been passionate about steam locomotives since he was a child. "I really missed the experience of mainline steam trains after they finished in Britain in 1968," he says. This 2006 photograph shows a silhouetted locomotive at Jalainur mine at sunset.
Courtesy David Kitching/Amberley Books
<strong>Visits to China</strong>: It was in the early 1990s that Kitching first heard stories of China's stunning steam trains: "I resolved to join a tour as soon as possible," he says. This 1992 photograph shows the Sujitan industrial locomotive works overhauling locomotives for a wide range of mines, steelworks and quarries.
Visits to China: It was in the early 1990s that Kitching first heard stories of China's stunning steam trains: "I resolved to join a tour as soon as possible," he says. This 1992 photograph shows the Sujitan industrial locomotive works overhauling locomotives for a wide range of mines, steelworks and quarries.
Courtesy David Kitching/Amberley Books
<strong>Spectacular trains: </strong>On his first trip, Kitching headed to northeast China and captured coal mines and unforgettable landscapes. He returned several times over subsequent years, always with his camera in hand. Kitching took this photograph of this Kuangsan copper mine train in 2009.
Spectacular trains: On his first trip, Kitching headed to northeast China and captured coal mines and unforgettable landscapes. He returned several times over subsequent years, always with his camera in hand. Kitching took this photograph of this Kuangsan copper mine train in 2009.
Courtesy David Kitching/Amberley Books
<strong>Touring the country: </strong>Kitching first traveled to China as part of an organized tour -- later, he coordinated freelance visits and traveled with friends or his son. This 2006 photograph depicts a train traveling uphill on the Baiyin Mining Railway.
Touring the country: Kitching first traveled to China as part of an organized tour -- later, he coordinated freelance visits and traveled with friends or his son. This 2006 photograph depicts a train traveling uphill on the Baiyin Mining Railway.
Courtesy David Kitching/Amberley Books
<strong>Welcome reception:</strong> Kitching has fond memories of all his travels. "The train crews made us welcome," he says. This 2006 photograph shows the large slag banks at Baotou and the slag being tipped from the pots.
Welcome reception: Kitching has fond memories of all his travels. "The train crews made us welcome," he says. This 2006 photograph shows the large slag banks at Baotou and the slag being tipped from the pots.
Courtesy David Kitching/Amberley Books
<strong>Forging connections:</strong> One memorable moment was when Kitching shared lunch with a train crew at Yuanbaoshan, in the Mongolian Autonomous Region. Pictured here: A QJ Class locomotive hauling a train through the desert to and from Guyaozi.
Forging connections: One memorable moment was when Kitching shared lunch with a train crew at Yuanbaoshan, in the Mongolian Autonomous Region. Pictured here: A QJ Class locomotive hauling a train through the desert to and from Guyaozi.
Courtesy David Kitching/Amberley Books
<strong>Winter extremes: </strong>Kitching normally traveled in winter to get the best photographs -- the exhaust from steam trains is at its most striking in cold conditions. The exhaust looks spectacular in this 2006 photo of the Tiefa Coal Rialway, the last standard-gauge steam locomotive built in China.
Winter extremes: Kitching normally traveled in winter to get the best photographs -- the exhaust from steam trains is at its most striking in cold conditions. The exhaust looks spectacular in this 2006 photo of the Tiefa Coal Rialway, the last standard-gauge steam locomotive built in China.
Courtesy David Kitching/Amberley Books
<strong>Low temperatures: </strong>Battling these extreme temperatures was part of the experience: "Once the temperature gets down around -40 C [-40 F] you have to take it very seriously or you will get frostbite," says Kitching. Pictured here: Empty coal wagons in 2005 on the Huanan Coal Railway.
Low temperatures: Battling these extreme temperatures was part of the experience: "Once the temperature gets down around -40 C [-40 F] you have to take it very seriously or you will get frostbite," says Kitching. Pictured here: Empty coal wagons in 2005 on the Huanan Coal Railway.
Courtesy David Kitching/Amberley Books
<strong>Below freezing:</strong> Kitching recalls the tip of his nose becoming frozen to his camera on several occasions. He captured this wintertime shot of the Jalainur opencast mine in 2008.
Below freezing: Kitching recalls the tip of his nose becoming frozen to his camera on several occasions. He captured this wintertime shot of the Jalainur opencast mine in 2008.
Courtesy David Kitching/Amberley Books
<strong>Last steam locomotives: </strong>Chinese steam trains are becoming a thing of the past -- only a handful of the photographs in Kitching's book were taken in recent years -- including this one from January 2017 of the Shibanxi line.
Last steam locomotives: Chinese steam trains are becoming a thing of the past -- only a handful of the photographs in Kitching's book were taken in recent years -- including this one from January 2017 of the Shibanxi line.
Courtesy David Kitching/Amberley Books
<strong>Tourist trains:</strong> There are fewer and fewer steam locomotives operating in China -- those that still exist are usually on tourist lines. This 2017 picture was taken on the curve above Jaioba.
Tourist trains: There are fewer and fewer steam locomotives operating in China -- those that still exist are usually on tourist lines. This 2017 picture was taken on the curve above Jaioba.
Courtesy David Kitching/Amberley Books
<strong>Modernizing trains:</strong> China's railway scene has modernized -- but Kitching remains intrigued. "The new high-speed lines are an amazing development in China -- with much of the routes being elevated on concrete viaducts," he says. Times have changed since this photograph of the railway at Yijing (First) Mine, in 2006.
Modernizing trains: China's railway scene has modernized -- but Kitching remains intrigued. "The new high-speed lines are an amazing development in China -- with much of the routes being elevated on concrete viaducts," he says. Times have changed since this photograph of the railway at Yijing (First) Mine, in 2006.
Courtesy David Kitching/Amberley Books
<strong>Changing face of China:</strong> "Although steam has all but finished, there are plenty of opportunities for interesting railway photographs, showing the modern scene against the magnificent Chinese scenery and the changing face of the country," says Kitching. Pictured here: A long viaduct on the Chinese National Railway line in 2009.
Changing face of China: "Although steam has all but finished, there are plenty of opportunities for interesting railway photographs, showing the modern scene against the magnificent Chinese scenery and the changing face of the country," says Kitching. Pictured here: A long viaduct on the Chinese National Railway line in 2009.
Courtesy David Kitching/Amberley Books
<strong>New opportunities:</strong> Kitching would love to photograph China's modern trains in the future. Pictured here: A passenger train departs Qiaonan Junction for Wangqian in 2005, on the southernmost branch of the system.
New opportunities: Kitching would love to photograph China's modern trains in the future. Pictured here: A passenger train departs Qiaonan Junction for Wangqian in 2005, on the southernmost branch of the system.
Courtesy David Kitching/Amberley Books
<strong>New trains: </strong>Kitching has plans to return to China to document the new stage in Chinese railways:<strong> </strong>"I am already planning another trip to photograph trains in both China and also on the vast plains of the Mongolian Republic." Pictured here: The sun setting on steam operations at Xizhan -- both metaphorically and literally -- in 2006.
New trains: Kitching has plans to return to China to document the new stage in Chinese railways: "I am already planning another trip to photograph trains in both China and also on the vast plains of the Mongolian Republic." Pictured here: The sun setting on steam operations at Xizhan -- both metaphorically and literally -- in 2006.
Courtesy David Kitching/Amberley Books