£24.99
John Birkinshaw (Signed Copy)
Publication Date: 2019
Format & Edition: Hardback, First Edition
Pagination: 176 Pages, 238 Illustrations
Condition: New
Genre: Overseas Railways
Status: In Stock
The Reign of the Mikado: China After Jingpeng Pass by John Birkinshaw.
When in 2006 the last double headed QJs drifted into Jingpeng it was the end of an era. Basically, the end of steam anywhere in the world for commercial passenger and freight operations on standard gauge in stunning scenery.
However there were still several hundred Mikados scattered across central and northern China working in dozens of industrial systems. This book covers a selection of these industrial railways. The locations are all north of Beijing and range from the true grit of Jixi or Fuxin in the east to scenes in freshly fallen snow in Jalainur (about as far north as you could find steam at the time) as well as some 2000 km west to the arid winter countryside in the Xinjiang Region. Each industrial railway featured by John Birkinshaw includes an introduction covering its history, geographical layout and the chronological fall from grace of steam.
The book includes over 200 colour photographs.