China steam finale - electric interlude at Pingzhuang and Yangbaoshan, September 2011

The first part of this video shows miners, the colliery yard and narrow gauge overhead electric trains at a mine at Yuanbaoshan in NE China in 2011. The second part of the video shows the large open cast mine at Pingzhuang which opened in 1958 and which is served mainly by East German LEW standard gauge electric locomotives, and a very brief look at a steam train serving the deep mines. The electric locomotives (1500 V DC BoBo-engines) are seen on the tracks behind the industrial complex tipping out loaded wagons and working to and from the open cast mine. The open cast mine is a fascinating system (but long past its glory days) with unusual electric veterans. The electric locomotives were built by VEB Lokomotivbau -- Elektrotechnische Werke 'Hans Beimler' of Hennigsdorf near Berlin (the site formerly occupied by AEG and Borsig plants, now a part of Bombardier), commonly known as LEW. This factory supplied a number of locomotives for the mining industry. LEW built three basic types of locomotives for open-pit mines: six-axle EL1 and four-axle EL2 for standard gauge and four-axle EL3 for the 900 mm gauge. All were based on pre-war AEG design (from late 1920s, further developed during WWII) and had many common features. Heavy, 150-tonne EL1s were built for export to the Soviet Union and China only, but two remaining types have found more widespread use. The first EL2s appeared in 1952 and subsequently this type was built in large numbers, enjoying a very long production run: last examples left the assembly lines in 1988. First deliveries were to open-pit mines in East Germany. Later EL2s were exported to the Soviet Union, China (186, between 1957 and 1984), Bulgaria and Poland. Despite comparatively young age, the EL2 class has already earned itself a heritage locomotive status: in December 2007, withdrawn 4-1124 (LEW 13605/1980) was plinthed at the Bombardier -- Werk Henningsdorf premises. The EL2 is a robust and straightforward machine with the Bo'Bo' axle arrangement, designed to haul heavy loads at a moderate speed. These somewhat archaic-looking, but efficient locomotives, are a reminder of the early years of electrification. A later video will show steam trains at Pingzhuang. Some sound has been dubbed because of a microphone fault. Please pass on this link to other interested groups. Thanks.