CHINA'S RAILWAYS - THE LAST
BASTION OF STEAM

The Last Steam Express
A journey of discovery from the world's last steam locomotive factory, to the seething crowds of the capital Beijing's main station and the Great Wall
Of China. We then take China's last steam-hauled express across the wilds of Inner Mongolia to
the edge of the Gobi Desert, stopping en route
to visit isolated communities and even a large town
- all totally dependent on the railway for transport.

The Locomotives
We join the crew in the cab of a 'Progress' class locomotive hauling heavy freight through the mountains, visit a steel factory where fascinating
older types of engine are still in use, and ride
the miners' train at Tangshan, scene of the
great earthquake of 1976.New 'East Is Red'
diesels are seen taking over from sidelined