Kurogane No Michi

Steam Locomotives Used in Metropolitan Shanghai

China continues to experience rapid economic growth. Among its many cities, Shanghai stands out for its dramatic transformation in urban landscape and transportation infrastructure over the years. As of 2025, the city center is filled with towering skyscrapers, the subway network continues to expand, and expressways now stretch beyond the Outer Ring Road into the suburbs, where large-scale redevelopment projects are ongoing. However, just a few decades ago, the scenery was completely different. In the 1980s, JF class steam locomotives still ran within the city, and KD6 class locomotives handled shunting work at the Nanxiang Yard. Although mainline steam locomotives had disappeared from the suburbs earlier, dedicated industrial lines remained within the city, such as the one at the "Shanghai Coking Plant" (then known as Shanghai Coking Works, now Shanghai Coking Co., Ltd.), used for transporting goods like coke and gas. Access to the interior of these factories was extremely difficult, requiring special connections to gain entry. However, the section of the industrial line connecting to the main railway outside the factory was accessible from public roads, allowing photography without special permission. Here, we present a rare glimpse of a JS class construction-type steam locomotive operating at the Shanghai Coking Plant, photographed in 1999. By the time of a revisit in 2007, however, the steam locomotive had already been replaced by a DF4 class diesel locomotive, and no steam locomotives were seen. By 2025, such industrial railway lines themselves have been successively abolished in Shanghai, and scenes of freight car shunting within the city have become almost nonexistent.

1999 JS Class at Shanghai Coking Plant

JS class at Shanghai Coking Plant 1 JS class at Shanghai Coking Plant 2
JS class at Shanghai Coking Plant 3 JS class at Shanghai Coking Plant 4
JS class at Shanghai Coking Plant 5 JS class at Shanghai Coking Plant 6
JS class at Shanghai Coking Plant 7 JS class at Shanghai Coking Plant 8
JS class at Shanghai Coking Plant 9 JS class at Shanghai Coking Plant 10

The JS class steam locomotive No. 8341 used at the Shanghai Coking Plant was built in 1988 by the Datong Locomotive Works. Although it carried the China Railway (national railway) emblem on its body, it was likely a second-hand locomotive transferred from the national railway. This locomotive was engaged in shunting work between the factory premises and the nearby freight station. During non-operational hours, it was usually parked near a water supply facility located beside the road. (Photographed in October 1999)

2007 DF4 Class at Shanghai Coking Plant

DF4 class at Shanghai Coking Plant 1 DF4 class at Shanghai Coking Plant 2
DF4 class at Shanghai Coking Plant 3 DF4 class at Shanghai Coking Plant 4
DF4 class at Shanghai Coking Plant 5 DF4 class at Shanghai Coking Plant 6
DF4 class at Shanghai Coking Plant 7 DF4 class at Shanghai Coking Plant 8

By 2007, the steam locomotives were already gone, replaced by DF4 class diesel locomotive No. 0495. This locomotive was built in 1980 at the Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Works, ironically making it older than the JS class that had operated during the steam era. Its operational role remained unchanged, making frequent round trips between the factory and the freight station. Regarding level crossing equipment, the simple barrier rods used during the steam era had been replaced with more robust fences and gates. However, despite these enhanced safety measures, pedestrians and cyclists still attempted to cross the tracks forcibly, just as they did during the steam locomotive era. (Photographed in June 2007)

▲ Back to top