Steam Lives

In Travel Tips Sept. 8 on the New Zealand steam passenger setups, steam locomotives are also being built on the basis of over one a day at the factory in Datong, China, in the heart of coal country in northern China. This is 50 miles south of Erlin, the border city between Mongolia and China where the trucks are changed on the rail cars to conform with either the narrow or wide gauge when trains leave or enter China. All rail transportation in northern China is by steam.

A visit to the locomotive factory is a must, and one which the Chinese are proud to show that they are still using the machinery they bought from the United States in 1940.

Also, in South Africa, which has some of the largest coal reserves in the world, you will still find steam locomotives, especially out of East London going to the interior.

HARRY WOLFF JR.

Century City