The line operates on the principle of one loco in steam. The service is interrupted fairlly frequently as a result of mechanical failures to the locos, too wet to quarry the clay, loading equipment failure or just too few bricks being made.

The line serves three sidings with one or more brickworks alongside each siding that are served as required.

The loco takes the empties to the quarry tender first and reverses the train back into the loading siding.

Wagons are loaded one-by-one and two staff use chocks to stop and then allow the wagons to roll forward to be loaded.

When all the wagons have been loaded, the loco runs round and hauls the train chimney first back to the sidings.

The line is initially uphill to a summit in a deep cutting, then downhill to an impressive multi-arched brick-built viaduct across a lake and uphill again to a final summit before the first siding.

The hoppers are side tipping and there are chains to release before they can be tipped.

The train is loose coupled and one or more staff sit on the loaded wagons to apply the wagon brakes on the downhill stretches.

Ask right and you can ride the train - at your own risk!

At the time of writing, the railway and the C2s are still operational.

See the pictures from my visit to the Xingyang Brickworks Railway.