Customer Reviews

China: The World's Last Steam Railway

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4 star:		(2)
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What a spectacular book! I ordered this sight-unseen while buying the new Jim Shaughnessy work, and what a surprise! This is simply one of the most beautifully-photographed railway books in my collection. This all-encompassing look at the final years of steam in China was really an eye-opener: I had a chance to go see "the show" back around 2000 but didn't, and after seeing this volume, I've been either kicking myself (for obvious reasons) or truly glad I didn't, as there's no way my world would come close to holding a candle next to the three British photographers who created this essay.

I'm a member of an internet group which spends far too much time sniping and arguing and debating about "art" vs. "rail photography." This volume raises the bar so high as to what is possible, so it's a shame this book has been rarely discussed among the general population of American railroad photographers. These photographs aren't just "art"--they're journalism, a stunning record of a time and place in the world on the verge of destruction. The photographer's weren't so obsessed with the subject--steam locomotives--that they neglected how these wonderful machines fit into the Chinese landscape and local culture.

Very little, to me, seems to have escaped their cameras (I would've loved to have seen a bit more photography of the men who work on the machines, preferably on the job), and it is a wonderful bargain at under $24. The printing and reproduction are first rate.

I appreciated the end-paper maps locating where some of these photographs were made, but the addition of rail lines to the maps of place names would've helped me make more sense of how the steam lines fit into the national system.

I'm still awaiting the Shaughnessy book, the reason the China steam book was ordered in the first place (Amazon is sending them separately), but so far, I haven't missed it a bit!

This has to be one of the best railroad photography books of all time. It ranks right up there with "The Great Steam Trek" of about 20 years ago which contained many great photos of South African steam in its final days, and the O. Winston Link books, which did the same for steam on the Norfolk & Western.
The photos contained in this volume, which were primarily taken in the winter months, show Chinese steam locomotives as part of their environment. All types of operations are covered, from doubleheaded QJ's on mainline freights, to the 2-foot gauge 0-8-0's on the logging and mining lines.
The main thought that was going through my mind as I paged through this book for the first time was that it was too bad that the color films and fast lenses that we know today did not exist back in the 40's and 50's so that this treatment could have been given to the last years of steam in the U.S.
In summary, this book is a 'must have' for anyone interested in steam locomotives and in railroad photography in general.

You do not have to be a railroad enthusiasts to enjoy this book. China manufactured and operated steam locomotives into the 21st century. This book is a spectacular photographic record of China steam railroading. If you enjoy incredible photography, this is a must have book.

This book is a great picture book for steam enthusiast, or anyone interested in seeing what rural China is like, for that matter. The authors make this an interesting book by explaining their travels in order to get the last pictures of steam in operation in China. Sadly, as the authors note, by the time they started shooting pictures, mainline steam had ended in China and this book focuses on the remaining out of the way operations that still used steam. The pictures are beautiful (pages 79 and 80 are my personal favorites) though there is little technical data on the engines themselves. The authors have done a good job of provinding locations for the pictures, and I actually enjoyed the stories of their travels. Thankfully, the authors were able to gather the pictures they could before steam came to an end in yet another "emerging" economy.

A superbly reproduced and comprehensive collection of photos from the last stronghold of steam. Low winter sunlight certainly does show the detail that is lost in toplight, and the smog does give some wonderful sunsets. Composition, balance, and the great B&W shots make this an indespensible volume for those wanting to learn what makes a great railroad photo. The three authors have also done a great job of portraying the human and industrial aspects of the country.
Interesting text as well, esp the tech details re freezing cameras etc and the lengths and hardships the authors went to in this very foreign (to us westerners) country. We should be glad!