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SHANGHAI – SUNDAY 22 JUNE 2003

 

Greg Howell, 23/6/03

 

This is my first business trip to Shanghai since Easter due to the SARS outbreak but, with the potential risks of SARS and the lack of good photography at this time of the year, I chose to stay in Shanghai city for the weekend.  With weak sun followed by overcast weather, I was able to enjoy 35degC and no steam exhaust!!

 

SARS

 

Shanghai has always been reported to be relatively SARS-free - whether this was due to government manipulation or good fortune is hard to determine.  However, there are few visible signs of the problem :

 

SHANGHAI No. 5 STEELWORKS

 

Located in Puxi, 30km north of Pudong centre at the junction of TongJi Road and ShuiChan Road (tel : 5667 9080).  My office tried to get me permission to visit the steelworks but we were refused entry and so I visited on spec on Sunday when there was likely to be no management working.  My Chinese colleague was refused permission at the first security gate that we approached because he mentioned photography.  On ShuiChan Road, no mention was made about photography at the gate nearest to TongJi Road.  We were allowed unrestricted access but asked to be careful!!  We kept a low profile and I only took cameras out of my rucksack when taking pictures.  We did not encounter any problems.

 

Present on the shed :

In steam – SY 1744 (built 1993)

Not in use but appeared complete – SY 1666, 1742, 1755

 

SY 0880 was in use shunting the furnace building

SY 1576 appeared at the shed with empty wagons.

 

As previously reported, there were also 2 single cab narrow gauge diesels at the furnace building :

DM 822 shunting small crucibles into an adjacent yard

DM 820 shunting bar from the adjacent building

SY0880, 1576, 1666, 1742, 1744, 1755
ng dieselDM 820, DM 822

 

SHANGHAI COKING & CHEMICAL CORPORATION

 

This operation was reported in CRJ but extensive searching failed to reveal anything about the company – not listed in the telephone directory, Yellow Pages or known to the staff at No. 5 Steelworks.  Driving around the area failed to reveal a working coking plant, although this may be a winter-only operation.

 

Can anyone shed any light on the location of this plant and/or any contact details?

 

CNR

 

A “new” timetable has been published in May 2003 although it claims to be only a reprint.  It has been reformatted but I could not see any obvious timetabling changes.  Certainly the trains that I have previously used were unchanged eg. Beijing to Chifeng.

 

MAGLEV

 

It is my understanding that before SARS there was a daily train running for tourists.  My office tried to get me a ticket for the Maglev but was told that it had been suspended because of SARS but that tourist tickets will be available from 5 July 2003.  I will confirm this when I visit next month.

 

 

Greg Howell

24/6/03