Restoration Project Launches; Railfans Rejoice; After Restoration Complete—One-of-a-Kind Locomotive Receives "Makeover" to Enter Railway Museum
ND4-15 Locomotive, 2005–2013. Photographed by Wang Wei
Yesterday, ND4 No. 15 was towed into the maintenance workshop, and the restoration project officially commenced.
January 25, 2013, the locomotive officially entered the collection of the China Railway Museum. ND4 Locomotive: The prototype was the French CC 72000 diesel locomotive.
April 12, 2012, 15:01 Source: Legal Evening News
ND4-15 Locomotive, 2005–2013. Photographed by Wang Wei
Yesterday, inside the Beijing Railway Bureau's Fengtai Locomotive Depot, a retired ND4 locomotive (commonly known as a train engine) that had been out of service for 10 years began undergoing restoration.
Numbered 15, this locomotive is currently the last complete ND4 locomotive remaining in China. Once refurbished, it will be added to the collection of the China Railway Museum.
Current Status: Retired for 10 Years, The Last Remaining ND4 in China
In a corner of the Fengtai Locomotive Depot "squatted" a dilapidated ND4 locomotive.
Numbered 15 and retired for 10 years, its yellow-and-blue exterior was covered in rust, with peeling paint and broken windows... Although it looked completely lusterless, its majestic presence remained. Railfans frequently made special trips there to take photos and commemorate it.
According to reports, in 1973, China imported 50 ND4 locomotives from France's Alsthom company, all allocated to the Fengtai Locomotive Depot and put into freight operations. This batch of ND4 locomotives can be called a milestone in the transition of China's railway freight locomotives from steam to diesel.
The ND4's strong tractive effort and stable quality made a positive contribution to China's railway transportation. However, with the development of the times, ND4 locomotives successively withdrew from the historical stage.
In April 2004, two of the last three units (Nos. 05 and 46) were scrapped, leaving only this No. 15.
January 25, 2013, the locomotive officially entered the collection of the China Railway Museum.
Restoration: To Be Collected by the Museum Upon Completion
On March 20, our newspaper reported that this "sole surviving" ND4 locomotive weighed heavily on the minds of many railfans, who constantly wanted to find a home for it to prevent it from turning into a pile of scrap metal.
Recently, after understanding the relevant situation, Wang Xinqiao, curator of the China Railway Museum, stated that the best destination for this ND4 was to be sent to the China Railway Museum as an exhibit, though whether and how it would enter the museum was hard to say at the time.
Yesterday, the suspense in the hearts of the railfans was finally settled. At 9:00 AM, amidst the heavy sound of metal friction, this locomotive that had slumbered for 10 years finally left its sun-drenched and rain-beaten corner, and towed by other locomotives, was sent to the maintenance workshop, where its restoration project officially began. Many railway workers at the scene took out their cameras to record this historic moment.
Kang Bin, director of the artifact department at the China Railway Museum, said that once restoration is complete, this ND4 will be collected by the China Railway Museum. The focus of this restoration will be the exterior and the cab, though an estimated completion date cannot yet be given because many parts, such as the instrument panel and original factory nameplate, are missing. They are currently collecting these parts, though it is estimated to be quite difficult.
Call for Contributions
If you have ND4 locomotive parts in your home or have relevant leads, you can call our newspaper's news hotline: 58635863
Text / Reporter Cui Yifei, News Observer Lao Meng
Photography / Reporter Cui Yifei
