China's Railways: Today's Image
Up until the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 the Country's railways had a chequered history: before 1935 there were some 12,500 miles of track but by the time of liberation less than half of this was in working order - it had been destroyed by years of internal struggle and disorder. The new Government made the restoration of the railways one of its top priorities initiating a large scale programme of construction; now the mileage is close to 25,000 and still growing. Prior to 1949, seven of China's huge provinces had no railways; today (1986) only Tibet has no tracks or trains. In the 1960s signalling was sparse and crude; today, China's railways have some of the most modern and sophisticated in the world. Before 1949, the railways imported practically all their locomotives, rolling stock and equipment; now China makes its own. This is one of the great railway success stories of modern times and the following pages show this achievement as seen by today's travellers as well as taking a look at the railway's hardware en route. The foreigners have gone and the system today is a great tribute to the quality and energy of the railwaymen and women who run it.
Softback, 36 pages, colour photographs
Condition: Very Good
ISBN: 9780951057506
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Updated: 2 April 2024