Chinanews.com, Chengdu, January 22, title: From the slow train to the Fuxing, three generations of railway personnel witnessed the new and old Chengdu-Kunming line
Author Wang Liwen Wang Peng
On New Year's Eve, accompanied by loud sirens, the trains loaded with goods slowly left Gongxing Station of the Xincheng-Kunming Railway.
The 51-year-old station master Yang Ping is on duty at this fourth-class station as usual.
Starting from his father, three generations of Yang Ping's family have been working on the Chengdu-Kunming Railway.
Over the years, this "railroad family" has been accustomed to "uneven" reunion nights.
From the slow train to the Fuxing, over the years, they have guarded the logistics channel in the southwest mountainous area and witnessed the development and changes of China's railways.
Yang Ping is on duty at the site.
Photo courtesy of interviewee Yang Ping
In the 1950s and 1960s, the complex international situation gave birth to the "three-line construction", and the Chengdu-Kunming Railway came into being.
Yang Ping's father, Yang Huajin, was a railway soldier who built bridges and tunnels on the Chengdu-Kunming Railway.
"In our era, the equipment was very simple and basically relied on manpower. It can be said that the Chengdu-Kunming Railway was dug out by our hands, but no one had ever complained about being tired or suffering. If you have 100% strength, you have to work hard. One hundred and twenty points of drive." Yang Huajin, 92 years old, is still in good spirits.
Three generations of railway workers took a group photo with Chengdu-Kunming Railway.
Photo courtesy of interviewee Yang Ping
Yang Ping grew up listening to the story of building the Chengdu-Kunming Railway. During his studies, he took the slow train with his father and completed the Chengdu-Kunming Railway. .
In his view, the railwaymen of his father's generation, relying on shovels and carts, built the Chengdu-Kunming Railway, which created 13 world's most railways, "a symbol of the national spirit of hard work."
Encouraged by Yang Huajin, Yang Ping started working as a switchman in 1988 and became a railway man.
He successively worked in Yangxuan, Puxing, Pengshan, Xiantan and other stations, guarding the Chengdu-Kunming Railway built by his father.
Under his witness, the slow trains continuously transport the steel produced in the Panxi area to all parts of the country.
On December 26, 2022, after more than 10 years of construction, the new Chengdu-Kunming Railway with a total length of 915 kilometers will be fully operational.
Fuxing sailed into Dashan, shortening the time from Chengdu to Kunming from 19 hours to 7.5 hours.
"160 kilometers per hour! So fast?" Knowing that the new Chengdu-Kunming Railway opened, Yang Huajin was deeply moved. He was amazed by the progress of China's railway technology. It will make a big difference, and today's railway people can contribute more than ever before."
Yang Ping, who works on the Xincheng-Kunming Railway, naturally understands the meaning of "greater contribution".
He told reporters that Gongxing Station undertakes the delivery tasks of China-Laos trains, China-Europe trains, and Western Land-Sea New Corridor trains. "The new Chengdu-Kunming Railway will further enhance the comprehensive competitiveness of railway transportation in international trade."
Yang Yang is checking before departure.
Photo by Wang Lei
Yang Ping's son, Yang Yang, is the guardian of the Xincheng-Kunming Railway.
He grew up listening to railway stories since he was a child. After graduating in 2019, he became a co-driver in the No. 1 flaw detection workshop of the Chengdu Public Works Large Locomotive Section of China Railway Chengdu Bureau Group Corporation. He is known as the "Rail Doctor".
In the middle of the night a few days ago, the flaw detection vehicle driven by Yang Yang's team completed the "pulse consultation" in the mountains, escorting the first Spring Festival travel of the Xincheng-Kunming Railway.
Six detection wheels detect the status of the rails through ultrasonic waves, and the high-speed inspection camera records the conditions of rail fasteners and sleepers with thousands of pictures. After screening and comparing with big data, the staff will judge and analyze, and finally form a detection report .
Yang Yang is working in the workshop.
"The railway soldiers of my grandfather used blood and sweat to create the miracle of the Chengdu-Kunming Railway. Now I use high-tech methods to 'diagnose and treat' the rails to ensure the safe operation of each train. I can also contribute my part." Yang Yang said.
Three generations of railway personnel have witnessed the new and old "Chengdu-Kunming Line" in different ways, but they have no chance to take the Fuxing, which is "close in sight".
This year's Spring Festival, they have a common New Year's wish: find time to "check in" the Xincheng-Kunming Railway together.
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