Updated: May 2007
Daban depot is Jitong line's largest depot. MAP . Most of the time you can find some 4 to 6 locomotives being washed out or repaired, plus some 5 to 10 locomotives being serviced or waiting for their next train.
From Daban station, follow the rails one kilometer to the west. You enter the depot at a level crossing.
Visiting is easy. There are standard conditions, a fee of 200 RMB. The responsible person is Mr. He Li Wen , who sits in the third floor, northeast side, of the (in 2004 new) administration building. He is working for the party, as worker union foreman, but is educated railwayman. He speaks Chinese and English. He takes pictures of locomotives himself. You ask the entrance guard for him, pay the entrance fee at his office and off you go. You will be free to move around all over the depot area and take photos during daylight. In darkness (evening or early morning hours) they want you to stay at the walkways (safety reasons). At the repair shop people wear helmets. You should either ask for a helmet when going in there, or keep well out of reach of any dangerous items. Be aware that most locomotives have warm boilers while being repaired!
If he is not available, you may ask for Mr. XuBin, beeper number 16616. He is computer programmer and speaks English. He will arrange your visit then.
In the park of the depot, besides the deer, there is a fir tree sponsored by a foreign railwayfriend. You may consider doing the same: Plant your tree in Daban depot!
Warning: Railway people will try to sell you souvenirs at the depot. This is illegal. Visitors have been stopped by security and have had their souvenirs confiscated and have been fined. Most souvenirs are stolen railway property! If you want anything, buy it from Mr. He Li Wen.
I do not the current policy, but they will probably charge you 200 also. However, in Chabuga there are currently only a few Tolngliao and Dabamn based DF4 engines.
(The railway phone network is organized in a strange way: In order to get in touch with people in Xilinhot, for example, they have to phone Sanggendalai station and ask them to get in touch with Xilinhot people. This may explain the lack of contact between the depots.)
But please keep in mind: Make sure you are moving around safely. Until now, no visitor has had any injury there. First time this happens, visits will be much more difficult.
And this is the layout of Daban depot . It has no turntable, but a wye, and all the locomotive servicing work is done outside. The maintenance halls are only for boiler washouts and more serious repairs. An overview picture from the west is here.
