Chongqing - Jiang Tong, a locomotive driver at the Chongqing Depot of China Railway Chengdu Group, drove a China-Europe freight train out of Tuanjiecun Central Station on September 20. After this day, he will conclude his 32-year career.

"My official retirement date is October 1st, I feel a deep sense of reluctance. From the early days of freight locomotives to the China-Europe freight trains, I have gone through a lot," Jiang said.

On March 19, 2011, the then 42-year-old Jiang became the first driver of the Yuxinou (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe) railway after a rigorous selection process. The first China-Europe freight train in the country departed from Chongqing Tuanjiecun Station and headed 242 kilometers to Dazhou, Sichuan.

"Unlike typical freight trains that carry coal, steel, and ores, the China-Europe freight train mainly carries IT products, automotive parts, and other goods, and demands higher standards for drivers. Although we drive freight trains, we must ensure the smoothness of a passenger train, minimizing bumps to ensure the safe and punctual delivery of cargo," Jiang added.

At Dazhou, the next crew takes over the driving, passing through Dazhou, Xi'an, Lanzhou, and Urumqi, and exiting the country at Alashankou Port to reach its final destination in Duisburg, Germany, covering a distance of over 10,000 kilometers.

Each year, Jiang drives over 70,000 kilometers amid the sound of 300,000 train whistles. And along the unchanging 242-kilometer railway line, he witnesses the dramatic changes that have taken place with the China-Europe freight train.

The locomotive models have gotten bigger, the loads heavier, and the number of drivers in his team has grown from more than 20 to now 70-80. In the past, there was only the Xiangyang-Chongqing route, but now there are also the Lanzhou-Chongqing route and others. In the beginning, there were no more than 1 to 2 trains per week, but now, trains run almost daily, Jiang noted.

"From the first China-Europe freight train on March 19, 2011, until now, I have been both a participant and a witness. I wish for the China-Europe freight train to grow stronger and stronger in the future," he said.

The video source: cqnews.net