QJ 前进
QJ-6200 on display at the China Railways exposition in Sakuragicho, Yokohama, Japan, August 1982
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Prototypes Dalian: HP 0001–0005 Tangshan: HP 1001-1008 Shenyang: HP 1501–1506 Mudanjiang: HP 2001–2003 Changchun: HP 3001–3002 Datong: HP 3501–3508 Main production Datong: QJ 101–3602 and QJ 6001–7207 Model HP (1956–1966) FD (1966–1971) QJ Build date 1956–1961, 1964–1988 Total produced 4,717
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-10-2  • UIC 1′E1′ Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 920 mm (36.22 in) Driver dia. 1,500 mm (59.06 in) Trailing dia. 1,120 mm (44.09 in) Tender wheels 1,000 mm (39.37 in) Minimum curve 145 m (5,700 in; 476 ft) Wheelbase 6,400 mm (250 in; 21.0 ft) Length 16,250 mm (640 in; 53.31 ft) (prototypes) 16,140 mm (635 in; 52.95 ft) (main production) Width 3,332 mm (131.2 in; 10.932 ft) (prototypes) 3,375 mm (132.9 in; 11.073 ft) (main production) Height 4,790 mm (189 in; 15.72 ft) Loco weight 133.0 t (130.9 long tons; 146.6 short tons) (prototypes) 133.8 t (131.7 long tons; 147.5 short tons) (main production) 135.1 t (133.0 long tons; 148.9 short tons) (late production) Tender weight 4-axle: 82 t (81 long tons; 90 short tons) (prototypes) 83.5–84 t (82.2–82.7 long tons; 92.0–92.6 short tons) (main production) 6-axle: 118.5 t (116.6 long tons; 130.6 short tons) (prototypes) 114.5–119.7 t (112.7–117.8 long tons; 126.2–131.9 short tons) (main production) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 4-axle: 15 t (15 long tons; 17 short tons) (prototypes) 14.5 t (14.3 long tons; 16.0 short tons) (main production) 6-axle: 20 t (20 long tons; 22 short tons) (prototypes) 21.5 t (21.2 long tons; 23.7 short tons) (main production) Water cap. 4-axle: 35 L (7.7 imp gal; 9.2 US gal) (prototypes) 40 L (8.8 imp gal; 11 US gal) (main production) 6-axle: 46 L (10 imp gal; 12 US gal) (prototypes) 50 L (11 imp gal; 13 US gal) (main production) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 6.80 m2 (73.2 sq ft) Boiler: ​  • Diameter 2,010 mm (79 in; 6.59 ft) (prototypes) 2,100 mm (83 in; 6.9 ft) (main production) Boiler pressure 1,471 kPa (213.4 psi) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 650 mm × 800 mm (25.59 in × 31.50 in) bore × stroke
Performance figures Maximum speed 80 km/h (50 mph) Power output 2,222 kW (2,980 hp) (official), 2,670 kW (3,580 hp) (measured at 66 km/h or 41 mph) Tractive effort 33,290 kgf (73,400 lbf; 326.5 kN) 28,734 kgf (63,350 lbf; 281.78 kN) (85% pressure)
Career Operators China Railway Iowa Interstate Railroad Number in class 4,717 Numbers 0001–8001 Delivered 1956 First run 1956 Last run 2010 Retired 1988–2010 Preserved Twenty-five Disposition Twenty-five preserved (twenty-one in China, three in USA, one in Germany), remainder scrapped
References:[1][2][3][4][5]

The China Railways QJ (Chinese: 前进; pinyin: Qián Jìn; lit. 'To go forward" or "to advance') was a class of 2-10-2 type steam locomotives. They were introduced in 1956 by the Dalian Locomotive Works and hauled heavy freight trains across the China Railway. The majority were built by Datong Locomotive Factory. The prototypes and early production of the class were designated HP (Chinese: 和平; pinyin: Hé Píng; lit. 'peace'), being redesignated as FD (Chinese: 反帝; pinyin: Fǎn Dì; lit. 'Anti-Imperialism') class during the Cultural Revolution, before becoming the QJ class in 1971.

The class became the primary mainline freight locomotive on the Chinese rail network by the 1980s. Manufactured until 1988, they were displaced by diesel locomotives in 2005. A total of 4,717 were produced. After the end of steam on the national Chinese railway network many QJ locomotives were used on industrial lines, as well as on the Jitong railway. Several members of the class have been preserved.

As early as 1954, the Dalian Locomotive Works began studying 2-10-2 locomotive designs to assist China Railways' increasing freight traffic.^[4][6] At the time, the People's Republic of China was allied with the Soviet Union, and as part of the latter's economic aid for the former, Dalian's engineering process was assisted by Soviet experts with Soviet technology. Dalian's new 2-10-2 design was consequently based upon the Soviet class OR21, a heavier variant of the class OR18.^[6][1][7]

The first prototype 2-10-2, HP-0001, was completed by Dalian on 18 September 1956, and it was designated an HP (Chinese: 和平; pinyin: Hé Píng; lit. 'peace').^[8] In accordance with the design, the HP prototype was identical to the OR21s, as it came with all-boxpok driving wheels (diameter of 1,500 millimetres (59 in), flangeless center driving wheels, an all-welded boiler (diameter of 2,010 millimetres (79 in), and an operating boiler pressure of 1,471 kilopascals (213.4 psi), and it could generate a tractive force of 33,290 kilograms-force (73,400 lbf).^[9][1][7] One difference from the OR designs was that the HP also included a delta trailing truck akin to those on the Soviet class FD.^[6]

From 1956 to 1961, 41 additional prototype HPs were also built: four more (HP-0002–HP-0005) by Dalian; eight (HP-1001–HP-1008) by the Tangshan Locomotive and Rolling Stock Works; six (HP-1501–HP-1506) by the Shenyang Locomotive Factory; three (HP-2001–HP-2003) by the Mudanjiang Locomotive Factory; two (HP-3001–HP-3002) by the Changchun Locomotive Factory; and eighteen (HP-3501–HP-3518) by the Datong Locomotive Works.^[10] The latter prototypes were the very first steam locomotives to be built by Datong.^[11][12][13]

While the prototypes were being developed, China Railways acquired 1,000 secondhand class FDs from the Soviet Railways in 1958—with another 50 in 1961—as provisional solutions for their freight traffic, until production on the HPs were able to begin.^[8]

The main tranche of production took place at Datong, beginning in 1964 starting with locomotive HP-101.^[1] A number of modifications were made to the locomotive, including a new design of boiler for the production version.^[14] The 500th QJ was built in 1968, the 1,000th in 1970, the 2,000th in 1974 and the 3,000th in 1979,^[15] with production rates varying from 150 to over 300 per year between 1966 and 1985.^[1] Production ended in 1988 with 4,717 produced.^[7][16]

During the Cultural Revolution of 1966, the locomotives were given the class FD (反帝 Fandi meaning 'anti-imperialism'), after 1971 the class was renamed again becoming the QJ class (Qian Jin, meaning 'march forward' or 'progress').^[7][17]

The prototypes used eight wheel tenders, while later production models used twelve wheel tenders.^[7] QJs were equipped with mechanical stokers, feedwater heaters, electric lights, and air horns. Various modifications were used on some engines, including an ejector similar to the giesl type and smoke deflectors. One unit was used as a test bed for a 'Gas Producer Combustion System' (GPCS)^{[n 1]} in the 1980s.^[7]

The class became the primary freight locomotive on both the primary and secondary lines of the Chinese railway network by the 1980s, having displaced both JF and FD classes. From the late 1980s and through the 1990s the class were retired and replaced by diesel locomotives.^[4] Steam traction officially ended on the Chinese national rail network in 2002, but a few units remained in use up to 2003 on minor lines.^[7]

The locomotives were also used on large passenger trains, when their high tractive power was advantageous.^[19]

After withdrawal from the Chinese national network many units were acquired by industrial railways as well as the regional Jitong Railway in Inner Mongolia which operated ~100 units.^[7] On 8 December 2005 the Jitong Railway had also replaced the QJ locomotives with diesel engines.^[20] Some remained in use on industrial lines in China in 2010.^[7]

Two engines withdrawn from use in China, numbers 6988 and 7081 (both former Jitong Railway), were originally acquired by the Iowa Interstate Railroad in 2006 and later donated to Central States Steam Preservation Association.^{[21][22][23][24][25]} A third, number 7040 (re-numbered to 2008), was acquired by the Lexington, Kentucky-based RJ Corman in 2008, and operated until 2013, when it was placed on display in a specially built glass display building in Lexington.^[26] In 2020, Corman donated the engine to the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation.^[27] Both the IAIS QJs are out of service as of 2022 for mandated FRA 1472-day inspections with repairs for overhaul to restored.^[28][29][30]

Iowa Interstate 7081 retains its original Chinese appearance with the exception of the Jitong lettering and logo being replaced with the Iowa Interstate's, and the mandatory changes required by U.S. law such as hand rails and a bell. IAIS 6988 was "Americanized" in time for operation at Train Festival 2011 in Rock Island, Illinois.^[24] The diesel-style bell originally installed when it arrived in Iowa was replaced with a steam engine type bell, the Chinese headlights were replaced with an American style light with a cast number plate under it, and an American steam whistle was installed. The steel sheet on the front was removed and all red paint was painted over in black, with white trim on the running boards, wheel rims, etc. The RJ Corman locomotive has been heavily modified. Most notably the smoke deflectors have been removed along with new paint and skirts along the running boards.

Several of the class are on static display around China:

• QJ-0001 and QJ-0004, QJ-101 are displayed at the China Railway Museum.
• QJ-1316 is on display at the China Industrial Museum.
• QJ-1450 is on display at the Tangshan Locomotive Depot, Beijing Railway Bureau.
• QJ-1997 and QJ-8001 are displayed at the Datong Railway Museum.
• QJ-2655 is on display at the Technik Museum Speyer in Germany.
• QJ-6020 is on display at the Jining Locomotive Depot, Hohhot Railway Bureau.
• QJ-6368 and QJ-6540 are displayed at the Shenyang Railway Museum.
• QJ-6911 is on display at the Daban Locomotive Depot, Jitong Railway.

• 
  QJ-0001 on display at the China Railway Museum
• 
  QJ-0004 on display at the China Railway Museum
• 
  QJ-1316 on display at the China Industrial Museum
• 
  QJ-1997 on display at the Datong Railway Museum
• 
  QJ-2655 on display at the Technik Museum Speyer
• 
  QJ-6540 (1043) on display at the Tangshan Locomotive Depot
• 
  QJ-6988 and QJ-7081 leading a tripleheader excursion train in the United States
• 
  QJ-8001 on display at the Datong Railway Museum

• Gibbons, Robin (2017). Locomotives of China - The QJ Class. Tynedale Publishing. ISBN 978-0993419225.

• 前进型蒸汽机车 ['Forward' type steam locomotive]. www.zztl.com (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2012-01-17. Retrieved 2011-02-10.