Chapter 64: Master Zheng the Coal Shoveler

Inside the locomotive cab.
Feeling the impact, the experienced Liu Qingquan did not need to step outside to know that the train cars had been coupled accurately.
He gave Li Aiguo a thumbs-up. "Not bad! I see why old Cao thinks so highly of you. You really know your stuff."
"It's all thanks to Master Liu's careful observation," Li Aiguo replied with a chuckle.
He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and offered them around.
Striking a match, he lit one and contentedly blew out a cloud of white smoke.
Before he had taken even two puffs, the train window was tapped.
Turning his head to look down, he saw the dispatcher from earlier giving him a thumbs-up.
"Good job, done in one go, saved me a lot of trouble. The cars are connected, and you're ready to go. Have a safe journey!"
Li Aiguo waved back in acknowledgment, settled into his seat, sounded the whistle, released the brakes, pushed the controller forward, eased the small brake, and pulled the throttle.
Chug... chug... chug...
Haunting twenty carriages, the steam locomotive charged down the dark iron rails like a fierce beast at a speed of forty miles per hour.
The destination was the Capital Railway Station, and the mission was to load passengers.
At this time, the Capital Railway Station was not the Capital Station of later generations, but rather the Qianmen Station, located outside the western wall of the outer altar of the Temple of Heaven.
Qianmen Station had a history spanning a century.
Before liberation, its name was Beiping East Station.
After liberation, Beiping East Station was renamed Capital Station.
Capital Station was the largest railway station in the country.
At the same time, it undertook originating and terminating services for multiple railway lines, including those running to Tianjin, Shanhaiguan, Tongliao, Gubeikou, Suiyuan, and Hankou.
Every day, more than 30,000 passengers boarded and alighted here.
There were also several trains heading to the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, making it a bustling and prosperous railway station.
Li Aiguo had ridden trains before and had even hung out around the Capital Railway Station in the past.
In the wide plaza, European-style buildings stood tall.
The towering clock tower and the circular arched roofs clashed discordantly with the surrounding Chinese-style architecture.
The square in front of the station was a ceaseless stream of people, lively and bustling.
Looking at the railway station from the driver's cab offered a completely different perspective.
Within the limited field of vision, there were only black iron rails.
Under Li Aiguo's operation, the steam locomotive slowly came to a halt at the platform.
The train attendants opened the carriage doors, and passengers who had been waiting aside long ago swarmed into the carriages.

As a train driver, Li Aiguo could not relax just yet.
After checking the instrument panel once more to ensure all needles were within normal ranges, he allowed himself a brief moment of rest.
Through tens of minutes of working together, Li Aiguo had gradually integrated into the trio's small circle.
Taking advantage of the idle time, they smoked and chatted.
From the brief conversation, Li Aiguo learned that the fireman, Master Zheng, whose given name was Zheng Jing, had five children and lived in Niuma Alley, not far from the quadrangle courtyard.
Upon learning that Li Aiguo also lived in a quadrangle courtyard, Zheng Jing became even more enthusiastic.
"Aiguo, becoming a train driver right after graduation means your future is boundless, kid."
"Oh, the train runs fast entirely because you're shoveling coal in the back."
Li Aiguo said, "Take our train for example. The one-way distance on the rails from the capital to Tianjin is 153 kilometers, and the passenger train's average speed is thirty-five kilometers per hour."
"You probably have to shovel over 2,700 loads of coal, which is roughly twenty-eight tons."
Master Zheng shoveled coal all day, but he had never calculated the amount.
Hearing this figure, he paused for a moment, widened his eyes, and said, "No way, is it really that much?"
"Just count them later, and you'll see," Li Aiguo laughed heartily.
The assistant driver, Liu Qingquan, also got into the spirit, smoking as he said, "That's right, old Zheng, you should count them later."
Just as things were getting lively, the cabin door was pushed open from the inside.
It was the conductor, Bai Yuejie.
She beamed with a smile. "Little Li, your skills are truly impressive. From now on, as a conductor, I'll have a lot less to worry about."
"It's almost time. Do you think..."
Li Aiguo glanced at the time; there were still five minutes before departure.
He smiled and nodded. "You can tell the attendants to close the carriage doors now. The train will depart on schedule."

Twenty minutes later.
The train pulled out of the capital.
The rows of multi-story apartment buildings were gradually replaced by low earthen-walled grass-thatched houses, with white-washed slogans painted on the courtyard walls.
In the green wheat fields, commune members were hard at work. Hearing the thunderous roar of the train, they raised their heads one after another, envy mixed in their gazes.
Little children playing nearby would even chase alongside the train for a short distance.
After the train traveled another thirty or forty kilometers, leaving the capital's suburbs behind, the surroundings became even more desolate.
On both sides of the railway were barren fields, appearing vast and silent.
The dark train, billowing black smoke, galloped along the tracks, presenting a magnificent spectacle.

"The next station is Tongzhou Side-Track Station. Passengers getting off, please prepare yourselves. We are the Capital Locomotive Section, 131 Youth Train Crew. We wish you a pleasant journey."
The crisp voice of Zhang Yazhi came over the loudspeaker.
Assistant Driver Master Liu reminded, "Driver comrade, we are about to enter the station, please get ready!"
He leaned his upper body out to look ahead and reported a distance figure.
In his mind, Li Aiguo instantly calculated the data, gently pulled the throttle, and reduced the speed.
As they approached the station entrance, the signal appeared not far ahead on the tracks.
Master Liu leaned out again to confirm the signal. "Signal is clear, we may enter the station."
Li Aiguo called out per regulations: "Signal is clear, track two through."
Master Liu repeated: "Signal is clear, track two through."
The train steadily passed the signal and slowly rolled into the station.
Li Aiguo calculated the distance, pulled the valve, and the train finally came to a precise stop within the station.
The carriage doors opened, and passengers who had long been waiting by the doors eagerly jumped down, while boarding passengers formed a long queue in front of the doors.
Tongzhou Side-Track Station was a small station with a twenty-minute stop, so Li Aiguo took the opportunity to take a break.
"Master Liu, keep an eye on the instrument panel. I'm going to the restroom."
"You got it, go ahead."
Master Liu nodded cheerfully.
Since the toilets in the regular passenger cars needed to be locked after entering the station, Li Aiguo had to head to the crew carriage to use the facilities.
The crew carriage, where attendants and drivers rested, was located at the very end of the train, requiring a walk through the entire length of the train.
Transportation was scarce in this era, flights were practically nonexistent, and long-distance buses were few, making trains the primary vehicle for long-distance travel.
The carriages were packed with people. Glancing around, Li Aiguo estimated the capacity utilization had reached 120 percent.
Even so, the areas in front of the carriage doors were still crammed with people preparing to board, while attendants stood at the entrances checking tickets and introduction letters one by one.
Seeing Li Aiguo pass by, they all greeted him warmly. "Driver Li, you've worked hard."
They meant it sincerely.
An excellent train driver could park the train precisely at the designated spot on the platform, sparing them from having to move the boarding steps into place.
Each step weighed seventy or eighty pounds, and hauling them was indeed strenuous work for these young female attendants.
Li Aiguo exchanged greetings as he walked toward the rear. When he reached the eleventh carriage, he suddenly heard a burst of shouting.
"Comrade, this doesn't comply with regulations. The address on the introduction letter is Fengtai, but your ticket is for Langfang."
"I paid for my ticket with my own money. What business is it of yours where I go? You're a pretty young lady, but you sure make a lot of fuss!"
"Comrade, please be serious. Our train has regulations; the address on the introduction letter and the ticket must match."
"Step aside! I'm not having any of this today. Is there anywhere Huang Samao can't board a train?!"