Ji Tong Railway 2-10-2 No. QJ 7081
Newton, IA, United States 		Location: Central States Steam Preservation Association
Status: Stored
Posted: Jul 10, 2022 @ 10:07:26 by Russell Newman
This is the history and details of ex China Rail and Jitong Railway QJ Class 2-10-2 7081. 7081 was built in 1986 at the famous Datong Locomotive Works in North, East, China and was one of the later members of the Class built there in the late 1980s. She worked on China Rail’s Shenyang Bureau round the Jilin Area from new in 1986 to 1991 and then round Da’anbei Area, which was the last steam shed on China Rail at the very end of mainline steam in China in 2002 as 7081 was one of the last QJ locomotives working on China Rail. From 2002 7081 was transferred to the Jitong Railway in Inner Mongolia, North, East, China and was among 120 QJ steam locomotives hauling heavy freight trains through the legendry Jingpeng Pass which was known as the last great steam show on the planet that was 100% steam worked from 1995 to 2005. By the end of 2005 the Jitong Railway was dieselised, 7081 was among the last 20 steam locomotives operating between Daban to Chabuga right to the very end of steam. On the 7th of December 2005, 7081 hauled the very last mainline steam hauled passenger train in China from Daban to Chabuga and back. In 2006 following the end of steam on the Jitong Railway 7081 and four other QJ’s were moved from Daban Depot on the Jitong Railway to the Jinzhou 701 locomotive works near Nanpiao in Liaoning, China as they had been bought by the Railroad Development Corporation for export and preservation in the United States of America. 7081 along with sister QJ 6988 were taken into the ownership of Henry Posner III who is the head of the Railroad Development Corporation, for special operations on the Iowa Interstate Railroad which is the former Rock Island Railroad’s mainline from Council Bluffs in Iowa to into Illinois. Following overhaul to American standards and testing at Jinzhou 701 works 7081 and 6988 where moved to China’s Port Dalian for shippment to the United States of America and in September 2006 7081 and 6988 made their public debut on American Tracks for the first time. Since then both 7081 and 6988 have operated from their base at Newton, Iowa where they have been used on special passenger operations to help fund local emergency services and local festivals along the Iowa Interstate Railroad’s mainline. 7081 is currently the only QJ in the USA kept in orginal Chinses condition and livery apart from the fitment of a American Chime Whistle along side her Chinese Whistle which was added in 2010. Occasionally both 7081 and 6988 have also hauled freight trains along the Iowa Interstate Railroad as well as in 2011 prior to Train Fest being held in Rock Island 7081 and 6988 hauled a 7200 ton freight train from Iowa City to Rock Island which was a world record for steam haulage. 7081 continued operating until 2013 as she is now in need for her 1472-day Overhaul. Since 2014 7081 along with 6988 are now in the care of the Central States Steam Preservation Association who operate both QJ’s on the Iowa Interstate Railroad and around the United States of America. It is planned to move 7081 to join her sister at the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America in Silvis, Illinois for her planned 1472-day Overhaul there, when it will happen is unknown? But 7081 will be one of only three QJ 2-10-2 steam locomotives that will be operational outside of China in the years ahead.
Posted: Jun 26, 2022 @ 11:06:18 by Russell Newman
QJ 7081 was built new at the Datong Locomotive Works in North East, China in 1986.
Posted: Apr 15, 2021 @ 13:04:49 by Russell Newman
The former China Rail and Jitong Railway QJ 2-10-2 No. 7081 is currently not operational and is unserviceable and in storage at the Central States Steam Preservation Association base at Newton, Iowa. The locomotive is currently awaiting its 1,472-day inspection and 15-year overhaul.
Posted: Oct 29, 2017 @ 18:10:23 by Russell Newman
When it was still working in China QJ 7081 was picked up by the Jitong Railway in 2002 from Dianbi Shed which the very last mainline steam depot on China Rail. It was among the very last 20 working steam locomotives on the Jitong Railway on the Daban to Chabuga section to work right to the end of steam in 2005. QJ 7081 worked the very last steam hauled passenger train from Daban to Chabuga and back on the 7th of December 2005. Happily 7081 is one of 3 QJ 2-10-2 s that are now preserved in North America and is one of the very last QJ s still able to steam be it outside of China.
Posted: Mar 19, 2017 @ 16:03:54 by Russell Newman
The ex China Rail and Jitong Railway QJ 2-10-2 No. 7081 is due for something called a 15 year inspection. I think as from what has been said from the Central States Steam Preservation Association facebook page is that its cab needs to come off for inspection of all the flexible stay bolts before it can run again. Its sort of like firebox repairs or a overhaul?
Posted: Sep 24, 2014 @ 05:09:22 by Russell Newman
There are reports saying that both 7081 and 6988 have been donated to a group called the Central States Steam Preservation Association.
Posted: Jul 15, 2008 @ 19:07:14 by Brady
The 6988 & 7081 are stored in Newton, Iowa, not Rock Island, Illinois. I have seen videos of these engines in videos, and they are great locomotives.  As I said, R.J. Corman has bought and tested QJ No. 7040 (now No. 2008), and it needs to be added to this website.
Posted: Jun 29, 2008 @ 17:06:08 by Brady
The 7081 was built in 1986 at Datong Locomotive Works in China. After twenty years of service in China, it was bought by Henry Posner of Railroad Development Corparation along with number 6988.  The 6988, 7081 and Milwaukee Road 261 tripleheaded in Iowa & Illinois in September 2006.  The two "QJ's" are for sale and are stored in Rock Island, but were used on a photographers train in June 2007.  It should be noted that another QJ, number 7040, has been bought by the RJ Corman Railroad and made a test run in May 2008 in Kentucky.
Posted: Nov 10, 2006 @ 20:11:59 by jason
7081 WAS BUILT BY THE DATONG LOCOMOTIVE WORKS IN 1986. THIS LOCOMOTIVE PULLED THE LAST REGULURLY SCHEDULED STEAM POWERED PASSENGER TRAIN IN THE WORD ON DECEMBER 7TH, 2005.
Posted: Oct 22, 2006 @ 01:10:32 by jason
THIS LOCOMOTIVE IS STORED IN ROCK ISLAND, illinois NOT ROCKFORD.7081 and 6988 ARE QJ CLASS 2-10-2S BROUHT TO THE US FROM CHINA.