After taking a pre-sunrise silhouette of QJ 7063 and QJ 7137 on the bridge at Sandi, the search was on for a second location to photograph the train. The prime consideration was finding a spot where the light would be on the track. Everywhere was still deep in shadow as the train came into sight below Liudigou and our first choice, approaching the summit tunnel, was quickly rejected because a mountain peak lay between the sun and the line. A few hundred metres down the line looked more promising as it was opposite a dip in the ridge where the sun might just shine through.
By the time we had moved and set up, the train wasn't far away but there was still no light on the track. It wasn't looking good. Eventually, and with only seconds to spare, the light crept onto a short section of track, just large enough to take a pair of QJs. We got our shot but it was a close shave.