Tongchuan is at the southern edge of the high loess plateau that covers much of north-central China. Loess is a very soft material and the landscape is incised by deep valleys, one of which is followed by the mining railway as it climbs out of Tongchuan. This view
looking down from the plateau shows DF7C 5217 and DF7B 3135 dragging empties up the hill on the morning of 13 February 2004.