Two steam locomotives built in the style of coal-firing steam locomotives in 1920s -- but far more environmentally friendly -- rolled off the production line at a local plant in central China's Hunan Province.

They are the first of the kind in China.

An engineer from Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Plant, the producer of the new locomotives, explained they are one-quarter smaller than the 1920 models but resemble the originals in physical appearance, with a steam boiler power system and tender.

"The new locomotives are absolutely pollution-free as they are equipped with a modern internal-combustion AC driver system," said the engineer, noting that the smoke is filtered by a clean-air device built into the engines.

The new locomotives have a designed speed of 12 kilometers. Each locomotive can pull three carriages capable of holding over 120 tourists, said the engineer.

According to the engineer, the new locomotives, which were transported to Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, last Wednesday, will be used for tourism purposes on a four-kilometer route in Shenzhen.

(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2002)