This is the railroad from Qinghai to Tibet,
It is beautiful travelling to get there and yet,
It is also a journey you’ll never forget.
It is a masterpiece of engineering,
Using techniques quite pioneering,
All mod-cons, precision steering.
It is laid on an area that is earthquake-prone,,
An astonishing feat for that alone,
It forms the country’s transport backbone.
Liquid nitrogen was used to give stability,
Its windows are sealed hermetically,
And each one is protected against UV.
Oxygen has to be piped on to this train,
To allow each passenger to survive the terrain,
Each carriage resembles an aeroplane,
The view between Golmud and Lhasa leaves a lasting impression,
To board it you need a governmental concession,
You also need a medical pass to cope with decompression.

Wow – imagine, having to pipe oxygen onto a train…plane, yes, but train?! Sounds like a very sci-fi form of transport
It is!
Wonderful wonderful wonderful as ever darling x
Thank you my love
It is fantastic, isn’t it Amy?
WOW I can’t imagine how much engineering it took to make such a wondrous thing! So neat, Caro!
We’ll see how earthquake-proof it is AFTER there is a reasonably sized quake…
Maybe, but it is brilliantly engineered…
Amazing indeed! You did it justice, my dear!
Thank you so much!
What do they intend to do if there is an earthquake?
The whole rat rack is designed to move with it..
Where do you find these wonderful places and things that you write about. This is great to read about but will not be added to my bucket list. Thanks for teaching me something new again today.
All over…or I hear about it so I do the research…
Oh, Caro! The image sets the stage, and your poem delivers! This just carried me away after my mind was previously focused on my to do list. Thanks for the mini-break.
You are most welcome, I am very happy it gave you your mini-break!
Have you done it? OMG, I totally want to go!
Cool, huh? And no, but it’s on my bucket list!
I love it. I have never heard of this railway and would love to go. I just love the way you use words.
Couldn’t agree more…it would be a great adventure. And the Potala Palace at the end of the journey. All good!
I took it with my husband and two daughters in 2007. It was stunningly beautiful in places and shocking in the poverty it exposed in others. It’s a controversial project because it facilitates China relocating population (including military) into Tibet, which has precious resources like water much needed by the masses of China. Another enormous threat to the Tibetan way of life. One man’s progress is another’s suppression. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/17/opinion/17iht-edgere.2221734.html
Lucky you to be able to make that journey with all it entailed.