Maintenance workers get ready for their daily work. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Over the past three decades, several generations of track maintenance workers have ensured the safety and smooth flow of trains running on the Meihekou-Ji'an railway in Jilin province.

Snaking through the Changbai Mountain regions, the railway is an important transportation channel for key materials such as grain and coal in Northeast China — as well as for passengers.

Despite the difficulties of harsh weather, working conditions and complex bridge and tunnel maintenance issues, the team of 13 assigned to the Tonghua track maintenance section takes on a number of responsibilities, including inspections, maintenance and repairs in 19 tunnels, over 120 bridges and 387 culverts.

Because of its old age and its location in alpine mountain regions, hard ice accumulates every winter in the Laoling Tunnel, which may bring serious consequences to trains.

In extremely cold weather, the maintenance workers have to clean up the ice quickly with tools such as electric pickaxes.

On November 10, a freezing snow and ice disaster hit the region.

The trees along the railway were bent by thick ice accumulation and leaned over the railway — a great safety hazard.

After receiving orders to start emergency rescue operations in bad weather, the team gathered immediately and spent 24 hours finishing repairs to ensure the safety of the trains.

"To be honest, we work really hard in a tough environment, but it's our job," said Liu Chuanshuang, head of the team. "And we are proud of contributing to the safe and smooth flow of trains."

Maintenance workers patrol the Meihekou-Ji'an railway. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A worker removes ice in a tunnel. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]