For over 100 years, northern China's Taihang Mountain Railway has moved coal through treacherous terrain—but this flood season, high-tech guardians take watch. Meet the drones now patrolling this vital route, where landslides and tunnel floods once forced risky 16km foot inspections.  

Soaring above jagged peaks, these 4K-equipped scouts spot drainage failures and structural threats invisible to ground crews. With 68km range and 24/7 autonomy, they’ve turned days of inspections into hours. "Like an extra set of eyes in the sky," say engineers—proving indispensable as monsoon rains pound the aging tracks.  

By marrying legacy infrastructure with cutting-edge tech, these flying sentinels ensure China’s coal lifeline keeps running, come rain or shine.