Full coverage: 2017 Spring Festival

Yang Jun is a train conductor at the small station of Six Roosters in southwest Guizhou Province. His father is over 70 years old, and lives with Yang's brothers and sisters in a neighboring province.

"Since we take shifts at work, when it's your turn you have to work even when it's Spring Festival. It takes years to have a vacation for a family reunion. That's the norm. I have never gone back to Sichuan for Spring Festival. I left my hometown twenty years ago, and I've never returned. I just can't. We don't get to rest when it's hectic, and the New Year Travel Rush is the most hectic," said Yang Jun, railroad conductor at Six Roosters railway station.

This 27-year-old field worker is Wang Qi. Every day, the operational and freight conditions of 186 trains are under his surveillance. During peak travel times, a train passes by the station every six minutes.

Wang gets up at three in the morning and is on the job from 8 am to 6 pm. It's a challenging task, both physically and mentally.

"When I'm alone, I listen to heavy metal music that gets me high, to release and unwind," said Wang Qi, railroad conductor at Six Roosters railway station.

Wang Qi is a new father. But the weak signal in the remote area means no live-streaming video chats with the girl and her mother. Wang has to make do with photos.

"I miss my baby a little when I look at her pictures. I miss her the most when I'm alone. Especially after work, I'm alone and I miss her a lot," said Wang Qi, railroad conductor at Six Roosters railway station.

From coordinating freight and train crews to maintaining electric power, to reviewing records and reports pertaining to train movements and schedules, these conductors bear enormous responsibilities.

They have witnessed the transformation of the railroad industry since the day in 1974 when the Six Roosters Station was established.

"The changes came pretty fast. Who could have thought it would develop so rapidly! From internal combustion locomotive to electric locomotive, then to the high-speed rail," said Wang Qibin, chief at Six Roosters railway station.

Station chief Wang Qibin says there are many tiny stations across the country just like Six Roosters. 

Built in remote mountainous regions, where it can take over an hour to walk to the nearest road.

One generation after another, the railroad men have been the guardians of the way back home for hundreds of millions of Chinese.

"Seeing the trains passing by and the passengers returning home safe and sound, I am happy and satisfied." said Wang Qibin, chief at Six Roosters railway station.

A new year is coming, and Wang sends us his good wishes.

"Have a safe trip home!  Happy Year of the Rooster!"