Steam in Myanmar, March 2004

Manfred Schoeler reports:

General:

This report gives an idea what is going on here when there are no steam tours in the country. The branch lines are lost to railcars. Steam is in use for stone trains, for general freight trains on demand and as spare engines. They operate when there is fuel and freight.

Bago

class	No.	service
DD	915	13 / 14 Bago - Yangon - Bago
DF	1223	383 ?
YB	508	spare
YB	534	repair
YC	629	spare
YD	964	repair

Mottama

class	No.	service
DD	501	Taungzun shunter ?
DF	1256	85 / 86
DF	1259	85 / 86
DF	1607	stone
YD	962	spare / stone
YD	970	spare / stone

Mokpalin

class	No.	service
YC	626	stone

Observations:

04.03.2004

YC 626 with a Mokpalin (13:00) – Bago (night) stone train

YC 626 + stonetrain
YC 626 on her way to Abbya

05.03.2004

YC 626 stone train Bago (14:00) - Pazandaung (Yangon)

YC 626 Tongji
YC 626 near Tongji

06.03.2004

YB 508 left to Toungoo

07.03.2004

YC 626 retuned from Yangon, leaving Bago (11:30) to Mokpalin with empties + fuel

YD 962 should leave Mottama (20:00) to pick up a stone train at Zinnyeik

DF 1235 did fail with Exp.81 at Theinzayat

YD 962 at night in Mottama

08.03.2004

YD 962 on duty with Mxd.86 Mottama – Bago

YD 962 + 86 near Thaton
Train 86 near Thaton

09.03.2004

YC 629 left Bago to collect stone train at Zinnyaik

YD 962 on duty with Mxd.85 Bago – Mottama

10.03.+11.03.2004

YD 962 on duty with Mxd. 86 / 85

21.03.2004

YC 626 with stone train Mokpalin – Bago – Yangon

YD 969 ready to return light to Pyuntaza

YC 626 stonetrain in bago
DF 1272 and YC 626 in Bago.

Conclusion:
It is still worth to visit this playground and there is probably much more to see !! What are you doing when there is no fuel? Smile as the people do and explore this fascinating country.