Cambodia Index

Cambodia was briefly fashionable as a steam tourist destination in 1999/2000 (see below) since when it has seen relatively few visitors for steam. Michael Pass reports (16th March 2012) that 231.501 has been overhauled and steam tested and will work a tourist special train towards Takeo on 18th March 2012 - tickets for which were sold out almost as soon as the trip was announced, not surprisingly as they were just USD 15 each and there is a large expatriate community now always looking for something new to do. Michael has now sent a report on the start of the day's activities (19th March 2012). PTG tours charter a train here on 26th March 2014 and I have uploaded a photo report (3rd April 2014). There is a short YouTube video available (13th May 2014).

Later Hans Hufnagel tells me (29th October 2005) that the only working steam locomotive, 231.501, needs heavy repairs for which there is no money.... For an illustrated report on Cambodia's railways on a December 2006 visit with information that confirms this see http://www.phantasrail.com/cambodia.htm (added 23rd July 2007, link found broken on 27th October 2017). James Waite stopped off here in March 2008 and found the railway staff friendly but the railway still steamless (13th April 2008).

It came as a considerable surprise to me to hear from Paul Stratford that there was an incomplete  2-6-2T preserved next to a pagoda at Triel on the Siem Reap - Phnomh Penh main road because it was generally assumed that all locomotives bar the 231 Pacifics and 131.06 had been scrapped. It looks newly plinthed and where it has been since enthusiasts started to visit the country some 20 years ago is unknown. Maybe there are other survivors lurking... (4th January 2020)

Andrew Robinson was here in early 2005 (report added 21st May 2005) and although he was unable to gain entry to the shed because it was a public holiday, he was told that the steam stock is still intact. It seems unlikely that there is much work if any for steam here, especially as the Chinese are delivering new diesels, which won't last long unless they have done some work on the track since I was there. One change is that the Franco-Belge 1912 2-6-2 131.06 previously in store has now been stuffed and mounted near the station (I wish they had chosen one of the surplus Pacifics as this delightful beast will rapidly deteriorate in the open). Further, Hans Hufnagel has told me that he ran trips here in 2001, 2003 and 2004 and that the only steam locomotive available was still 231.501.

The Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand ran a public excursion on 5th February 2000 (8th February 2000) and had planned a further more ambitious tour between December 1st and 4th 2000. Floods in the country forced its postponement to January 18th to 21st 2001. I am not sure whether it finally took place.

It had long been known that there were serviceable steam locos in the country - the problem was getting them to work, not least for security reasons.  Florian Schmidt succeeded (5th April 1999, pictures added 17th June 1999). And I joined the first ever (contradictions gratefully received) steam tour group (again organised by Florian)  here in November 1999 - read my report (9th December 1999) - another railfan tour group visited in January 2000 (9th February 2000). I have had some comments on a 1990 trip by Colin Martindale (added 17th December 1999). Probably the last gricer to see and ride with real steam here was Olaf Güttler in 1991 - contradictions gratefully received.

China Index

In general, this site no longer carries current China steam reports - if you want to know why then click here. However, all the old reports on this site are still available - click here for reports from 2000 to 2005. For a useful summary of Chinese steam activity in 2006, read what Bernd Seiler of Far Rail had to say (30th June 2006). Looking back further, I also have a number of reports dating from 1996 to 1999 available, although most no longer have their pictures.

Paul Molyneux-Berry was told on arrival at Shibanxi in late August 2012 that the Jiayang Company has bought the small coal mine at Huangcun with a view to turning it into a museum. Coal production is scheduled to cease on 31st August 2012, presumably there is a possibility that the steam powered coal trains will run for a day or two longer to clear any remaining coal in the bins (23rd August 2012). Wilson Lythgoe confirmed their demise during November and reported new bright blue (Darjeeling ++) tourist coaches in use with variously black, yellow and green painted steam locomotives. The basic passenger service is down to three trains a day and the new Bagou station looks like a cross between a church and a supermarket. Not many more gricers will bother to go to the railway now, I certainly won't be going within 1000 miles of it (19th November 2012). I've seen the pictures but I'm not going to sully my web site by uploading them. Now (5th October 2021) Trevor Heath tells me that an unconfirmed Facebook posts states "Jiayang Narrow Gauge: Five C2 locomotives remained at service on this line. Local residents service has been cancelled in August 2021 with bus services. All trains are tourist trains (CNY80 each way)."

It seems that Shibanxi now has (or rather will have) a 'rival' preserved steam railway, this one is just south of Zhengzhou, read Ichiro Junpu's report (25th June 2016) : http://www.kii762mm.com/modules/pico/index.php?cat_id=212 and http://www.kii762mm.com/modules/pico/index.php?cat_id=213.

I make occasional exceptions to this rule such as my own visits to the transformed near-tourist railway at Shibanxi - click here for the latest report (updated 7th April 2011). Otherwise we went in November 2007 to Jalainur/Zhalainuoer (updated 15th November 2008) and in December 2008 to the Xingyang Brickworks Railway (updated 29th June 2009). The big pit at Jalainur was living on borrowed time, reports on SY-Country indicated that it would be all over by August 2009 (6th March 2009), although in practice it lasted almost till the end of the year.

Yuehong and I have now got a little more time to travel again for steam, the number of locations shrinks week by week, click here for some pictures from one of our expeditions, far left. (9th December 2007).  Sights like this in Huanan, Heilongjiang were still available up till 2011, but the welcome for your wallet was warmer than for you.

The following represents a good starting point (links added 27th April 2007) for those wanting to know more about Chinese steam in the 21st Century. Some are mainly pictorial, others include background information including the dreaded 'modern traction', not to mention the model railway scene. Often they contain links to further sites.

• SY Country - for the latest trip reports the successor to QJ Country.

• QJ Country - now history - Florian Menius's work, the link no longer works

• Railways of China - Robin Gibbons home page. (http://www.railwaysofchina.com dead by October 2014)

• Railography -  The successor to 'Tractive Efforts' by Duncan Cotterill

• Hong Kong Railway Society - website gone by 12th April 2018

• China - the last great steam show - by David Longman

• China Rail Gallery by John Day http://www3.telus.net/ChinaRail/ dead by December 2021

• Chinese Railways Website by Peter Haworth (currently pictures only, reports will be reinstated at some stage) (amended 30th December 2021)

• Steam and the Dragon by Brian Hawkins (new link 7th August 2011))

• Narrow Gauge Steam in South China in the 1980s by John Athersuch (added 17th March 2008)

And if you are travelling independently, then Duncan Peattie's English version of the Chinese Railway Timetable is what you need, check his site for the latest available version. Another essential companion is the Quail China Railway Atlas - the 3rd edition is now available - see http://www.quailmapcompany.free-online.co.uk/ (23rd June 2008).

Going, going, gone..... CNR steam was a mere 602 active locomotives on 1st January 2001, down from 1014 a year earlier, advises Florian Schmidt (26th September 2001) - of course this does not include industrial steam. Now it is effectively gone, (23rd June 2003) Zhang Xin Sheng told me that the Wuhai/Jilantai line was dieselised on 20th June 2003.

Henry Posner III (28th May 2007) updates the QJ export story (see below) - Railroad Development Corporation has found its first third party buyer for the Chinese QJ 2-10-2s that it has been marketing since mid-2006. R.J.Corman Railroads has signed a purchase agreement for a QJ to be overhauled in the next several months at the Jinzhou 701 workshop, under subcontract to RDC by Multipower International, arrival in the USA is expected late summer 2007. The ultimate destination is R.J.Corman's Kentucky operation, where it will be used for special events. RDC Chairman Henry Posner III commented, "Our next objective is to find homes for the other 2 QJs stored at the 701 Factory." RDC consultant Dennis Daugherty will supervise the overhaul, just as he did for the first 2 QJs which are currently stored and available for charter work. Henry Posner III told me that the third QJ mentioned above (7040) will be shipped to the USA from Dalian in late October 2007 (20th October 2007). QJ 7040 has now arrived at Corman's Central Kentucky base in Lexington. There are several pictures of it available on http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?locomotive=Steam%202-10-2. It is in the shops for complete repainting as of 15th April 2008 "It is black Imron epoxy enamel with a 2 foot red stripe from the tender to the pilot. It is edged with 2 inch white stripes and on the tender the RJ Corman name is spelled out on the red in white lettering. Underneath, on the black, it says Central Kentucky Lines in white lettering. The wheels are now black. The paint job on the engine when it arrived was over about 4 layers of dust, rust, and crud. Corman planned to spend one day prepping the locomotive and tender and then another 2 days to paint it. It's taken them 2 weeks to finish the tender. Joe Holbrook has been doing much work on the engine, including completely rewiring it and fabricating the class light mounting system for the boiler top. It has been under steam several times testing back and forth in the yards. Matt Schwerin stated they've probably put 20 miles on it just doing this. There were many steam leaks to be taken care of and they're still finding more. A late April debut is planned." Thanks to Alton Lanier and Thomas Schultz for this update. For regular news of the RDC QJs see this official page http://www.rrdc.com/news_QJ.html (added 3rd May 2009). 

In April 2000, I reported that China was again about to export second hand locos (to Canada), I am not sure what happened to that project but Geoff Noon sent me a picture of JS 8419 which did make it to the USA (14th November 2003) to which I added Raymond Lillie's picture of an SY in the USA. (updated 11th September 2006). In 2005/6, Henry Posner III purchased and overhauled 2 former Jitong QJs 6988 and 7081 and shipped them to the USA - see http://www.rypn.org/RyPN/briefs/viewbriefs.asp?filename=060422111818.txt for a report (27th April 2006). Wayne Weiss adds (22nd June 2006): "Photographed the 2 QJs being offloaded in Houston Sat evening June 10th. They were loaded on flats at shipside. The locos were loaded on QTTX 8 axle heavy duty flats and the tenders on standard 60' BNSF flats. Several days were spent tying them down and getting approval of the loads. They now sit in BNSF's South Yard (Houston) and will probably head south to Alvin then Northwest through Sealy and Cleburne and Fort Worth. Destination is Silvis where they will be offloaded and taken to Iowa City, Iowa where the FRA inspectors will be shown and look at anything they want. Then there will be a couple break in freight runs for invited guests and potential buyers, Henry Posner III who bought them doesn't really have a potential tourist operation on his Iowa Interstate RR (old Rick Island main from Chicago to Omaha). The locomotives were fully rebuilt at the ex military 701 locomotive factory near Nanpiao (not on the Nanpiao Coal Railway) with new flues, superheaters and circulators, new spring rigging, 3 new axles each (the US does not allow axle turning which they do in China).. New crown brasses were installed and the driver tires were turned, they trued the crankpins and installed new brasses, The cylinders and valves were bored and the pistons and valves got new rings and the feedwater heaters and pumps were rebuilt. The tenders were lifted and the tender trucks were fully reconditioned. They are like new and ready for years of service. They are being offered for considerably less than most lines spend to refurbish an engine every 5 years." Alan Crotty points out that pictures are available. Now, Henry Posner III tells me there are pictures available of 6988 on a test run in Iowa on 6th September 2006 - see http://www.iaisrailfans.org/gallery/BICBwith6988, Trevor Heath adds that 7081 hauled a short freight unassisted on 9th September 2006 http://www.iaisrailfans.org/gallery/Recent (added 10th September 2006). Both the QJs worked a further (very long!) revenue freight on 9th June 2007 reports Henry Posner III - read a full account which includes a link to a video clip of the action (9th July 2007). 

China Rail Publishing House in Beijing currently has two books of special interest. The first (added 13th September 1999) is "A Survey of Steam Locomotives", published by the China Steam Locomotive Association in October 1998 (in Chinese and English). The price is Y88 for soft cover and Y108 hardcover. It is also readily purchased in Da Tong where the Association has its headquarters. CRPH now has bilingual "A Picture Album of Steam Locomotives in China, 1876 - 2001", ISBN 7-113-04147-7, a much larger volume at Y288 (don't be put off by the price it is a great book), which includes many pictures of early locomotives (don't trust all the descriptions though!). It also shows a number of preserved locomotives, including those which were then in the Science and Technology Exhibition Hall, Ministry of Railways, East Beijing, but are mostly if not all at the Railway Museum, see below. Note that the easiest way to get to CPRH is to board a 59 bus at its northern terminus at Qianmen (on Metro circle line) and ride it to its southern terminus which is next to the southern moat, west of Beijing Nan station. CPRH is just a few metres back. Don't expect anyone to speak English here. I think it is generally accepted that taking a taxi instead of a bus will not save any time! (added 9th January 2002) 

Being almost exclusively interested in 'real, live' steam, it took me about 4 months to realise that the new Beijing Railway Museum at Chaoyang is just 20 minutes walk from my wife Yuehong's apartment in north-east Beijing, the museum is open 09.00 to 16.00 (not Mondays), admission is Y20. Robin Gibbons former home page (http://www.railwaysofchina.com, link now dead) had a list of preserved steam locomotives in China. It would be accessible via http://web.archive.org/. 

An unlikely source of a museum locomotive (29th March 2005) may be the bridge over the Lalin River on the border between Jilin and Heilongjiang as reported in the newsgroup Steam_in_China Steam_in_China-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Based on reports appearing on the internet in Chinese it seems that one of the 5 foot gauge Baldwin (#16117) built Vauclain compound 2-8-0s for the China Eastern Railway between 1898 and 1900 has been found more or less intact in the river bed having been buried under layers of silt for around 70 years. It is, after all, the second oldest steam locomotive in China and created a lot of media interest including live TV coverage of the excavation.

It has now been sent to Changchun for restoration and eventual display, its initial destination was the Changchun Puppet Imperial Palace (updated 8th May 2005). The first  picture above left (22nd April 2005) appeared in the China Daily, the second above right (courtesy of Chris Walker, 4th May 2005) shows how the locomotive will have looked when delivered (26th July 2005). Later news (31st August 2006) from Zhang Lantou is that the engine (but not tender) has been cleaned and painted and put on display. Now (18th September 2013) a picture shows it has gained a tender (http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/102774/8383664.html - link broken by July 2020), thanks to John Raby for this.

China was home to trams in Changchun, Dalian and Anshan. The Changchun system is effectively converted to a light rail system and now (29th August 2003) I hear the Anshan system has closed pending the same change. The trams at Dalian, I understand, are still operating....

Cook Islands Index

The Cook Islands are an unlikely site for a new steam enterprise in the 21st century. John Day has forwarded me a report (5th September 2000) which originated from Ken Wuschke. Tim Arnold Email goloco@steamshed.co.ck is the originator of the project and would be pleased to hear of anyone coming his way! Here she is courtesy of Tim (new picture 7th June 2003). Alas, the project stalled and the PX-48 has ceased running and will most likely be relocated to New Zealand - read a rather sad report (30th August 2011). I have now added a picture of the loco in steam in the early 2000s courtesy of Roger Smith (15th July 2014). Philipp Kurasch reports that the locomotive is still in store and unlikely to leave in the near future (22nd March 2016). I now have an update from Tim Arnold (16th December 2021)

Fiji Index

Fiji finished with steam in the sugar mills in the early 70s. its main claim to fame being the 'Free Train'. Although several steam locomotives were reported preserved, the numbers on the island have steadily dwindled although two are now safe in the UK. Even the latest unexpected survivor will most likely not to be left to rust in peace. Read more about the sad story (updated 22nd May 2014 with a happier couple of pictures).

"Cane Train" by Peter Dyer and the late Peter Hodge is a marvellous account of the railways here. Published by the New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society Inc., in 1988 it is still available from them www.railsoc.org.nz. The Fiji Sugar Corporation has 'borrowed' the images from the book which provide a taste of its contents http://www.fsc.com.fj/history_of_sugar_in_fiji.htm (Link broken by December 2021) (6th October 2012). John Browning has posted a blog of his September 2012 visit necessarily it is not a 'steam story' - http://trainrover.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/tuesday-august-28-2012-bula-welcome-to.html (added 19th October 2012)

Indonesia Index

		An Indonesian  Photographic Archive? Your help needed. (10th November 2011)
PNKA Steam Locomotive Diagrams - now available! (2nd March 2012)
Celebrating 50 years of PNKA Power Parade  It's now 50 years since Dusty Durrant's classic book appeared and I've assembled some 250  pictures (black and white, of course) showing all the classes in the book and several more too!

It seems that the only reliable day-to-day steam activity during the 2024 milling season would have involved the three fireless locomotives at Pagottan. However, local enthusiasts arrange charters (Madiun area and Semboro) from time to time and reports, pictures and videos appear on social media. For those very few (potential) visitors whose interest extend beyond steam, it is sad to report that, by the end of the 2024 season, the number of mills with (diesel) field working was probably just two - Semboro and Wringinanom - and the state of the track at the latter continues to be a cause for concern with frequent derailments. Jatiroto appears to have finished with those remaining diesels that can move themselves (or be towed) transferred to Semboro. Kedawung had stated its intention to finish field working by the end of the season (24th September 2024).

After a one year gap, local reports indicate that there has been a minor and no doubt temporary steam revival. Jackshaft locomotive 10 Salak has been in use at Rejosari sugar mill near Madiun, East Java, apparently owing to a motive power crisis with their big Japanese diesel out of action. There will no doubt be other videos floating around but this is the one that alerted me to the situation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65SEsTtcRxI (31st August 2022). Peter Haworth was also lucky at Purwodadi on 1st September 2022 (report added 15th September 2022). Now Galuh Wajid As'adi tells me (7th March 2023) that Rejosari 6 has also been restored to service and will presumably be used in the forthcoming season. Here is a video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGdokyAWftI&t=88s

The main steam attraction of Java revolved around the sugar mills which in 2010/11 still operated up to 30 narrow gauge steam locomotives within the mills and in just one or two cases regularly out into the fields. This made it, after China, number 2 in the world for real working steam locomotives, although numbers declined every year and the glory days are over. The reduced numbers of independent travellers attest to it with groups having to organise more and more 'plastic' events, just as in Cuba. In the days when I used to run tours and was an annual visitor I used to put up detailed reports, but in 2013 I received just one report from an independent traveller. If, like me, you've known and loved the island for well over 30 years, probably you will have no ambition to expend a lot of money and energy photographing what is left. But if you've never delved into the sugar mills and are broad minded enough to enjoy the 'critters' too then my favourite island explored independently should be on your list of things to do before you die. I did think that one day I would be back for a last look, but I now know that it will never happen.

Purwodadi continued to use steam during the 2020 season but the only enthusiasts who will have seen it working would have been local ones. However, reports state that only tractors and diesels are working in 2021 and this marks the end of 'real conventional steam' in Indonesia, a very sad occasion for me with my personal history even though I haven't been to Java for over 10 years. However, the three firelesses at Pagottan nearby are all working. (All this added 4th June 2021.) The least said the better about 2019, charter steam was near impossible, Semboro did not use its firelesses but Pagottan did. I believe steam continued in use at Purwodadi (20th February 2020).. 2018 seems to have been very similar to 2017 in that real steam continued with conventional locomotives at Purwodadi and fireless locomotives at Pagottan and Semboro. Visitors were able to charter steam locomotives as before at Olean (but maybe not at Semboro) and a new opportunity was presented with the reactivation of Kedawung 12, not that the results were guaranteed in any case and authenticity was definitely in the eye of the beholder. Throw in the tourist trains at Tasikmadu and that's it, not enough to get more than a handful of enthusiasts to visit, they would have been those who also appreciate marrow gauge diesels or stationary steam engines in the mills. In the Madiun area at least, the season finished in early September. Note that the mills at Sumberharjo and Kanigoro are reported as closed. (10th October 2018).

After a disastrous season in 2016, I was prepared to hear that Purwodadi had succumbed and abandoned steam. However, a locally posted picture from early June shows one of their locomotives crossing the main road so it seems it still survives. Of course the fireless locomotives at Semboro and Pagottan will no doubt keep steam alive on the island for some time to come (10th July 2017, thanks to Aditya Budidarma for this). August visitors report 'no change' from the above (23rd August 2017).

It seems the 2016 season was rather late starting as mills tried to avoid harvesting during Ramadan. My expectations of steam did not go any further than the fireless locomotives at Semboro and Pagottan but YouTube videos from local enthusiasts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1BpG5ZOCAo, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B2aYv956Yg and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLWGfnrNwjo seem to be recent and suggest that Purwodadi at least is still using steam. A similar search for Kanigoro nearby drew a blank. I hoped for a first hand report but it never came.. A local report on Olean from late July 2016 (click here) suggests that there is no regular steam any longer with just one locomotive serviceable which can be chartered fro Rp 2,000,000 or roughly USD 150) A local report suggested that many of the old mills will be closed at the end of the 2016 season but confirmation has not been given. Kanigoro did not work in 2016 and is unlikely to mill again, it has long been under threat.

The 2014 Java sugar season came and went (final report 1st November 2014). It is no longer the darling of the tour companies. I summarised the steam news (as above), but John Raby ran a blog of visitors' experiences which is necessarily diesel orientated with some steam content (8th August 2014). I 'opened' the 2015 Java account, with a summary of likely steam operation. I have now adjusted the reports to reflect what I believe was the end-of-season situation (28th September 2015), which in historical terms was nothing short of disastrous for real steam although for those willing to accept charters as a substitute, there was some consolation..

For more information looking back, follow these links:

• Sweet Dreams - Java Sugar Steam 1975 -2010 (27th November 2021)

• Java 2014 report (updated 1st November 2014)

• John Raby's steamy Java 2014 blog (updated 8th August 2014)

• Java 2013 reports (26th November 2013)

• Java 2012 reports (7th August 2012)

• For a local viewpoint of the sugar mill scene see Aditya Budidarma's English language 2012 blog. (http://www.javanarrowgaugerailways.com (12th June 2013, link broken by December 2021)

• Java 2011 reports (7th August 2011)

• John Raby's steamy Java 2010 blog (updated 21st August 2010)

• Java 2010 reports (updated 11th September 2010)

• Historical reports of steam in Java

• A list of steam locomotives in the sugar mills (updated 2nd June 2015)

• A photographic survey of their narrow gauge diesels

• For some excellent galleries of Java steam in the 2000s together with valuable information for independent travellers - David Longman's site.

And if you are a masochist and want to know what you missed, then my Sweet Dreams pages show steam in all its glory between 1975 and 1997 and now you can see them on video:.

Sweet Dreams Video Clips 1991-1999  21st Century Sweet Dream Video Clips

For many years, the 'Jewel in the Crown' of Java sugar steam was Olean mill near Situbondo, in East Java. Uniquely, it combined daily steam in the fields AND a mill operation which used around forty stationary steam engines. You can relive those days on our Sweet Spot DVD. Don't take our word for it, you can read Keith Chester's Review.

And inside the mills there is a mass of ancient stationary stream power too. 

Gula Java	The historic sugar mills of Java: For full details and how to order, click here!
Now available as an online version.

Long ago, it was the Iron Dinosaurs of the PJKA/PNKA that turned me into a fulltime international gricer and there are two open air museums in Java with representative collections:

• An Indonesian Steam Photographic Archive? With links to historic steam images, (updated 17th December 2011).

• PNKA Wallahs - Indonesian Steam 40 years Ago (17^th December 2011)

• PNKA Steam Locomotive Diagrams - (2nd March 2012)

• Taman Mini Indonesia Transport Museum, Jakarta 

• Ambarawa Railway Museum - now reopened (updated 13th August 2015)

• See also a list of known preserved main line steam locomotives (updated 5th March 2009).

• There are links to many illustrated articles on the 'Good Old Days' on my tales page (latest tale 26th October 2012).

Those who like to dream will welcome the news that PT KAI has offered to re-open the Madiun to Ponorogo line, anyone for B5004 from Taman Mini, Jakarta to return to its old haunts?. The picture shows B5001 at Madiun in 1976 - there are more pictures of this line in the good old days on this site (29th January 2013).

The Ambarawa Museum includes an operational rack railway, run by two B25 0-4-2RT (far left). The line north-east to Tuntang has now been upgraded and can take steam again. Day to day services, however, will be run by D300.23 reports Tjahjono Rahardjo (5th November 2010). The museum reopened after a long period of closure for rehabilitation on 1st October 2014. For a look at the new Ambarawa, take a look at Damar Ananggadipa's report (8th January 2015). For a while it also had an active conventional steam locomotive C1218, newly restored and working its first train for overseas enthusiasts in August 2006 (left). A proud moment for me as I helped organise its rescue from the back of the shed at Cepu a few years back. Click here for more pictures.

C1218 went to Solo where it launched a tourist service on part of the Wonogiri branch commencing 17th September 2009 (12th September 2009). Far left is C1218 on a test run on 13th September 2009 (15th September 2009), the picture by Yuda Nugrahadi was originally uploaded to the Yahoo Keretapi Group, click here for more pictures (19th September 2009). I have now ridden the train myself, fulfilling a 35 year old dream (15th May 2010), see next left. The street running down the main drag, Jalan Slamet Riyadi, is challenging for photographers and especially videographers, but we featured a charter here during our 2010 Java tour. In April 2012, the local authority decided to cease funding the train, so I guess at some stage the loco will return to Ambarawa (21st August 2012). However, in March 2013, Railpage Australia reported that there had been a change of heart and the service would now continue (26th March 2013). The train was relaunched on 10th March 2013 - see this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD4LN5zsE8o and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv6INGqJ_iY.

B5112 has now been moved to the shed at Ambarawa in preparation for a return to steam (20th October 2011). The boiler was tested in early 2012 (21st August 2012) and the locomotive went on a test run to Tuntang on 4th December 2012 - see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ff2aU-Xy1g and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Lo2liJCrfI. It looked glorious! (22nd December 2012). Rezza Habibie was there for a further run in mid-January and has supplied the pictures of the event - click on the thumbnails for the full size versions (18th January 2013).

The other preserved steam operation has been on the Cepu Forest Railway, a great day out especially when the tourist coaches are left behind and and something resembling a 'real' train operates. Up to 2005 this worked pretty reliably - see my report of one such visit (21st August 2002), but since 2006, the railway has suffered from intermittent closures owing to rainy season damage but despite an organisation which is best described as shambolic, the railway has managed to operate charter trains for visiting enthusiast groups in recent years.

Back on the 27th August 2015, I was alerted to the fact that D1410 and D52099 had been moved from Taman Mini to Yogya Works for restoration to running order. Then things went very quiet although after a while YouTube videos appeared that showed D1410 making steady progress. Now D1410 is out and about and it had a grand public first run through the streets of Solo on 16th February 2020 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0UxSBJfa-s). Earlier it had a run from Lempujangan to Purwosari (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XktQeFFMlns). Michael Rinto's videos, linked above, are the best I have seen but there are many, many more out there. I don't know how work is going on D52099, this class was said to have had dodgy boilers around the time they came out of traffic nearly 40 years ago. All this added 20th February 2020.

E1060 from West Sumatra was at Ambarawa (but only working on the flat) for 10 years between 1998 and 2008 but has now returned to its former haunts for the new Sawahlunto Railway Museum - where the coal mine for which the railway was built was sited (30th November 2008). Click here for more outline information on developments in West Sumatra (5th March 2009), but for a comprehensive report, read Thomas Kautzor's account of a visit in June 2010 (15th July 2010). I was here in late 2012 and you can read my report, basically E1060 is usually serviceable but is only steamed on special occasions and for charters (4th December 2012). After some years out of action, as of June 2016, E 1060 is again a 'runner', there are YouTube videos  and a local report, thanks to Steve Mourton for picking this up (27th March 2017).

Apart from Java, there was still a little steam in the Oil Palm Estates in North Sumatra into the 1990s, I have added some archive photos (21st March 1998), but a German group visited (26th August 1998) and found only Dolok Sinumbah (2 locos shunting out of 5 serviceable) and Dolok Ilir (1 loco shunting out of 2 serviceable) had active steam. Certainly, I gave up on this after my 1993 visit. Geoff Warren found only a few preserved locos on a 2008 visit (29th August 2008), Joachim Lutz was here a little later and fills in most of the gaps (1st October 2008). I visited Medan in January 2017 and found two of the preserved industrial locomotives had moved there (21st January 2017). Now (6th October 2023) Marc Stegeman tells me that a previously unknown 600mm gauge DB 0-8-0T survives preserved at SIPEF's oil palm plantation at PT Tolan Tiga at Perlabian (see www.ducroobrauns369.nl). It's perhaps not surprising that I had never heard of it as it's at Perlabian, 40km east of Rantau Prapat, the southern extremity of the Deli Railway. 

Incredible Indonesia Available On Line (13th November 2020)

Japan Index

Historically, I have not covered Japan in detail but James Waite's April 2015 visit has provided a very useful entry point. Read about his visit to the Oigawa Railway, within are links to a four further reports as well as information on railway museums in the country. Thanks are due to Takahide Yamamoto for background information and some of the material used (14th May 2015).

For an excellent, comprehensive English language site which includes details or many railway museums, see http://steam.fan.coocan.jp/index.html (original link noted 14th May 2015, found broken in October 2017, and now corrected (21st October 2018).

Laos Index

The only railway ever built in Laos (prior to the recent extension of Thailand's north-eastern line) was used to transport goods around rapids in the Mekong River on the islands of Don Det and Don Khone. It was 7km long and abandoned at the end of the Second World War. For some time I carried a picture of a surviving locomotive, Hans Hufnagel has been here and I have posted a report of what he found (2nd January 2004). Thomas Kautzor now points out that there are the remains of two locomotives here, the previously reported metre gauge locomotive probably was a wartime arrival and the second an incomplete small Decauville 0-4-0T. Both are shown on this page http://www.asienreisender.de/siphandon.html (13th December 2013, link found broken on 27th October 2017).

Mike Pass has been researching this railway over the last couple of years and has paid more than one visit to it. On the island of Don Khone, he confirms that the more complete locomotive at Ban Khone Tai is metre gauge 0-4-0T OK 4650/1911. The second locomotive is at Hang Khone at the southern tip of the island and is a 600mm gauge 0-4-0T Decauville. Mike has prepared a fascinating report on the railways of this country, past and present. If you would like a copy (4Mb) send me an email and I will forward it to him (15th January 2015). 

Mike would appreciate help with identification of this third locomotive shown in the two pictures on the left (click to see full size). It may be a Couillet supplied to Decauville. Please email me any responses (16th August 2020). It was a  7-tonne metre gauge 0-4-0T locomotive supplied by the French Decauville Company to French Indochina in or before 1897.The photograph on the left is circa 1897 and the postcard on the right dates from 1907.

Malaysia Index

The Penang Hill Railway 2012

Tiger Steam - Malaysia Available On Line (10th April 2017)

The Malayan Railway 1969 - 1972 The last days of steam. (updated 18th August 2023 with some 1950s pictures)

Malayan Industrial Railways 1969 - 1972 Not much steam, but a delectable mixture  of narrow gauge railways (updated 20th April 2017)

Tiger Steam Our CD-ROM covers REAL steam here. Read Chris Walker's review.

Bernard Loughlin took a fine collection of pictures in the area south of Kuala Lumpur and Gerry Nicholls has arranged for many of them to appear on http://searail.malayanrailways.com/BL/BL.htm. It includes some rarely photographed steam classes as well as the Sentinel steam railcars, highly recommended (8th November 2016).

Long ago (1972-9) I lived in Penang, Malaysia. I have 2 children and a set of nameplates and numberplates from 563.09 to show for it. I saw the end of steam there and enjoyed the early preservation scene. I even drove a steam loco from Seremban to Port Dickson and back in 1987. In the mid 1990s there was a report in an Indonesian newspaper about a proposed steam-hauled tourist train from Gemas to Tampin, but I gather it was not a success and did not last very long. I have  added some historical background to 564.36 Temerloh and the Malayan Railway, provided by Fergus Moffat (22nd February 2001). Andrew Bremner has provided some pictures of the restoration and rolling stock (11th May 2002).

Zakaria Bin Yusof told me that "a few months ago in 1997, I saw that steam loco at the KL Railway Station during a joy ride for the school children." Does anyone have any further information? On 16th December 1999, I was told by KTM that their steam engine was not available for charter 'for technical reasons'. However, Brian Garvin reported to the Continental Railway Circle News Group that he was told by a loco inspector on 13th February 2006 that 564.36 was fully operational if in need of a steam crew and some tender loving care.... (added 9th March 2006). Since when the locomotive has had a repaint for a celebration of 100 years of railways in Gemas. See http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com for information - this site also has some nice historical pictures if you hunt around among the diesels and other crap (link added 11th September 2006). Latest (and very interesting) news from Thomas Kautzor is that 564.36 has been moved to Johor Bahru with the intention of returning it to working order to operate steam specials in the south of the country (21st May 2010). However, Mark Torkington reported (14th November 2010) that it has been sent instead to a new railway museum/display to be established at the new Johor Bahru Sentral station (along with a couple of vintage diesels from the 1970s).

Click here for my list of preserved steam in West Malaysia - (final two pictures added 3rd April 2013). For up to date information on the Malayan Railway, check out http://www.keretapi.com/ (link dead by 12th April 2018). For more historical information see Malcolm Wilton Jones's site http://members.lycos.co.uk/railsing/ and  http://searail.mymalaya.com/ http://searail.malayanrailways.com/ (amended 6th July 2015). These links were originally added on 15th December 2005.

Meanwhile in East Malaysia, Victoria Hilley sent me information about the tourist North Borneo Railway project (December 11th 1999). Briefly as from January 22nd 2000, there were twice weekly trains for individual travelers (FITs), scheduled for Wednesday and Saturday departures at 10:00am, with return by 14.30. Journey is between Kota Kinabalu, Tanjung Aru station, to Papar station and return (66km), with the train available for private charters on a 7 days notice basis. It was officially launched by the Chief Minister of the State on 22nd January 2000 (24th February 2000) and their own web page is now available (20th April 2000). Following which there were a number of visitors including Hans Hufnagel in July 2000, myself in January 2001 (with steam up the Padas Gorge to Tenom - final pictures added 2nd February 2001) and John Raby has also been here (added 21st February 2001).

James Waite has sent some background information (including a steam loco list) of this relatively unknown railway (7th February 2013).and told me that by May 2006 the train was running on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday with 6-016 instead of 6-015 which needed some repairs, rather belatedly I have now uploaded his illustrated report with pictures of four different outings (7th February 2013). For some time services were suspended (at least on the coastal section between Kota Kinabalu and Beaufort) while the railway was given a much needed make over. Re-opening was repeatedly put off, during that period John Douglas reported that 6-015 and 6-016 were under heavy overhaul (17th January 2008) - picture below left. For news of a March 2010 visit click here (6th June 2010).

The railway restarted steam services on 4th July 2011 (30th June 2011). For current information, click the North Borneo Railway link on http://www.suteraharbour.com, there are reports on their preparations blog pages http://suteraharbour.com/blogs/ (Link dead by May 2023). Despite what has appeared at various times and in various places, the NBR have confirmed to me that the trains will initially run TWICE a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays (1st July 2011). At RM 250 (GBP 50) even including breakfast and lunch, it's not cheap. Chris Jeffery was here in September 2011 and confirms everything was as before with 6-015 running and 6-016 waiting for spares (20th September 2011), while Chris Yapp has provided an illustrated report which also shows facets of the 'new railway' (27th December 2011). Since when the operation has continued unsung, Aditya Budidarma Cholisi visited in March 2018 and found that only 6-016 was remotely serviceable (and that failed just before departure). 6-015 has been functioning as a source of spare parts and 6-014 has been abandoned at the old Kinarut works. In other words, it's no longer a long term sustainable regular operation (15th April 2018). Malcolm Wilton-Jones suggests that 6-014 was actually at the 'new' Kinarut shed built in 2015 so the original complex could be used for the new mega transport interchange. Looming is 6-016's boiler ticket expiring in 2021 and 6-015 will have to be made serviceable before then... (30th November 2018). It seems that the service was suspended during the pandemic and was not restarted afterwards (21st September 2024).

Mongolia Index

Colin Young saw a small open air museum in passing in Ulaan Bataar in 2006 with at least three steam locomotives (one was a P36). Torsten Schneider has provided more information and some pictures (2nd December 2008). John Middleton has since sent a further complete set (27th November 2014).

It seems that L 3634 is in working order, there are several pictures on the web of it in action for the celebration of 65 years of Mongolian railways in early June 2014, for example see https://www.flickr.com/photos/batkhurel/14156933129, https://www.flickr.com/photos/batkhurel/14614956779 and http://www.flickr.com/photos/54330726@N08/14226102340 (8th August 2014) (All links broken by January 2024. RD). Thanks to Thomas Kautzor and Heiko Mueller for this. John Middleton tells me (27th November 2014) that L 3634 has been returned to Russia.

Myanmar (Burma) Index

Don't hold your breath time, but the new government in Myanmar has declared its intention to rebuild the 'Death Railway' at least from Thanbyuzyat to the Three Pagodas Pass, see http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/4338 (16th May 2012, link dead by 26th April 2014).

British built YB and YC 4-6-2 and YD 2-8-2 were still at work here in small numbers well into the 21st century, although the FarRail tours newsletter of August 2008 reports that all steam was withdrawn on orders from HQ in June 2008 (22nd August 2008). Few people visit these days so confirmation will be difficult but what follows may well be history and bear this in mind in planning a visit. Thomas Kautzor has provided a December 2008 update on this depressing news (24th December 2008).

Now in 2014 comes news on the FarRail website (registration required to read the report) that "YD 967" has been put through Insein Works and did a run with two coaches from Yangon to Bago and back on 8th December 2013. Now a YC is also going through works and will be followed by a second YD. Another YC and YD will be sent from Pyuntaza soon. I haven't quoted numbers as these locomotives are being heavily cannibalised. It's not a steam revival, they are said to be intended for tourist charters which will cost megabucks, but at least it ensures for a while a safer future for steam than seemed possible (all this 7th February 2014) .Manfred Schoeler points out that local reports indicated that a tender was called for to operate a steam hauled train with three coaches between Bagan and Kyaukpadaung in May 2014. It seems that it will happen from 16th December 2014 (Link broken by May 2023) with tickets a staggering USD 250 I think there will be plenty of empty seats (27th November 2014).

Manfred Schoeler was in the country at the end of 2014 and has provided a review of the current scene, it is far from hopeless but as always here don't hold your breath waiting for action (10th February 2015). In the event, it was January 2017 when the first of the new era charter trains for enthusiasts ran. Manfred Schoeler reports on a successful tour (3rd February 2017).

The principal steam shed was (and will be, see above) at Bago, some 50 miles (80 km) north-east of Yangon. From there, irregular workings occurred along the mainline between Yangon and as far north (probably) as Pyinmana or even Thazi and also on the branch main line to Mottama/Moulmein. You had to be prepared for a significant gap between trains, but where else in the world could you have seen real steam on a double track main line on a state railway in the 21st century? Click here for the visitor reports, essential readings if you are thinking you ought to have visited, the last came from Shane O'Neil's June 2007 visit (23rd July 2007), these also contain other reports of visits to the Burma Mines Railway (see above). 

This is YD 972 on on a freight train at Pyuntaza, 30th December 2005, the same locomotive I had seen in Insein Works (see below) nearly a year before.

In September 2006, China donated 130 carriages from the Yunnan metre gauge system to Myanmar (I rode several in early 2007 and while their condition was better than average for Myanmar they were pretty worn out by current Chinese standards). In return the Chinese got two ST 2-6-4T (and a couple of wagons), reportedly one has gone to the museum in Kunming and one to Beijing. 'Bizarre' is the word that springs to mind (23rd May 2007), the picture looks like Yangon station to me.

As 144 4-6-4T (Beyer Peacock 1916), last reported at Insein Works in 2004 has been plinthed outside Yangon station according to a local newspaper report (original link dead 26th April 2014), thanks to Harvey Smith for spotting this one. This is not a class which many visitors will be familiar with, Basil Roberts' picture, taken from our Tiger Steam CD-ROM, shows sister locomotive 143 at Myohaung Junction shed, just south of Mandalay on 10th December 1971

Not strictly a 'steam' story, but there are plans afoot to relocate the main station in Yangon, 'more eccentricity' would be the most polite comment I could make (26th November 2007).

New Caledonia Index

Definitely not 'working steam' but here is a snippet from Jacques Daffis which I found fascinating.  For some background read 'Rails to the Setting Sun' by Charles Small page 147ff:

"I don't remember if I informed you that we have repatriated Decauville steam locomotive N° 288 from New Caledonia in July 1998. This 600mm gauge locomotive was built 1898, delivered 12.03.99. to Higgison International Nickel Corporation, Noumea, New Caledonia. It is a 3,250 tons "new model", the smaller one in the Decauville catalogue. At some time, the locomotive was regauged for 500mm gauge, and sold to Société Le Nickel, New Caledonia. It worked until about 1945, and later was abandoned in the jungle. The locomotive together with his sister 287 was rescued with the help of the French army, and taken to Noumea with a helicopter. 287 was restored externally and exposed as monument at the society Le Nickel headquarters in Noumea (it is 287, but with 288 plate). 288 was left rusting in a siding in Noumea. After long negotiations, and huge help of a resident, we were able to import it to France. New Caledonia is in a process towards independence, and it impossible to export old objects, they are "patrimony". I suppose that it is the only locomotive coming from so far (about 20 000 km), and it is also as far as I know the only Decauville type 3.250 t in France and perhaps in Europe.

North Korea Index

Michael Bahls sent me this fascinating email (6th April 2020), the image is a copy I (RD) have made, the only adjustment I have made is to apply 'sharpening'. Unlike Streetview, the Satellite Views are updated so it shouldn't be that old.  

"By accident I found a steam freight train on Google maps, it is at 41°46'05.2"N 129°45'58.9"E in Chongjin."

He continues with further less clear cut examples

"and in front of the the nearby shed, which is here - 41°45'57.7"N 129°45'07.5"E - there are two tank engines of a similar type visible; probably the 2-6-2 which pulled a special train some years ago.

At Sariwo in the works there seems to be a cold/dead steamer here - 38°29'52.4"N 125°46'31.1"E and more probably here - 38°30'16.7"N 125°45'54.2"E

The third position looks like the same type of tank engine, and a fourth position specifically - 38°30'16.8"N 125°45'52.7"E -shows that kind of tank engine as well."

(I've used Google Streetview to 'discover' steam rollers but this is the first occasion to my knowledge where a live 'real' working steam locomotive has turned up. RD)

Thomas Kautzor comments:

"Those are the four 2-6-2Ts at Chongjin steelworks which are off limits to foreigners."

For some year Juche Travel Service has been operating rail orientated tours to North Korea. Keith Jones joined one in October 2015 and was rewarded with a 20km return run behind steam (15th November 2015).

North Korea has never been an easy country to visit and effectively absolutely impossible for independent travellers. Many years ago there were a few short-lived tours but since 2002 a small number of groups have visited and the curtain has been raised slightly. The authorities seem to blow hot and cold and news of scrappings and an end to the trips tends to be followed by a new discovery. There was still real working steam in the country at that time, but just how much was impossible to guess - bear in mind that owing to fuel/power shortages there were very few trains of any description running! I have now moved the tour reports to a separate page (this link went AWOL and I have now restored it, 5th November 2010). If you consider joining a tour here then you should read them carefully, although I haven't seen one advertised since 2005!

These pictures were taken by me in early 2003 and show standard gauge and narrow gauge charters:

Several readers sent me notes on an article which appeared in the UK Daily Telegraph on 19th September 2000 concerning work to re-establish a rail link with South Korea which included this contraption (photo is from Reuters, no larger version is available): One of James Hefner's contacts notes: "...no cylinders and visible gear, at least from the side you see on the picture as well, instead axleboxes. Spoked wheels, nevertheless. The "boiler" has no smokebox door. And ... would be wondering about the exhaust design, as it has two smokestacks. The "rear end" bears a "coal box". He felt, and James agreed, that it is either a diesel with steam bits added to it; or something built on a steam locomotive frame. It is not clear whether it came from South Korea or North Korea. Marcelo Benoit sent this note from Kass Franklin which seems to solve the mystery (13th October 2000)

" In Alfred W. Bruce's "Steam Locomotive In America" (1952) I found this on page 369:

STEAM TURBINES FOR THE SOVIET UNION

Some very interesting mobile, but not self-propelled, steam-turbine electric power plants were built in the United States to furnish temporary electric power in devastated Russian areas. These power plants were mounted on railroad-car type of underframes and trucks and could be located wherever there were rail connections. Only the 3,000-kw size as built during World War II with a conventional locomotive-type boiler is described here.
The fuel specified was a poor grade of native lignite, stoker-fired and required a very large grate area. The boiler was short and of large diameter. Induced stack draft was furnished by a turbine-driven fan located on the boiler unit, with two boiler units for each intermediate 3,000-kw plant. Each boiler unit had its adjacent conventional locomotive tender for coal and water supply, the coal being replenished from any nearby outcropping, and the steam was condensed. The entire power plant consisted of ten car units, as separate car units were provided for the switch gear, turbine set, and cooling set. In all, ninety-seven power plants were built, a total of 217,000-kw. They included forty-seven with 1,000-kw capacity and water-tube boilers; forty with 3,000-kw capacity and locomotive-type boilers; and ten with 5,000-kw capacity and water-tube boilers."

Philippines Index

Sad news for me as a two time visitor was the news that Hawaiian Philippine have their 3ft gauge roster for sale. I received the following email (24th April 2003) "We are a company in the Philippines operating at least 8 steam locomotives, mostly built by Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, Pa, USA. Some are still operational, and others need only minor repairs. I would like to inquire if anybody is still interested to buy these machines. I could provide each of the equipment specifications if somebody is interested. Thank you." Point of contact is J Cristales, email jlcristales@hpcosugar.com. I need hardly mention that these are highly desirable beasts! The company have also provided (25th April 2003) a specification list of the locomotives (#2 was sold recently). Colin Rainsbury tells me (23rd June 2004) that the locomotives have now been sold. According to a report in Continental Railway Journal (edition #142), 0-6-0ST 8 and 9 which went from Hawaii to Negros in 1948 have returned there to run on a new tourist railway on the island of Kauai (26th June 2005). I have heard since (12th February 2006) that the railway expects to start operating in Summer 2006, but initially with a vintage Whitcomb diesel. Bernd Seiler visited in April 2006 and found all work in the hands of diesels but La Carlota (one loco) and Hawaiian Philippine (2) had serviceable steam locomotives (30th April 2006).

A visitor to Negros in December 2010 went to Hawaiian-Philippines Sugar Company and reports that "apparently the locos are regularly steamed on Thursdays, the only two still operating in the Philippines" (23rd December 2010). Ralf Mandera was here in March 2011 and reports (22nd March 2011) that 5 and 7 are serviceable and can be steamed for visitors and that four other locomotives are still present (I believe these will be 3, 4 and 6 the other standard Baldwin 0-6-0s and 1, the Henschel 0-6-0 RD.)

For news of a proposed new railway museum see my 'Railway Museums in Asia' page (4th June 2010). 

South Korea Index

No live steam for a long time, but on searching the web it seems that there quite a few preserved steam locomotives in the country. 

John Middleton was in South Korea in January 2012 and his report includes the railway museum at Uiwang and a list of known preserved steam locomotives (3rd August 2012). I have now (11th January 2014) added pictures from Bill Pugsley of the locomotives at Imjingak and Jeju. There is an illustrated 2023 update from Eddie Barnes (pictures added 19th October 2023).

Taiwan Index

The Pinyin rendering of Taiwanese is inconsistent on this site and many others. I am trying to slowly change some to those seen on road signs on the island in 2015, but the same place may still have more than one Pinyin form in use locally.

There are a number of active preserved steam locomotives on Taiwan including CK101 and CK124 on the mainline. Continental Railway Journal  150 notes that specials were run from 22nd to 24th December 2006 and again on 3rd/4th February 2007, the latter based on Changhua (this added 23rd July 2007, see also the earlier report below), click here for more information and the full reports from Taiwan which includes active preserved industrial steam (updated 27th July 2007). The two pictures on the left are courtesy of Su I-Jaw:

Steve Pratt has since advised that DT 668 was reported to be resuming services from 11th November 2011 on the Neiwan railroad in Hsinchu County (12th December 2011). Tom Schultz has sent me news of CT 273 which was last reported at 'the Folks Valley of Taiwan, Changhua' and which has now been restored to running condition - http://ajw.asahi.com/article/asia/around_asia/AJ201406060050 link found broken on 27th October 2017 - and will be based at Changhua. It's first public run will have been on 9th June 2014 (7th June 2014), although in March 2015 we were told it was in Hualien.

There are plans to convert the old steam shed at Changhua into a national railway museum - noted in a report from the Taipei Times about a heritage steam run in early 2007 (added 17th May 2007). By 2015, nothing much had happened but the depot was open to the public in the afternoon everyday except Monday (30th March 2015).

Some time ago I posted a list of known preserved locomotives (updated 4th April 2015, which includes many industrial steam locomotives and the surviving Shays of the Alishan Railway; 26 was restored some time ago, now I have been told that 25 is again a runner having been converted to oil burning in April 2006 (23rd July 2007) and 31 was running in March 2015 (30th March 2015). The third picture above of 25 is courtesy of Hsieh Ming Pin. I added some pictures of all the then restored locomotives on the island, courtesy of Su I-Jaw (15th April 2011).

I got this from old friend Ray Gardiner (15th May 2007) - "Have you seen this website on Taiwan sugar mills from Su I-Jaw? It has some great old photos of the mills and steam locos. Later photos cover the diesel locos very well. Also photos of a lot of other industrial railways ". By March 2015, the original link (now removed) had migrated to http://citycat.theweb.tw/indexeng.htm - link broken 1st November 2018. It also leads to a view of the surviving ex-forestry steam locomotives and for surviving ex-logging steam locomotives (Lotung and Alishan) - this paragraph updated 30th March 2015. 

Welcome news is that steam returned to the Alishan Railway with a series of short runs on Wednesdays during the Cherry Blossom Season from mid-March to mid-April 2015 (30th March 2015). James Waite, Takahide Yamamoto and I visited in March 2015, you can read my report on 'Preserved Steam (and more) in Taiwan, 2015' which covers Alishan, preserved main line steam and preserved sugar steam (4th April 2015).

"For frustrated, non-Chinese speaking Railbuffs!!!!" see Taiwan Railways in English (Link dead by May 2023) (added 23rd May 2007). There are some first class maps and one link on it is to this page with an amazing selection of old steam (and human) powered operations http://www.kurogane-rail.jp/eindex.html - link dead by July 2020.

As noted above there is very little accessible (non-Chinese or Japanese language) material on the history of steam in Taiwan. This German forum has an attempted developing history and although it is German language it is readily translated (23rd February 2021). Thanks to Aditya Budidarma Cholisi for nudging me to add this! 

https://www.drehscheibe-online.de/foren/read.php?017,9627686

https://www.drehscheibe-online.de/foren/read.php?017,9576138,page=2

Thailand Index

Richard Barrow has posted on Thai trains for some years but his (quite) new website https://www.thaitrainguide.com/ has a mass of useful information on the country including buying tickets. What stands out is that the myriad excursions and steam specials sell out very quickly when tickets are made available some 30 days before. For 2022, the dates remained as below for the steam runs, the destinations seem to rotate so check the site, Nakhon Pathom is a third possibility (9th December 2022).

Ray Schofield has reported to the CRC Groups (24th January 2020) that the annual quota of steam specials has been increased from four to six. In recent years the destinations have alternated between Ayutthaya and Chachoengsao and it would be wise to check locally which is planned for a particular occasion. The dates are as follows:

26th March - Railway Day
3rd June - Queen's Birthday
28th July - King's Birthday
12th August - (old) Queen's Birthday
23rd October - Chulalongkorn Day
5th December - (old) King's Birthday

The working preserved steam fleet consists 5 locomotives, Pacifics 824 and 850, Mikado 953 and Moguls 713 and 715. Normally they are kept at Thonburi shed (west Bangkok) and two of the larger locomotives are used on the annual special trains from Bangkok to Ayutthaya and back on 26th March, 12th August, 23rd October and 5th December, normally they work tender to tender as there are no turning facilities in Ayutthaya, but see above for a 2020 update.. The trains are exceptionally good value and tickets tend to sell out well in advance of the day, however, I have yet to hear of any visitor who was not able to board the train and buy a standee ticket. 

Peter Green reports that the annual 5th December special in 2023 ran from Hualampong to Chachoengsao with 824 and 850. His picture shows the train at Makkasan (13th December 2023).

Traditionally the moguls were used as part of  the annual 'Son et Lumiere' at Kanchanaburi in late November/early December (but not in 2010, 20th December 2010). However, I have not had any recent reports (13th December 2023).

The reports up to 2001 (which include the short lived Kanchanaburi excursions) are now available on a separate page.

I heard from two separate sources that the December 5th 2017 (new) King's birthday train would run with steam as normal. Also, that there will be no live steam presence at Kanchanaburi for the festival even though the two locomotives are serviceable (26th November 2017).

The annual March 26th steam train to Ayutthaya has been brought forward to Sunday 23rd March 2014 reports Richard Barrow (via Michael Pass, 20th February 2014). You can now read a report of the day on Richard's blog - http://www.richardbarrow.com/2014/03/steam-train-ride-to-ayutthaya/ - which also suggests that the August 12th 2014 run will be to Nakhon Pathom (3rd April 2014). 

Jan Willem van Dorp wrote (11th November 2010): "The Thai King's birthday steam specials for this year are now announced on the Thai version of the State Railways of Thailand website. This announcement contains a very pleasant surprise. In 2010 three specials are planned and the East and South lines feature in the program. Several enthusiasts covered the event and you can read about it and other preserved steam news in a composite report (20th December 2010). I missed it all by a week as I was in Burma, but I did visit the Death Railway and have posted a report (20th December 2010). Jan Willem sent me a link (now dead) which gave details of the programme for 2011. In the event the ambitious plans were aborted by mid-year and few of the trains ran, by the middle of the year those that did were diesel hauled (this paragraph updated 12th November 2011).

"No steam on December 5th, 2011" reports Chris Jeffery (12th November 2011). SRT staff at Hua Lampong station, Bangkok said their absence for the last 6-7 months was owing to 'mechanical condition' and unrelated to the floods. This year's King's Birthday train is advertised to Chachoengsao and will be diesel hauled, steam will not return until 2012. At the same time he established that "the last part of the line from Wongwian Yai to Mahachai (Samut Sakhon) is impassable. Trains are running to a 'halfway' point (12th November 2011). Michael Pass tells me that the regular March 26th 2012 steam run has been cancelled and there is no immediate prospect of further runs until substantial repairs have been carried out - the problem seems to be boiler related with sets of new tubes being required and presumably no money available (7th March 2012). Now, Wisarut Bholsithi reports (11th April 2012) that repairs have commenced and the locomotives should be ready for the 5th December 2012 train. Peter Green (15th June 2012) has sent three pictures from Thonburi which show that Pacifics 824 and 850 have had their boilers lifted, presumably they are to be sent to Makkasan Works (click to see a larger picture in a new window):

		In fact, it seems that these boilers were 'life expired'. Peter Green reports (4th November 2012), "Pacifics 850 and 824 hauled a test train to Nakhon Pathom yesterday. Their overhaul included the fitting of new boilers which were made in Thailand to Japanese specification. According to my informant, a senior manager at Thonburi Depot, this ensures the future of steam in Thailand for the next ten years. They were certainly a splendid sight as they moved off the depot (picture 4 above). Shortly after, the light failed". Chris Jeffery tells me that there was a further successful test run, this time to Ayutthaya, on 26th November and as a result the revival of the King's Birthday December 5th run is confirmed (28th November 2012). Chris Yapp has sent the two pictures of the actual run (7th December 2012).
	Hans Hufnagel confirms that 713 and 715 are at Kanchanburi for the annual son et lumiere starting on 7th December 2012 (7th December 2012). He confirms 715 worked without a diesel during the grand climax (9th December 2012). Of course, back in 1973, the real stuff looked a lot better! (9th December 2012). Chris Yapp and Michael Pass tell me that the 26th March 2013 steam special went off satisfactorily, there was a fair number of non-locals (farangs) present, this is Chris's photo of the train between Bang Khen and Laksi (4th April 2013). The 5th December 2013 run was diverted to Chachoengsao owing to problems on the Ayutthaya route (10th December 2013).
	Chris Yapp tells me that there was an extra one way steam run to Nakhon Pathom on 6th November 2014 (the picture was taken at Bang Sue) for the Loy Krathong Festival. The next run will the traditional 5th December King's Birthday train which is expected to run to Chachoengsao, but would be riders and photographers would be well advised to check nearer the time (all this 8th November 2014).

A surprisingly good source of current and historical information on Thai railways is http://www.2bangkok.com, clearly the webmaster is a transport enthusiast. Dig around for information and it will be very rewarding (link added 30th July 2005). I have at long last got hold of a reasonably up-to-date list of preserved steam in Thailand (latest update 22nd April 2024). Like all such lists it needs careful scanning for corrections/additions, please let me know and I will amend. James Waite points out (10th December 2007) that many of these feature on the Thai Railfans site - http://gallery.rotfaithai.com/index.php especially under 'others'. He had been in the country for the Kanchanaburi festival, Kings birthday train etc. He reports all went well. Most readers will have no problem working out what is happening here! Note that after many years, 'steam' was conspicuously absent from the S&L shown left in 2010 (20th December 2010), I suspect there was not enough money available in the current tourist slump.

James Waite stopped off here in March 2008 and investigated some preserved steam south east of Bangkok (13th April 2008). He was back again in December 2009 for a steamy weekend which included several preserved narrow gauge items in the north of the country (12th December 2009). On the static preservation front, Chris Yapp reports that the Railway Hall of Fame at Chatuchak closed on 23rd October 2012 (9th December 2012). 

Of the locomotives being restored at Makkasan in 2013 (see immediately below), 54, 61, 165 and 278 have been transferred to Hua Lamphong station by June 2023. This from https://www.drehscheibe-online.de/foren/read.php?030,10468120 (18th June 2023), thanks to Thomas Kautzor for this. Thomas adds (7th September 2023) that they have, at last, been joined by 336. I have now added a page of pictures from Eddie Barnes (18th October 2023)..

SRT is cosmetically restoring five steam locomotives at Makkasan Works reports Chris Yapp (19th January 2013); Henschel 0-6-0T 54, Brush 0-6-0T 61, North British 4-6-0 165, Hanomag 4-6-2 278 and SLM 2-8-0 336. As always the numbers are dubious. 338 is ex-Rh and 54 is notable as being built to standard gauge and the last survivor of its kind. The pictures show 54, 165, 278 and 336, 61 being impossibly placed inside.

Maeklomg Railway 12 has led a somewhat nomadic existence in the 21st century but has now pitched up at Tako Temple, Luang Pho Ruai Phachi, Ayutthaya.  This 2023 picture is courtesy of Eddie Barnes (19th October 2023).

After a 5 year gap I was back in Bangkok at the end of November 2005. Read about some interesting preserved rail and road items in the city (updated 25th May 2008). One incidental was a ride on the King's Birthday Special from Bangkok to Ayutthaya on 5th December 2005 (left). The weather was not kind, I spent most of the day familiarising myself with Beer Chang.

Peter Green reports that former Chatuchak Museum 750mm gauge 0-4-0T (Kyosan Kogyo 10089/1959) is alive and well at the Thong Soombong Club located 4km N of Pak Chong. It is used at weekends on a continuous run as the line has balloon loops at each end. It runs on compressed air, the smoke coming from a smoke generator in the firebox (30th November 2013)..

Patrick Rudin reports that the steam locos failed to reach Ayutthaya on 5th December 2006, which, given the general state these days of both the steam locomotive fleet and the railway as a whole doesn't come as any great surprise.... (added 9th December 2006). Aya Kakuma and Chris Jeffery now tell me that actually 824 did make it all the way but that 953 was detached at Bang Pa-in, the return run was diesel, presumably because 824 was north facing (12th March 2007).

I was briefly in Bangkok in April 2006, I had just enough time to finally see the two Japanese Mikados entombed at the former Asia Rice Mills (26th April 2006) - James Waite saw them later in 2007 (10th December 2007) and after an extended silence on the subject, John Baker tells me that they are up for sale (3rd June 2024). The international market for metre gauge locomotives is best described as 'thin' and I guess that if a buyer can be found then it will be local.

Peter Green has sent these pictures from his December 2011 visit to Nakhon Chaisi (west of Bangkok, near Nakhon Pathom). It shows 263 which has been cosmetically restored (it previously had its boiler sectioned) and a relatively new arrival in the country, a standard gauge industrial Hanomag 0-4-0T (6039/1912). They are reported to be part of the nearby Jesada Technik Museum - http://www.jesadatechnikmuseum.com.The Hanomag was sold to the museum by its previous owners, the Süddeutsches Eisenbahnmuseum, Heilbronn, Germany, www.eisenbahnmuseum-heilbronn.de/. (Link broken by December 2023. RD) All this 16th December 2011.

John Baker has sent (19th February 2005) this fascinating story from the Bangkok Post. "Ratchaburi: After six decades lying under water, a locomotive from a Japanese military-owned train that was bombed by the Allies during World War II will be retrieved from the Mae Klong river in Muang district and put on display as a tourist attraction. During World War II, the locomotive fell into the water when Chulalongkorn bridge was bombed by the Allies. The train was carrying weapons and supplies for Japanese soldiers and was crossing the Mae Klong river on its way to Burma. Lt-Gen Chaiyuth Theppayasuwan, chief of the army's Engineering Department, yesterday took technicians and divers to inspect the locomotive, which they found was still in good condition but surrounded by explosives. Each point where bombs were found would be marked and navy experts would be invited to survey the area and find ways to remove the locomotive and the explosives from the water. The train would then be put on display. Light and sound performances after its restoration would be held at Loy Krathong every year to show that war did no good to anyone and caused only damage, death and grief." I have since read that it is yet another C56 (7xx series 2-6-0s in later years), note added 3rd August 2005.

Don't hold your breath time, but the new government in Myanmar has declared its intention to rebuild the 'Death Railway' at least from Thanbyuzyat to the Three Pagodas Pass, see http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/4338 (Link dead by May 2023 16th May 2012). They are entering discussions with the Thai government, one problem that will need sorting is the fact that the original route has been submerged under the waters of a large dam on the Thai side.

I know it's not steam, but the 2Bangkok forum has some amazing colour pictures of the trams in 1964/5 - http://2bangkok.com/category/trams (link amended 16th December 2011). This is a sample used with permission, the original sample disappeared from their site at one stage, beware even this index page above has several broken links...

Vietnam Index

At the time when this website was established, there were a number of metre gauge 141 class 2-8-2 steam locomotives still at work and a 131 2-6-2T and GJ 0-6-0T at Thai Nguyen Steelworks. Slowly the level of steam went down until there was no more main line activity by the end of 2002. The reports from this period have now been moved to a separate page. Parts of Vietnam are still a beautiful country but it seems they won a war and lost the peace; given the mercenary attitude of the railway and its staff, few will mourn its passing.

For a magnificent collection of more than 4000 images please see this Flickr site "Railways and Tramways of Việt Nam" - https://www.flickr.com/photos/189316830@N03/ (12th September 2021).

	After the end of regular working steam, it was assumed that no further tours would be possible. But Hans Hufnagel then reported (29th December 2003) on a change in policy from the country, however, Hans later added (21st May 2005) that he had been told that since no tours at all ran in 2004, DSVN had decided not to continue to offer steam tours.
	The Far Rail group in March 2008 was surprisingly offered an active 141, but it failed to materialise. However, the group did find active steam in the form of GJ 0-6-0Ts at the Thai Nguyen Steelworks reports James Waite (13th April 2008). A recent CRJ reported standard gauge 0-6-0T 1032 active at the steel works in January 2010 (17th August 2010). You'll need an expensive permit to visit here, Fabrice Lanoue joined another Far Rail group in November 2010 (21st December 2010). There has been one GJ active at Thai Nguyen Steelworks but now that is to finish according to the FarRail Blog (15th December 2013, link dead by March 2023). According to a tour report the official end of steam date was 22nd October 2014 (5th November 2014).
	Surprisingly 141.158 has now turned up preserved outside the station in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) reports Sebastien Schramm (27th July 2004). Now (19th October 2023) Eddie Barnes has supplied a picture.
	Back in 2013 Chris Newman has supplied a then recent photograph of 141.182 outside the workshops at Di An. Chris also reports that privately owned 141.190 is still under active restoration inside, eventually it is expected to appear on a train designed to attract international tourists (6th February 2013). I have since heard from a second source that the main restoration effort is concentrated on 141.165 and that 141.190 is being cannibalised (12th March 2013), the main remaining issue is with the boiler but in the event it was 141.190 that was completed (first).

Further to the list below, a local newspaper report, http://tuoitrenews.vn/lifestyle/23940/vietnams-first-steam-locomotive-brought-back-to-life, relates that 141-190 has been returned to service (10th November 2014). Another report http://en.baomoi.com/Info/Vietnams-first-revived-steam-locomotive-trial-run-a-success/3/513970.epi link found broken on 27th October 2017 states that 141.90 has done a successful trial run (1st January 2015), see also http://www.thanhniennews.com/travel/warera-steam-locomotive-to-connect-hue-and-danang-37035.html (1st January 2015) (Link broken by January 2024. RD).

Ian Hopkins advises that in Bernd's 2014 posting, '206' should read '026' and that 131-428 is now on display at Dalat station. He also reports that the long trailed steam hauled service between Da Nang and Lang Co is due to become operational within the next 12 months. The company is looking for investors and although their website (http://revolutionexpress.com) is currently just a shell it will have full details when ii is launched (3rd March 2023). For an update on luxury rail excursions see https://edition.cnn.com/travel/vietage-luxury-train-vietnam-anantara-intl-hnk (28th May 2024).

A posting on the Far Rail Blog in March 2014 claimed that the following is a list of the remaining steam locomotives in the country (3rd April 2014), although identification may not be 100%:

1. Thai Nguyen:
131-428 has been transferred to China, (not so, see immediately above) leaving 4 steam locomotives: 030-1035, 1037 (best, after repair and using spare parts of 1032 and 1034, last check 1st December 2013), 1042 and 1045 still in good condition, ready for running..
2. Yen Bai:
131-402 dumped
3. Hanoi
141-165 was transferred in December 2013 to Di An, Saigon. There it is now together with 141-190 which was transferred 2 years ago for repair.
141-122 in Gia Lam in bad condition.
141-159 in Hanoi in good condition.
4. Plinthed:
141-179 in Di An Depot, Saigon (actually 141-82, see above)
141-158 at Saigon Station
a 141 in Danang Station (said to be 141-206 by http://railwaysinvietnam.com/141.html) (actually 141.026, see immediately above)
a 141 in Vinh Station (said to be 141-179 by http://railwaysinvietnam.com/141.html)

Railway Cranes (Steam and Hand) Index

Steam cranes have always been the 'Cinderellas' of the railway steam scene, but as their more glamorous steam locomotive sisters ended their working days, they have often continued to be active in countries with no other real steam, but in this region the only known active survivors are in China, Myanmar (maybe no longer, see link below), Thailand (maybe no longer with two of three confirmed converted to diesel power) and Vietnam. You can read more about these and other survivors (updated 30th April 2023).