Steam in Myanmar, December 2001

Manfred Schoeler was back here again and found it quite steamy. I also have had reports from Alexander Jesserer and Olaf Güttler (only brief and not included here).

Bago - Mottama Train 85 / 86

Was steam every second day with both trains running chimney first, which provides full programme for photography. On several days we saw both trains running with steam. Timekeeping for train 85 is much better now. At one day it arrived at Mottama in sunlight!

Mottama locos: YD 962, 969, 970, YC 626.

On 16.12.2001 YC 626 was waiting for stone train to be loaded at Zinyaik.

DF 1203, 1228 and 1269 are there for 50 % of train 85 / 86 and stone trains / freight trains

Bago - Nyaungkashe

Mostly steam with YD 973 in early December and YC 629 on duty around Xmas.

On several days a diesel was seen on this duty.

YB 508 arrived at Bago from Insein on 30.11.2001. It should be prepared for service and be transferred to Pyinmana within 2 weeks. At Xmas it was still in Bago.

Pyuntaza - Madauk

Was not checked. YB 536 and YC 627 should be there. The latter was seen out of   the window of Express 11up to Mandalay on 04.12.2001 morning coming in from Madauk (Chimney first !)

Pyinmana

Was not visited.. YB 533 should be there for sugar cane trains.

Alexander Jesserer was there at about the same time:

Returning from Myanmar on Dec 31st, there are some interesting news:

Bago shed: YC 629, YD 973, YB 508 (HR Insein 9.2001)

During my visit, the YB was made fit for line work after the overhaul and should be sent to Pyinmana for the sugar trains; several other engines from Bago are also there.

Mokpalin shed: YC 626 (HR Insein 7.2001) is now allocated to Mokpalin shed for the stone trains. It got minor repairs during my visit. YB 543 and YC 625, dumped at Mokpalin will be sent to Insein for overhaul and conversion to oil firing, because their boilers are good (Information from Mokpalin shedmaster).

Mottama shed: YD 962, 969 and 970, two of them are used for 85 up/86 down (Bago - Mottama)

D (MAWD) 1032, at present stored at Pyuntaza should be sent to Insein for overhaul (and conversion to oil firing) and will be used for tourist specials. It will be allocated at Bago (Information from Bago shedmaster).

Train 169 up/ 170 down (Bago- Nyaungkashe) was hauled by YC 629 during my visit; train 85 up/ 86 down (Bago- Mottama) was steam/diesel to 22nd December and went steam/steam from 23rd December. It is a Mottama duty and YDs 962/969 were used. Timekeeping has improved, especially towards Mottama; on 23.12.01, the train arrived just 20 minutes late. On 25.12.01, the train was 6 minutes early at Teinzayat. The turntable at Bago is repaired now, so the Mottama duties are always chimney first. The Nyaungkashe engines normally face towards Bago.

Every shed charges a photographic fee of 500 Kyats, which  is 3/4 US$; it is used for the staff and for spare parts (?).

I can also provide copies of the complete Myanma Railways timetable, you can keep in touch with me via email: alexjesserer@hotmail.com.

These photographs of YD 962 on train 85 on 30th November 2001 are from Olaf Güttler: