Steam in Burma 2006

Manfred Schoeler reports...

The good news:
Myanmar Railways YB, YC and YD class steam locomotives are still busy with freight trains on the mainline.

The bad news:
It is quite difficult to see them at work! There are no scheduled trains like the former branch line service to Madauk or Nyaungkhashe. There is no chance to go there just for one or two weeks to get your shots. According to Murphy's law the week of your visit will be the one when Toungoo, Pyuntaza, Bago, Mottama or Mokpalin sheds run out of oil.... So be prepared to spend your holiday visiting Pagodas, Inle Lake and the great Beaches of ChaungTha and Nagpali. But things can be worse - just imagine you are sitting in an polluted industrial area in China and there is no wheel turning because of Chinese New Year....

Steamoperation:

Yangon - Bago - Pyuntaza - Pyinmana - ??
YC 630 and YD 969 were seen between Yangon (Malwagon) and Toungoo. One roundtrip takes 5-7 days. Both locos are based at Pyuntaza. YD 973 was seen north of Toungoo on her way to Pyinmana and maybe further.

Mottama Line - Bago - Yangon / Kyauktaga (north of Nyaunglebin)

YD 962 (Bago) and 972 (Mokpalin) in regular use, YD 970 (Mottama) occasionally. Loaded trains from the quarries at Zinyaik, Yinnyein, Taungzun and Mokpalin normally depart in the evening. Usually they have a stopover in Mokpalin to get oil and maintenance for the engine and a rest for the crew. After that they proceed to Bago (stopover for oil and rest) and further to Kyauktaga or Yangon (Malwagon or Dagon Industrial Area).

Locomotive list:

Class	No.	HR INSN	most active status reported
YB	508	9/01	spare / Bago
YB	533		Unknown
YB	534	7/03	RTC - Special / Bago
YB	548		oou / Mawlamyine
YC	622		Unknown
YC	626	5/01	waiting INSN / Mokpalin
YC	627		service Pyinmana sugar cane
YC	629	6/99	LCGB - Special
YC	630		service / Pyuntaza
YD	446		oou / Mokpalin
YD	962		service / Bago
YD	964		service / Bago
YD	969	12/03	service / Pyuntaza
YD	970	2/00	service / Mottama
YD	972	3/05	service / Mokpalin
YD	973		service / Pyinmana
YD	974	1/02	spare / Bago
ST	759+t		oou / Malwagon
ST	764		plinthed at Headquarters
ST	774+t		RTC / LCGB - Special Malwagon
ST	778		oou / Mokpalin
S	3		plinthed at Headquarters
SL	3		plinthed at Headquarters
0-4-2ST			0-4-2 plinthed at Malwagon Kert Stuart 1284/1914
M	351		plinthed at Yangon Peoples Park
M	364		plinthed at Toungoo

One YD 9?? was reported at Insein Works for heavy repair.

New rolling stock:

Myanmar Railway has ordered batch of 11 YDM4 Diesel locos and 30 passenger coaches from India. Four of these locos have already been delivered.

General:

Photography is generally no problem but there are some don't dos as well: The real big bridges as Gokteik or the Sittoung Bridges are off limits for photography, as are the quarries, and new in the list - Pyinmana - a few km away the Generals are installing their new capital. This capital will be one of the most secret ones as there is a military area around Pyinmana which is absolutely off limits to foreigners. Tourists are allowed to pass through Pyinmana by long distance buses and trains. Overnight stays in Pyinmana, shed and station visits are strictly forbidden. The military zone is approx from Ella in the south to Tatkon in the north. The move of the key ministries should have been finished by mid February 2006.

Pictures:

Night at Bago Locoshed 1

Night at Bago Locoshed 2

YD 972 with an train of empties for Zinnyaik quarry near Theinzayat:

YD 972 blasting out of Taungzun:

YD 962 at Tongji on her way to Yangon: