Steam in Myanmar June 2007

Shane O'Neil reports:

I went to Myanmar from 20th to 30th June 2007. I spent a couple of days in Yangon and saw but did not phot two steam engines at a junction about 4-5 kms from Yangon main station (almost certainly at Malwagon Shed, RD), whilst travelling on the Circular train. I travelled to Mandalay by one of the regular day expresses, passing (in the dark pre-dawn) a steam-hauled freight about 20 km north of Yangon. There appeared to be active locos in a couple of depots (Pyuntaza & Pyinmana).

After a couple of days in Mandalay I continued my rail travels to Hsipaw, with a vague idea of road travel up to Namtu, however, I abandoned this idea when I could not arrange transport.

I retraced my travel to Mandalay and after being introduced to an English speaking Burmese car owner/driver by a Yank couple, I got him to take me back to Yangon in his 1958 Mercedes Benz 180. En route, we stopped at Toungoo and Bago, finding active steam at the latter with YD 964 being prepared to work a train to Moulmein that afternoon (28/6). Because of financial reasons I was not able to wait and phot the loco working this train and I had to continue to Yangon. 

The following day, I returned by rail to Bago, however, there was no active steam on shed. The loco staff told me that 964 would not return till the following Monday(2/7). 

However, they gave me a run down of all the active locos in the country and with this limited knowledge I understood that at least one additional loco was in use that day, somewhere. The details are: 
Bago: YB's 508 - out of service, YB 534 - rods off, undergoing minor repairs, YD 974 - rods off, minor repairs, YD 964 in service, YC 629 - absent and in service.
Pyuntaza: YC 630 - operable, YD 969 - operable.*
Pyinmana: YC 627 - operable, YD 973 - operable *
* Unable to confirm these details as I did not visit these depots.

As I returned to Yangon we passed a long steam hauled mixed, which appeared to have two locos attached. I was caught napping (really) and what it appeared to be was that they were running tender first (maybe no turning facilities in Yangon), with the locos separated by a few wagons. This was about 3 pm. 
So, from my limited observations and what the loco staff told me in their limited English, it appears that there is a regular daily steam-hauled mixed from Bago to Yangon & return. A Moulmein working is fairly regular & steam works up the mainline to Pyuntaza as required. 

It was hot and wet but not too bad & I will return in the sugar cane season. The driver I found (Tin Soe - who works out of the Strand Hotel) was great. He is a potentially a great 'cade driver, highly skilled & prepared to floor the 'beast' when required! He charged me $US100 - for the Mandalay - Yangon run over two days. He paid his own accommodation and I paid all meals and about half the petrol.