Steam in Vietnam 2003

The Railway Touring Company organised a trip to the country in January/February 2003. I have received two separate reports on it:

Firstly Steve Pratt

Based mainly on Hanoi, we had just one working steam loco for our tour. 141-190 hauled our mixed train from Hanoi to Haiphong docks, where it undertook some staged shunting duties. There was no sign of any remaining steam locos at the docks. We also visited Luu Xa, where steam locos from the Thai Nguyen steel works paraded for us. Standard gauge GJ class 1037 (T) and metre gauge 131-436 (T) were the performers, uniquely running up and down on the same set of mixed gauge tracks. Another standard gauge loco (1042?) was seen in the distance. Later, we visited Yen Vien depot, where metre gauge Class 141: 175, 184, 106 & 211 were stored, along with standard gauge GP6 class: 1055, 1027, 1007 & 1019. Our train from Hanoi to Lang Son was hauled again by 141-190, but towing dead 141-167 (with rods off), returning without this loco. For our journey from Hanoi to Yen Bai and return, 141-190 was again used. At Yen Bai, derelict 131-402 was spotted at the at end of the turning "Y". From here, one of the ex-Queensland D5H diesels (059) hauled our train, having been re-engined with a Caterpillar engine. At Van Phu, (KM 148) an eagle-eyed female member of our party spotted several camouflaged steam locos. On our return, we made a brief stop to examine these locos, but all were lacking any numbers. These were all Class 141 locos, but the only number decipherable was 141-166. Finally, 141-190 was used to haul our train south from Hanoi to Bim Son. At the cement works, 141-190 performed some shunting for us, but there was no sign of any other steam locos. We were told that steam had finally finished here on 01/01/03 and that all steam locos had been removed. In the station forecourt of HoChiMinh City, 141-158 remains plinthed. Another Class 141 remains plinthed in the station forecourt at Da Nang. I hope this brief report will be of interest. It proves that steam is at a very low ebb in Vietnam, though our tour guide said that Vietnam Railways hoped to have another Class 141 loco available for steam tours by the end of the year. Apparently, Hans Hufnagel is organising a tour at that time. 

Secondly Takahide Yamamoto

More bad news from Vietnam. The last steam shunting duty of Vietnam Railway at Ga Cong Nhiep Bim Son (Bim Son Industry station) for the adjacent cement works has finished. This was confirmed when I visited there with The Railway Touring Company's tour group on Feb. 3. According to the railway officials at the station the last steam was on Jan. 1, 2003 but this might have been the first day of diesel duty.

The tour group did steam charters from Ha Noi to Hai Phong, from Luu Xa to Ha Noi, from Ha Noi to Dong Dang and back, Ha Noi - Pho Lu and back, and Ha Noi - Cong Nhiep Bim Son (via Bim Son) on Jan. 26, 28, 29 (30 return), 31(Feb. 2 return), and 3 Feb. respectively. The locomotive was 141-190, the only one in working order.

On Jan. 28 at Luu Xa yard MG 131-436, SG 030-1037 and another 030 (unidentified) were seen. On Jan. 29 the train carried dead and tender first 141-167 at the end.

On Jan. 31 at Yen Bai 131-402 was found at the extreme end of the wye. (Not visible from outside or from passing trains) On Feb. 2 at Van Phu station seven dumped 141s were confirmed as previously reported and one of the tour members found 141-166 painted on one of them.