Steam locomotive lovers pose beside a 1946 YD class engine in Mandalay.

A RAILWAY consultant from Britain commented last year that Myanma Railways should be congratulated for maintaining a small number of steam engine locomotives, which many tourists prefer as a means of transportation.

The consultant, Mr Paul Whittle, was one of 40 tourists who came to Mandalay in 2003 as part of a tour around Myanmar using steam locomotive trains built by the British in 1946-1947.

The group of tourists – 38 from Britain and two from the US – was able to relax and enjoy the 14-day trip, which was jointly arranged by local tour operator Tour Mandalay and the Railway Touring Company of Britain.

The latter company has organised similar steam engine tours in South America, Switzerland, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.

“[The train] is quite slow but we don’t mind because we like looking at the countryside. We had a very good train ride from Kalaw [in Shan state] to Thazi [in Mandalay Division], which is a very good piece of railway. We very very much enjoyed the trip there,” said Mr Whittle, who is also an ex-major in the British Army.

“Sometimes it breaks down on the way, but it’s alright. It gives us the chance to look around and take more pictures of the scenery and the locomotive itself,” he said.

“Our trip started from London and went to Bangkok, then Myanmar, and the whole journey took two weeks and cost us about US$3000 each. It’s quite expensive but we are all happy with the experience,” said Mr Whittle.

“Without the steam engines, not so many people like us would be coming to Myanmar,” commented one member of the tour group.

There are 39 steam locomotives in Myanmar, of which 10 are still working, while some of the others have been taken out of service and preserved, according to Myanma Railways.

Enthusiasts will encounter a variety of locomotive classes [see table below] – such as YB, YD, YC, and even rare examples of the ST class – still in working order under the care of Myanma Railways under the Ministry of Rail Transportation.

One ST 754 locomotive is available for chartered trips in Yangon and the surrounding areas, while YB, YD, and YC engines are used for destinations outside of the capital.

Myanma Railways officials said they have already received bookings from several tour companies for the coming high season.

Expectations are also high among local tour operators who offer itineraries ranging from a half-day ride around the capital to 14-day trips in Shan and Mon states.

One four-day program – available between November and February – gives train travellers the opportunity to journey through Mandalay, Lashio, Namtu and Bawtwin.

Among the sights on this trip is the famous Gokteik Viaduct, a 2260-foot-long bridge that spans a rocky, 320-foot-deep gorge in Shan State. When it was built more than 100 years ago by the US-based Pennsylvania and Maryland Bridge Construction company, it was the second-highest viaduct in the world.

U Myat Khaing, the managing director of MT & K Tourism Co., Ltd., said the itineraries for such tours require more planning than most package trips, so bookings should be made well in advance.

“This kind of travelling needs to be well planned. Advertising should be made at least one year in advance and bookings about six months ahead,” he said.

“Chartering a locomotive for a long haul could cost US$30,000 to $40,000, and the tour organiser should be able to attract about 20 riders,” he said.

Steam locomotives in Myanmar
Class of engine	YB	YC	YD	ST
First year of manufacture	1947	1931	1927	na
Wheel arrangement	4-6-2	4-6-2	2-8-2	2-6-4T
Year introduced to Myanmar	1947-48	1947-48	1927-28	1947-48
Use in Myanmar	local passenger	mail delivery, express passenger	goods transportation	charter
Manufacturer	Vulcan Foundry,Britain	Skoda Loco Works, Czechoslovakia	Swiss Loco,Switzerland	Robet Stephenson and Co., Ltd.,Britain

“The clientele for such trips usually consists of British and German tourists, with occasional people from Japan, and they are very happy to take photos while riding locomotives that were made in their own countries,” said U Myat Khaing.

“They love seeing old-time locomotives that are still in running condition, seeing the exhaust coming from the engine and riding the trains through the countryside,” he said.

Up to last year regular trains were able to take individual riders along routes through Bago, Pyun-ta-sa, Nyaung-lay-bin and Ma-dauk in Bago Division, but they have been discontinued.

Two steam engines are used regularly along routes between Mottama in Mon State and Bago to haul rocks from mine sites. Although they cannot be ridden by passengers, they provide good photo opportunities for enthusiasts.

“I think only chartered locomotives are available this year, and they are very expensive. It would be financially difficult for only three or four people to charter a locomotive with a few coaches,” U Myat Khaing said.