Burma (Myanmar) (February 2002)

Mottama: The famous trains 85 and 86 are the really top steam-attraction of Burma. The line Bago - Mottama is about 200 kilometres long and is running through a beautiful hilly landscape with nice old trees, stations, pagodas and bridges. The largest bridge over river Sittang has a length of some hundred metres. However, because of strategic reasons taking photos is not allowed here.

And there are some other facts making the photographer's job difficult. First: the trains are very often hauled by diesel-engines. 2nd: the trains are delayed up to 5 hours every day. To get the best shots in daylight is a very unsure thing. If the trains are running with steam they are mostly hauled by class YD (2-8-2) based in Mokpalin or Mottama shed.

In the morning: YD-962 is leaving Kjikela half in time...		First overlong stop: YD-962 is starting delayed at Waw.
Near the geat Sittang-bridge YD-962 is passing by a market at Theinzayat station.		One of the nice stations with old trees is Donwun at the middle of the line.
Leaving Donwun the sun is already going down - 75 km are to go to Mottama, scheduled arrival at Mottama was 2 hours ago...		The rice-mill near the station of Hninpale has still a English one-cylinder steam-engine in use...
YD-962 with train 86 to Bago at Kyaikto station.		Shot in the fading daylight near Mokpalin...

Morning shot: YD-962 leaving a small station near Thaton...