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Myanmar Stream Locomotive Tour
Myanma Locomotive Served as a diplomat
 The first locomotive of Myanmar was started to run on the 1st
May, 1877. The pulling force like horse-power was 3,875 pounds.
There were 12 carriages in total: a first class, third class,
cargo-carriages apart from the last carriage for flying
signal-flag. The special guests and authorities concerned took
the train of trial-run. It was departed from The Yangon General
Railway Station (near the top of Pansodan Street at the South of
present railway station at 6a.m.
The British found the ways of exporting Myanmar’s treasure to
their country and, of importing their commodities for selling
them again or as the consequences of the contracted routes
between European and Asian countries.
Since then, no other permanent roads were paved except the
temporary summer earth-paths constructed at random for the
bull-lock carts. Thus, it would be more effective for swift and
fast transportation and cost less than the cost of construction
of the roads if the construction of rail-roads for
transportation was initiative. When the British brought into
Myanmar and, settled and cultivated there, it led to the
economic development. Then, the British Administration or
Imperialist’s Administration was become impressive and envied.
Forward to political advantage and war-fare advantage, to
construct the rail-road from Yangon to Pyay (Prome) of 161 miles
in distance was prepared.
In 1874, the rail-road was started to construct in the place of
the constructed earth-road, 100-mile Yangon-Pyay earth-road. For
the extension of rail-road, it was dug and filled with soil into
30-mile each on both sides of space. To pave with gravel and
marble, the pre-collected materials were used in the
construction of rail-road. The breadth of rail-lines was started
to use meter-guage, specifically measuring 1meter (3 feet 33/8
inches). The construction materials to build meter-guage
rail-road (from Sultaley province to Indus province) in India
were ready in Karachi town. These materials were brought into
Myanmar and kept constructing again. The first Myanmar rail-road
was constructed in the place of Nat Sin Kone (Today’s bridge No.
461) near Mahlaw Village and the golden door or city-gate of
ancient city-state Tharakhittayar (Sriketra) at the south of
Pyay-after collapsing down the ancient city Tharakhittayar. It
was completed the construction in 1877, 3 years later.
 On 1st May, 1877 (6 a.m.), the first locomotive of Myanmar
started to run along the Yangon-Pyay rail-road and stopped at
Kyimyintaing and Tamwe stations as stop-over (between Yangon and
Pyay) for a while. It arrived back in Yangon at 8 p.m. when it
drove direct after having inspected to Insein locomotive
workshop by the special guests and authorities concerned. That
was the beginning for the history of Myanmar locomotive.
In 1881, Yangon-Taungoo, where was a border-town of lower
Myanmar 166-mile far from Yangon, of rail-road was constructed.
Like Yangon-Pyay rail-road, it was constructed based on the
constructed earth-road (107-mile). Likewise, the rail-roads for
Yangon-Nyaunglaybin sector and for Nyaunglaybin-Taungoo sector
were partially built, and Yangon-Taungoo rail-road could be
inaugurated in 1st July 1885.
Although King Mindon tried to construct the rail-road, his
attempt did not come into existence. At the reign of King Thibaw,
such scheme was tried revived again but it came to the mutual
agreement to build the rail-road between
Tonekin-Mandalay-Taungoo. Nevertheless, it was all in vain owing
to the break-out of the third Anglo-Burmese War.
British exploited the variety of Myanmar products as well as the
benefits on economics, politics and war-fares after having kept
constructing the rail-networks (from Yangon) in the following
sectors:
- Yangon – Pyinmana (AD. 1888)
- Yangon – Myinchan – Mandalay – Myitkyina (AD.1899)
- Yangon – Alone – Katha – Lashio (AD.1910)
- Yangon – Pathein – Hinthada – Kyankhin (AD.1910)
- Yangon – Mottama (AD.1910)
- Yangon – Shwe Nyaung (AD.1924)
- Yangon – Kyaukpadaung – Tat Oo – Sagaing – Yay Oo –
Mataya (AD.1832)
- Yangon – Bago – Madauk (AD.1932)
Deserting Yangon by British after Japanese bombing attack by
air, Myanmar Railways Office (Head Quarter) was moved to
Mandalay.
 After British retreated from Myanmar, Japanese kept controlling
Myanmar Railway services under their administration. Then,
Japanese constructed the trans-countries rail-road:
Thanbyuzayat-Kanarburi (Myanmar – Thailand) passing over the
bridge on river Kwai and connected to Bangkok-Singapore. This
rail-road was constructed by force-labors: the prisoners of war
of Australian, of Dutch, of British, and of American as well as
Myanmar people young and old all over the country. On account of
severe weather, lack of foods and drinking water, and heavy
toil, two-third of force-labourers were killed. As a result,
this rail-road is notorious by its bad name, “Death Railway”.
After gaining the independence of Myanmar on 4th January, 1945,
Myanmar Railways was severely experienced by insurgents. Many
locomotives and trains, bridges and rail-lines were destroyed
and lost by the insurgents’ bombing. At the present, some
running stream locomotives are rested in Bago, Taunggu and ect.
However, the earliest and special locomotives could be seen only
at Namtu and Bawtwin Mine in the Shan State. Two out of these
steam locomotives have still been running for mining and
transporting by using the charcoal since British colonial days.
Despite of being really old and antique, they keep running on
the old railway lines among the hazy mountains and forest
valley. Passing through the brink of the rocky-cliff in the
mountain-valley will make you to get an incurable breath-taking
experience. If you want to see for British stream locomotives
experience in Myanmar, please let us arrange for your
unforgettable time by taking one of earliest locomotives at
Namtu and Bawtwin mine in upper Myanmar as following program.
The following program will suit you best.
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| It is the special excursion
trekking..... |
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| Naga Land is the last exotic
destination.... |
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| Myanmar Ayeyawaddy Dolphin is
........... |
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| There are many ranges of mountains. |
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| The first locomotive of Myanmar ..... |
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