Railways
Railways in Myanmar/Burma
Railways in Myanmar/Burma - 2011
In 2011, I visited the mine railway in Namtu with a tour group again. In addition, I was also alone on the road to photograph the diesel operations of the state railway. In addition to shooting in Yangon and Mandalay, the focus was in and around Bago. Highlights included two trips on self-built rail buses on the branch lines from Bago to Nyaungkashe and from Pyuntaza to Madauk. The tour was rounded off by a visit to the old depot in Pyuntaza, where Myanma Railways pulled together all steam locomotives after the end of regular steam operations in April 2008.
Steam in Namtu - 2011
On my third visit to the mine train in Namtu, which for me is still by far the most beautiful railway in the world, again many shots were taken with the two steam locomotives No. 13 and No. 42. Unfortunately, the weather was not always sunny; a broken rod of the anyway very weak breasted No. 42 and the dam at ER Valley washed away by the last monsoon further restricted the program. On the other hand we were lucky to see the underground mine at Tiger Camp / Wallah Gorge in operation, and we were also able to visit the Namtu ironworks and other facilities. There are also photos of diesel locomotives, Wickham railcars and self-made rail trucks.
Railways in Myanmar/Burma - December 2009
In 2009, I focussed on a visit to the mine railway in Namtu as well when visiting Myanmar/Burma. However, I also spent a few days with the diesel operations of the state railway. In Yangon, I focussed on the main line traffic and a ride on the circle line; on the way back from Namtu there was a short detour to Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo) station. Afterwards I took the train from Mandalay to Thazi and finally further up into the mountains to Shwenyaung on one of the most beautiful railway lines in the world.
Steam in Namtu - 2009
During a visit of the mine railway in Namtu with a tour group, I was able to cover the whole section from Namtu to Badwin for the first time completely with steam. Unfortunately, the clouds predominated and we suffered several derailments, but spectacular pictures were taken nevertheless. In addition, we were able to use a self-propelled rail truck to travel to the section of Namtu - Nahsai, which had already been shut down officially. All in all a very successful journey with partly irretrievable pictures.
Mine railway in Namtu - 2009
At the beginning of 2009 I travelled to Namtu as an individual tourist to visit the spectacular mine railways for the first time. Despite approval of the military junta, I was denied to travel on the line to Bawdwin. Of course there was no steam operation, but at least I was able to experience the last ore traffic with the O&K and Diema diesel locomotives which ended a few months later. Despite the somewhat disappointing journey, I immediately fell in love with the Namtu mine railway.
Railways in Myanmar/Burma - January 2009
My journey to Myanmar in early 2009 focused on the railways as a means of transport. I took train rides from Nyaung U / Bagan to Mandalay (via Myingyan), Mandalay to Myitkyina (night train ride) and Mandalay via a stopover in Bago back to Yangon. The holiday was rounded off by a visit to the repair shop at Insein.
Steam in Myanmar/Burma - 2007
My first contact to steam locomotives in Myanmar in 2007. By chance and without knowing beforehand, I discovered during a holiday around Bago the last active steam locomotives in the regular operations of the state railway. This coincidence brought back the train fever. At the time, I had no idea about railway photography, so the pictures are of rather mediocre quality. Nevertheless, I do not want to miss them. The last active YC and YD class steam locomotives can be seen in the Bago depot as well as hauling stone trains between Mokepalin and Bago.
Sandaoling 2019
During my (probably very last) visit to Sandaoling in northwestern China, I once again enjoyed the full program. Wonderful weather, ice-cold temperatures and relatively regular steam operation - everything the steam lovers heart desires. Even the sixth visit to Sandaoling did not bore me for a second.
Sandaoling 2018
The visit to Sandaoling in 2018 also left nothing to be desired. Beautiful weather again (apart from a bad weather day and a short sandstorm), regular steam operation and as a highlight steam double traction to mine # 2 (Erjing). As a treat on top of it, there was also a visit to the workshop.
Sandaoling 2017
For the first time I was allowed to enjoy snow during my fourth visit to Sandaoling in 2017;a whole new experience for me. Wherever possible, the snow was put into the picture, especially shortly after a veritable snowstorm. I suffered from ice-cold feet every day, but it was defintely worth it.
Sandaoling & Fuxin 2016
Daytime temperatures up to + 20° in the middle of winter. Almost tropical feelings in Sandaoling, unfortunately the steam evaporation suffered considerably. The trip to Fuxin in the north of China also suffered from bad weather. Appropriately enough, the clouds were crying when we chased the few remaining steam trains just a few months before steam operations in Fuxin ended quite unexpected.
Fuxin & Pingzhuang 2015
In 2015, I was lucky enough to fully enjoy the steam operation in Fuxin in icy temperatures. On and around the spoil dump numerous shots were taken of the roaring steam operation. Much sader was the trip to Pingzhuang in Inner Mongolia. There it still steamed a little bit, but the end of steam operation there was already foreseeable.
Sandaoling 2013
After a memorable, nearly 30-hour night train ride in a completely overcrowded train after Chinese New Year, the short visit to Sandaoling unfortunately suffered from heavy sandstorms. The spoil dump traffic in Xibolizhan was still running, but due to numerous blasting there was no chance to enter the open pit.
Fuxin 2010
At the end of the almost five-week steam tour in 2010, we spent a day in Fuxin. We were able to photograph the passenger trains before they ceased a few months later. There was quite a lot of steam operation going on, but all in all no comparison to roaring previous years.
Diaobingshan/Tiefa 2010
Focus in Diaobingshan / Tiefa should actually have been on a charter train pulled by the American KD6 USATC locomotive. Unfortunately, the weather on the planned day was a complete nightmare; a short-term shift to the following day failed because of the Chinese stubbornness. After all, we succeeded on the following day with glorious weather in using the KD6 in front of a morning passenger train.
Bayin 2010
Unfortunately we missed the last steam-hauled freight trains up into the mountains, but the morning and evening passenger trains with steam traction as well as the mostly steam-powered shunting traffic in Bayin Gongsi were again fully savored, just before the steam operation ended here.
Yamansu 2010
It started with a big disappointment and ended up with a highlight on the five-week journey. Ore traffic in Yamansu was already extremely irregular at the time of our visit, sometimes with several weeks without any traffic. It was thus even more annoying that we missed two steam trains on the first day by a few minutes. But the next morning then brought us the jackpot. A steam-hauled train in glorious morning light brought us spectacular desert images.
Sandaoling 2010
Nearly four days with best weather and roaring steam operation around Xibolizhan. You could just stand next to the track and at least every five minutes a steam train rushed by. Almost 30 steam locomotives were in operation per day, and that in the second decade of the third millennium! The photographic output was correspondingly extensive.
Shibanxi/Jixi 2010
The memorable steam journey through China in 2010 began with a memorable visit in southern China in Shibanxi / Jixi. Three to four steam-hauled passenger trains and up to four coal trains in daylight and quite sunny weather (which can be hardly seen in southern China). A full last-minute success before the coal operation ended and the narrow-gauge railway was converted to the Disneyland like attraction.
Thailand 2018
It was not really a railroad holiday, but rather a family vacation. However, one afternoon I took the chance and documented the trains around the central station of Bangkok (Hualamphong Station). There, the old roaring diesel engines of Alsthom, Krupp and General Electric provided a lot of variety. Together with my family I also visited the bridge on the River Kwai and the "market railway" in Maeklong.
Thailand 2017
Again in 2017, as part of the family vacation, there was a trip to the main train station in Bangkok, this time even with his wife and little son, who made his first steps as a railway photographer. The "market railway" in Maeklong, meanwhile a terrible mass tourist attraction, was also on the list.
Thailand 2011
In 2011 I used a short stopover in Bangkok on the return journey from Myanmar for a short visit of the railway in Bangkok. From Makkasan station I walked along the railroad track to the central station. Diesel and rail car friends will certainly get their share here.
Singapore 2009
Singapore was the terminus of my more than 13,000 km long train journey through East and Southeast Asia. I was able to take the train from Malaysia to the central station in Tanjong Pagar just before the line in Singapore was shut down and dismantled.
Malaysia 2009
In 2009 I took the train from Bangkok to Butterworth in Malaysia and then further down to Singapore with two short stopovers in Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur. Especially during the stays in the train station hotels in Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur a few railway pictures were made.
Thailand 2009
The slow train brought me from Aranyaprathet on the border with Cambodia to Bangkok, where I changed to the night train to Butterworth. Railway pictures were mainly taken on the beautiful slow train ride and in Bangkok.
Cambodia 2009
When I arrived in Cambodia in 2009, the railway operations had stopped completely. So all that remained for me was to see all the rolling stock that was gathered at Phnom Penh Station. In Battambang I took the chance to travel on the railway lines for a few miles usingn a self-made trolley.
Vietnam 2009
During my visit to Vietnam, the railroad was mainly used as a means of transport. From Lao Cai on the border with China I travelled by train alongside the Red River to Hanoi. From there the Reunification Express brought me in two days to Saigon; the longest train journey in terms of time so far in my life! During a trip to Da Lat, I was also able to photograph the remains of the French-colonial cogwheel line up into the mountains to Da Lat.
China 2019
During my compulsory visit to my relatives in Beijing, I re-visited my favourite photo spot on the old city wall at the main station and spent half a day taking pictures of the train traffic. Also, a photo session on the S2 around the Great Wall in Badalaing was on the list before this spectacular section will be shut down most probably.
China 2018
Standard program in 2018 again, I paid a visit to the old city wall and the S2 line around Badaling to capture the train operation. In addition, I also visited the new tram line in northwest Beijing at the foot of the mountains of fragrance.
China 2017
In addition to a visit on the city wall at Beijing station, I took the night train from Beijing to Kumul / Hami to my beloved steam locomotives in Sandaoling. On the return trip, I went back to Beijing via the unfamiliar route through Inner Mongolia and Ningxia.
Taiwan 2017
The family vacation in Taiwan had only two points of contact with the railway. A high-speed train ride from Taipei to Kaohsiung and a visit to the spectacular Alishan Forest Railway.
China 2016
In 2016, I paid a visit to the old city wall at Beijing Central Station to document the train traffic at the central station photographically.
Railway museums in Beijing
During my numerous stays in Beijing, I paid several visits to the Railway Museum on Tiananmen Square and the extensive collection of vehicles on the test track of the Chinese Railway in northeast Beijing.
China 2015
The visit to the steam train operations in Fuxin and Pingzhuang were completed covered by train from Beijing. The resulting impressions as well as railway pictures of a non-railway-related detour to Hunan in the south of China can be seen here.
Hong Kong 2015
During a short visit to Hong Kong, I paid a visit to the very small but very nice railway museum. And several rides with the "ding ding" trams through the high-rise building gorges must not be missed during a trip to Hong Kong!
China 2013
My first visit to the steam paradise in Sandaoling as a single tourist started with a memorable 30-hour ride in a completely crowded night train from Beijing to Hami / Kumul in northwestern China. The return journey was also done by train, this time with a change of trains in Lanzhou.
China 2009
In 2009 I criss-crossed China by train from North to South. Starting point was Dandong on the border with North Korea, via Beijing, Datong, Xi'an, Suzhou, Tunxi (Huangshan) and Guilin, I travelled to Kunming, all by train. In Kunming, I paid a visit to the local railway museum of the Yunnan Railway.
North Korea 2009
During a non-railway-related group trip to North Korea I also created a few snapshots with railway reference. Taking photos was difficult, and therefore the picture quality is rather poor. In addition to subway and trams in Pyongyang, I also made random railway pictures in the province as well as during a train ride from Pyongyang to Sinuiju on the border with China.
Netherlands 2017
During a short family holiday in the Netherlands, I was able to visit the model railway museum in Sneek and to photograph the train traffic in Harlingen Haven.
Bulgaria 2017
During a family holiday in Bulgaria, I was able to take a quick look into the train station of Varna / Warna.
Switzerland 2009 (Rhaetian Railways)
During a family holiday in the Engadin, especially on hikes alongside the tracks from Preda to Bergün and from Bernina Ospizia to Poschiavio, I took several pictures of the Rhaetian Railway.
Germany
Although I live in Germany, I hardly take railway pictures there. Exceptions are a few snapshots of the 420 series in the Rhine-Main area as well as special trips with the ERR in the open freight train car behind the steam locomotive on the way up to the Brocken (Harz) and a rail bus ride on the Heidekrautbahn in the north of Berlin.
