tarboat's photos with the keyword: shan

Local transport at Bawdwin on the top section of the Burma Mines Railway was this converted Hino truck. This is No.2 of 3 and has direct drive to the front wheels and belt drive to the rear.

An overhead wire electric locomotive pushes a loaded ore wagon onto the tippler at Wallah Gorge above the Burma Mines Railway. I hope that helmet is well insulated!

The new smelter at Namtu was constructed after the Second World War during which the old smelter was destroyed. It processed lead, silver, zinc and copper from the Bawdwin mines but has been out of use for some time. It was suggested that it would reopen in 2012 but I have not heard anything of this since my visit.

A quick chat as the mine locomotive drags empty ore wagons off the tippler at Wallah Gorge above the Burma Mines Railway.

Not much headroom as an overhead wire electric locomotive brings tubs of ore to the tippler and loading bunkers at Wallah Gorge above the Burma Mines Railway.

Sparks fly as an overhead wire electric locomotive brings tubs of ore out of the tunnel at Wallah Gorge leading from the Burma Mines Tiger Tunnel workings to the tippler and loading bunkers.

Tippler house for lead/zinc ore being tipped for grading and moving to the loading bunkers at Wallah Gorge in north-east Myanmar. The ore from the deep mine at Bawdwin is brought out along the adit level to Tiger Camp and then through another tunnel to the bunkers here where it can be transferred to the Burma Mines Railway for transporting to the smelter at Namtu. The timber and corrugated iron architecture is typical of the Burma mines.

Gohteik viaduct is in Nawnghkio, western Shan State, Myanmar. The bridge was constructed in 1899 by the Pennsylvania and Maryland Bridge Construction Company, and opened in 1900. The components were made by the Pennsylvania Steel Company and were shipped from the United States. It is the highest bridge in Myanmar and when it was completed, the largest railway trestle in the world. The viaduct measures 689 metres (2,260 ft) from end to end. Height from the rail deck to the ground on the downstream side of the tallest tower, is 102 metres (335 ft). Because the line from Mandalay to Lashio is considered to be of strategic value, a diversionary route to the valley floor, featuring spectacular horseshoe curves, was built in 1976-1978, to keep trains running even if the Gohteik viaduct was sabotaged. Those tracks were still visible from the viaduct in 2013, but the diversionary line has been left to the tropical vegetation since 2002.

No.1 winder for the Marmion Shaft at the Bawdwin mine in north-east Myanmar. This was manufactured at the Siemens Works of English Electric at Stafford in the UK in 1925 and has been continuously in use since. The motor drive is rated at 295hp using 550 volts and drawing up to 436 amps. The No.2 winder is situated above and behind in the same building. Both units wind from a single shaft that is 1700ft deep and serves 14 levels. Currently the workings are flooded up to the sixth (adit) level at c700ft due to the pumps being switched off. The mine produces high grade ore containing silver, lead, zinc, and a little copper and gold. An image grabbed in great haste. This is in a military area and normally closed to outsiders. The industrial premises here are not officially open to view.

Crossing the river bridge at Namtu on the Burma Mines Railway.

Kerr Stuart 13 on arrival at Wallah Gorge on the Burma Mines Railway. The corrugated iron structures house a variety of shops and workshops.

The passing of a steam train does not distract the local kids from their kite as it passes the workshops at the Namtu depot of the Burma Mines Railway.

No.2 winder for the Marmion Shaft at the Bawdwin mine in north-east Myanmar. This was manufactured at the Siemens Works of English Electric at Stafford in the UK in 1925 and has been continuously in use since. The motor drive is rated at 295hp using 550 volts and drawing up to 436 amps. The No.1 winder is situated below and in front within the same building. Both units wind from a single shaft that is 1700ft deep and serves 14 levels. Currently the workings are flooded up to the sixth (adit) level at c700ft due to the pumps being switched off. The mine produces high grade ore containing silver, lead, zinc, and a little copper and gold.

Busy scenes outside the control office at Namtu on the Burma Mines Railway.

Livestock in the way on the Burma Mines Railway as 1927 built Bagnall No.42 heads a freight climbing the valley towards Lopah.

Kerr Stuart 13 is well above Tiger Camp heading in the direction of Bawdwin on the Burma Mines Railway.

Kerr Stuart 13 (Work No 2383/1914 arrives at Namtu yard on the Burma Mines Railway with a short freight.

Phone messages at Namtu are still routed via this manual exchange. No alternatives are available as there is no mobile network in Myanmar.