Myanmar 1999 by Nigel Lawrence

Myanmar 1999 by Nigel Lawrence

Nigel Lawrence was a on TEFS trip in 1999. TEFS tour organiser Bill Alborough appears looking out of the carriage window at 15:48. I have been given this original footage which I have digitised, edited, upscaled to 1080p and applied a correction for the shaky video in order to share it with railway enthusiasts via YouTube.

As it is not always clear where the video clips were recorded, I thought it better to list my guesses in this video description rather than on the video. That way, I can change them if anyone has a better idea of where they were shot.

00:00 The video appears to start at Bago on the mainline from Yangon to Mandelay with YC pacific YC630. This is probably the regular train towards Mokepalin on the line east towards Mawlamyine. I remember that a branch went off before Mokepalin and there was once a steam-hauled mixed train on the branch from Bago
04:42 The regular mixed train at the terminus - village name forgotten
06:04 we are back at Bago with a TEFS special train heading north behind YD 2-8-2 YD969
10:34 The American loco was preserved in the depot on the mainline north at Pyuntasa - we see the front of it here inside the shed. A steam hauled mixed train once worked on the mainline north to Nyaunglebin and then east on a branch which ended at a river crossing at Madauk.
10:51 YC624 has reached Madauk and is preparing to return.
12:50 we are back on the TEFS special train with YD969 - heading north? The lighting is not totally right for that.
14:03 unknown depot with an ST tank loco plinthed
14:41 Toungoo (130 miles north of Bago) - it’s not clear if the unknown depot was also here.
16:19 unknown large town/city - from this point on, I am unable to say where any of the footage was taken although footage - not included - seem to show the line from Thazi to Taunggyi (which includes a zig-zag) and a visit to Inlay Lake.
17:13 unfortunately, this station sign is not legible

If anyone can help identify other places on the video, please post a message with a time where it appears.

Nigel Lawrence
17th May 1943 – 30th April 2025
Nigel was born in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. He studied Chemistry at Nottingham University, where he met his wife, Joan. They were married in 1965 and had two children: Keith and Sandra.
Nigel began his career as a chemist. He later became a management consultant, pioneering the integration of early computers into companies’ business models. His career included roles at IBM, Phillips, Price Waterhouse Coopers, and Diageo.
Nigel served as a Parish Councillor in East Bridgford before being elected to represent East Bridgford Ward on Rushcliffe Borough Council holding this position for nearly 20 years before retiring in 2019.
One of Nigel's greatest hobbies was his love for steam locomotives. He took adventurous trips to countries where steam trains were still in operation, including China, Cuba, Germany, Indonesia, Pakistan, Ukraine and Zimbabwe, .
Nigel's health had been declining for some years. After a minor heart attack earlier this year, followed by a series of complications, he spent twelve weeks in hospital. Despite hopes for his return home, his health took a turn for the worse, and he passed away peacefully in Warrington Hospital, Cheshire, on April 30th. His family was by his side at the end.