Gokteik Viaduct

From Mandalay we went up to Pyin Oo Lwin and enjoyed a day trip up the train line and over the Gokteik Viaduct. Some facts from Wikipedia. Source of all knowledge:

• Highest bridge in Myanmar.
• Constructed in 1899… which makes it 115 years old.
• Components were made by the Pennsylvania Steel Company and shipped to Myanmar from the US.
• The railway line helped the British Empire to expand its influence in Myanmar.

Lonely Planet hypes the trip up… “Trains slow to a crawl when crossing the viaduct to avoid putting undue stress on the aging superstructure…” [true - the train did go very slowly] “… which, despite some 1990’s renovation work, still creaks ominously as the trains edge their way across…” [bit of an exaggeration… didn’t really notice any creaking… the train was pretty noisy as it was, what with the open windows, and general clatter that the train made].

Karen enjoyed training us in the art of pulling some of her favourite elastic faces, whilst we waited for the train… which was late…

Ant enjoyed inspecting the tracks…

  

The 4 hour 1 way ride cost just over a pound, and included “life insurance”. I did wonder what the payout would be if we did die on the train. Naturally we traveled “upper class”.

 

The train ride was beautiful. We bumped and clattered slowly through the Shan countryside. Red soil, mountains, flowering trees, cool weather…

One of the unfortunate consequences of no glass in the windows was that when the train brushed bushes, trees etc. (which was often), bits flew into the train and hit the passengers who were facing forward.

Ant was very excited by the census stickers on the carriage.

I was very excited by the on board toilet – a hole directly onto the tracks. Sounds basic. It was, but it did have a strategically placed handle so that you could hold on whilst squatting. Very useful given the ride was not exactly smooth… and accidentally slipping and getting a foot (or worse) stuck down the latrine hole would probably not be the best thing to happen.

After a while the viaduct of glory came into view.

… which was exciting for Karen.

… and then over the bridge we slowly went. Stunning views. Don’t look down.

We did breathe a small sigh of relief once we got to the other side…

… but it was probably less nerve wracking than the taxi ride back to Pyin Oo Lwin, on a road which snaked its way down, up and along the gorge. Over taking large trucks on hairpin bends is always fun, especially when there isn’t a safety barrier in sight.