OVERSEAS TRAVEL
A combination of work commitments and the limitations brought-on by ageing resulted in only one overseas trip during 2019, when I revisited my many friends in Myanmar (formerly called Burma). The pattern of the visit was generally similar to previous years but proved especially satisfying.
I set off on the 4th May and visited railway signalling installations in Yangon and Togyaunggalay (see section 'Myanma Railways' below) before taking the overnight coach to Mawlamyine in Mon State with Doctor Hla Tun. We made visits to various Drop In Centres in Mon State before travelling to the adjacent Kayin State to make distributions to a number of schools.
Presentations to schoolchildren in Kayin State, Burma 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)
We returned to Yangon for one night before flying to Nyaung Oo from where we made the short journey to Bagan so that the Doctor could carry out consultations at the Medical Clinic for three days.
Burma 2019: Distribution of free lunch to patients at Bagan Medical Clinic, Saturday 11th May 2019.
My friends then took me on a trip to Kayah State (staying in Loikaw) and Shan State (staying in Kalaw and Taung Gyi) before returning to Bagan Medical Clinic for a second weekend.
Visiting Taung Gwe Zedi, Loikaw (Burma 2019).
I made a distribution at Htee Pu school before the Doctor and I made travelled to Mandalay where I spent two nights at the Hilton Hotel (formerly Sedona) and visited friends. The Doctor arranged a fascinating visit to the railway signalling centre in Mandalay before we drove to Pyin Oo Lwin where the Doctor presented food donations at two orphanages.
Shwe Sin Minn orphanage, Mandalay, 2019: Doctor Hla Tun receives the donation certificate issued by the orphanage from the Head Nun.
On my last day, the Doctor and I said our 'good byes' at Mandalay International Airport before the Doctor flew back to Yangon. A little later, I caught the Qatar Airways flight to Doha and, finally, home.
The first of a series of posts describing my 2019 trip to Burma is here and each post in the series has links to the subsequent episode and my pictures. Alternately, you can display all the posts on the trip by clicking here (or selecting 'Burma-2019' in the 'List of Labels to select a blog topic' displayed near the top of each post on the right).
To find more about overseas visits I've made in previous years, see:-
Jan Ford's Travels (2001 onwards).TRAVEL IN THE UK
Jan Ford's Travels - The early trips (before 2001).
Jan Ford's Travels: Around the World in pictures
(alphabetic list of countries with links to pictures).
During the year I made a number of trips (mainly by rail) to various destinations in the UK, some of which have blog posts:-
A Trip to Birmingham 3-Dec-2019
The West London Line 17-Nov-2019
Bath by Train 23-Sep-2019
East Croydon to London Bridge 23-Sep-2019
Bournemouth by Train 7-Sep-2019
Buxton by Rail 23-Jul-2019
Caldicot by Train 7-Jul-2019
Glasgow by Rail 23-Apr-2019
Whitehaven by Rail 6-Apr-2019
New Brighton by Rail 30-Mar-2019
Morecambe by Rail 26-Mar-2019
Llandudno by Train 28-Feb-2019
Blackpool by Train 17-Feb-2019
Whitehaven Harbour.
RAILWAYS AND PRESERVATION
During 2018, I continued to support the Old Locomotive Committee and remained a volunteer at The Battlefield Line and Peak Rail.
The Old Locomotive Committee
This year, a nasty respiratory infection kept me away from the the 34th Annual General Meeting, held at the Museum of Liverpool. However, I was present later in the year at the 2019 'Lionsmeet' event held on Saturday, 17th August at the Littledown Park track of the Bournemouth & District Society of Model Engineers. My report is here.
Lionsmeet 2019: Bankside station on a warm afternoon.
All my posts about the Old Locomotive Committee are here and there's more information on their website (and including information on becoming a member) here.
The Battlefield Line
This year was the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Shackerstone Railway Society which runs the Battlefield Line. I had a number of steam and Diesel Multiple Unit driving turns during the year, some of which are described in blog posts and include links to my photograph albums:-
Santa Specials at the Battlefield Line 2019.
Battlefield Line Bonfire and Firework display at Market Bosworth Station.
Shackerstone Railway Society 50th Anniversary Steam Gala.
Operation of Steam/Diesel Multiple Unit Services at the Battlefield Line.
Jan and the Battlefield Line in 2019.
Fish and Chip Special.
Preparing 5542 (part 2).
5542 at the Battlefield Line in 2019.
'Pannier' 6430 at the Battlefield Line.
Last Train Monmouth-Chepstow Re-enactment.
Dinmore Manor' running tender first approaches Market Bosworth with a Down train, passing the 'Prairie'/DMU Shuttle in the Turnback Siding awaiting the road back to Shackerstone (50th Anniversary Gala at the Battlefield Line)
You can find all my posts about the Battlefield Line here.
Incidentally, you can find all my posts about Diesel Multiple Units here (or refer to the 'Index' here).
Peak Rail
During the year, I undertook a number of steam driving turns at Peak Rail and there are a few blog posts:-
Santa Specials at Peak Rail 2019.
Peak Rail 2019.
Buxton by Rail (Includes notes on early Peak Rail history).
No. 72 at Matlock Town (Santa Specials at Peak Rail 2019)
You can find all my posts about Peak Rail here and there's a collection of general pictures showing activities at Peak Rail during 2019 here.
Myanma Railways
During my visit to Burma in 2019 I was able to spend some time studying the railway system, thanks to Doctor Hla Tun's good offices. On the day I arrived in Myanmar, we visited the new Railway Signalling Centre at Yangon Central Station and the power box at Togyaunggalay. There are brief descriptions in the blog posts shown below, but I hope to post more later:-
Visit to 'Mandalay Tower'.
Return to Burma.
You can find all my posts about Myanma Railways here (or refer to the 'Index' here).
Mandalay Tower: NX Signalling Console (Photo: Myanma Railways).
BREWOOD HALL
The Brewood Garden Party was held at Brewood Hall for the seventh time on Saturday, 13th July 2019. There's a report here, with a link to my pictures.
Brewood Garden Party 2019: The weather was warm but not too hot.
A building dating from 1640 listed Grade II has a recurrent need for maintenance and various work was carried out in 2019 but no reports have been added to this blog in 2019. However, there is a post about tree maintenance in 2018 which was finally published in 2019 here.
You can find all my posts about Brewood Hall here.
TY GWYN
Ty Gwyn is a small commercial woodland around 27 hectares in area near Corwen in Wales. Although maintenance work continues on the growing crop, I've no updated pictures at present.
To see all my posts on Ty Gwyn, click here.
'ROAD TO MANDALAY' SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION
For a number of years, I've supported the charitable initiatives operated under the above name in Burma. I'm also currently a trustee of the Belmond Myanmar Foundation in the U.K. which also provides support to this work. When I visit Burma, I try to see as much as possible of the projects in hand. Educational Support is provided to a wide range of schools and orphanages (including the Orphans & Vulnerable Children Project in Mon State) and Medical Treatment to all ages (centred on the wonderful Bagan Medical Clinic).
You can find all my posts on Educational Support here.
Distribution at Htee Pu, May 2019: The 'group shot'.
You can find all my posts on Medical Support here.
Burma 2019: Doctor Hla Tun at work in his consulting room at the Bagan Medical Clinic.
OTHER BLOG POSTS IN THE YEAR
This review covers trips and events during the year but doesn't include other types of post including:-
Technical articles;PREVIOUS ANNUAL REVIEWS
Historical articles;
Work-related topics;
Recollections of past events;
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
