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I'd visited a number of signal boxes before being introduced to Catchem's Corner in the late 1950s. But "Catchem's" (as it was always called) was the first signal box I learnt to operate. It fired my imagination and led to a period where I spent long periods in various signal boxes around the West Midlands. My blog post Visiting Signalboxes describes these early visits.
Catchem's Corner Signal Box lay on the Stour Valley Main Line from Wolverhampton High Level to Birmingham New Street. The adjacent signal boxes were Monmore Green (1021 yards in the Wolverhampton direction) and Spring Vale Sidings (1474 yards in the Birmingham direction).
The double-track line was more-or-less straight on a rising gradient through Monmore Geen and past Catchem's Corner on an embankment, curving left through Ettingshall Road and Bilston Station and on to Spring Vale Sidings. The signal box controlled the access to Ettingshall Road Goods Depot which was at a lower level than the main lines, necessitating a fierce gradient on the access sidings. At the time of my visits, this was quite a busy depot as the immediate area was home to a number of large engineering works, notably John Thompson.
Gradient Diagram of Stour Valley Line.
The signal box, situated on a broad embankment on the down side of the main lines, was a standard L.M.S. pattern with a brick base, wooden top, gable roof and with the lever frame on the side of the box away from the track.
The L.M.S. lever frame placed all the interlocking on the operating floor in a compact form, behind the levers. The catch-handles on the levers were the 'trigger' pattern fitted behind the lever (like an old-fashioned car handbrake). To reduce the walking the signalman had to do, L.M.S. practice placed all the main running signals near the centre of the frame. Bracketed from the roof on a series of bars the block shelf ran the length of the lever frame and accommodating various electrical repeaters, two L&NWR Block Signalling Instruments and a Block Switch. The Signal Box Diagram was suspended above the block shelf, showing the layout of points and signals controlled by the signal box together with the distance to principal features from the box and a gradient diagram. Heating was provided by a coal stove situated in the middle of the glazed wall nearest the track. The floor was covered with heavy-duty brown linoleum.
Click here for larger image.
Sketch plan of area controlled by Catchem's Corner Signal Box.
I didn't have a camera of my own at that time so I have no pictures of the box. If I produced any sketches at the time showing the track layout, they don't appear to have survived (it was around fifty years ago), so the simplified sketch above is made from memory, combined with information from the John Swift diagrams (see 'References' below).
Ettingshall Road Goods Depot and Sidings
There were no facing points on the main lines so access to all sidings was by drawing ahead and setting back. The main sidings, crane roads and goods sheds were reached by setting back from the Down Main but there was another group of sidings which could be used by Up trains attaching or detaching.
On the Down side, there was a single, long siding reached by drawing ahead and setting back. I think that this was probably a addition during World War II, to act as a refuge for a Down freight train which Wolverhampton was not ready to handle, allowing the main line to be cleared for more important trains.
Ettingshall Road and Bilston Station
This was a modest affair served by stopping trains. It had two wooden platforms flanking the main lines and the main station buildings on the Up side were also wooden. Access to each platform was by long ramps from Parkfield Road, which crossed under the railway a few yards on the Birmingham side of the station. As far as I remember, there was an electric bell operated from the signal box to alert the station staff to an approaching stopping service.
Down Signals
Down Outer Distant was mounted underneath Spring Vale's Down Home on a short LMS tubular post outside Spring Vale box.
Down Inner Distant was mounted underneath Spring Vale's Down Starter - a distinctive 'Gallows' signal with the arms on a wooden cantilever to the right of a lattice main post [see Note 1].
Down Home 1 was an LMS tubular post.
Down Home 2 was a very short LMS tubular post, just outside the box, with Monmore Green's Down Outer Distant carried underneath.
Down Starter was an LMS tubular post, with Monmore Green's Down Inner Distant carried underneath.
Up Signals
Up Outer Distant was mounted underneath Monmore Green's Up Home on a LMS tubular post.
Up Inner Distant was mounted underneath Monmore Green's Up Starter on a LMS tubular post.
Up Home was an LMS tubular post [see Note 2].
Up Starter was Upper Quadrant on a tall wooden post - the post almost certainly a survivor from the previous L&NWR lower quadrant arrangement. A Distant for Spring Vale was carried underneath.
Detonator Placers
Emergency Detonator Placers on the Up and Down main lines were operated from two levers in the centre of the lever frame.
Block Instruments, Block Control, Track Circuit and Signal Repeaters
Two L&NWR Block Signalling Instruments and a Block Switch stood on the Block Shelf. The block instrument connected to Spring Vale Sidings had a larger bell dome, giving a lower tone, allowing the signalman to distinguish that block bell from the one to Monmore Green, which had a smaller bell dome and a higher tone. The Block Switch allowed Catchem's Corner to "switch out", so that the block section extended between the signal boxes on either side which remained "switched in". Much later, I remember working Tipton Station box when the next box was Wolverhampton No. 1 (because Bloomfield Jn., Deepfields, Spring Vale, Catchem's and Monmore Green were closed).
Three track circuits covered the two main lines within 'Station Limits' and, outside the first 'Stop' signal in each direction, there was a 'Berth' track circuit (probably 200 yards in length). If 'Line Clear' had not been obtained from the next signal box, the 'Berth' track circuit held the home signal electrically locked until an approaching train had been 'brought under control'. The state of each track circuit (Clear/Occupied) was shown by electromechanical indicators fixed to the front of the block shelf. There were certainly repeaters for the weight bars of the distant signals (slotted with the arm above - see the article Slotting). I can't remember whether any of the stop signals had arm repeaters, or which signals had lamp repeaters. There's a general description of signal repeaters in the article Signal Arm, Slot and Lamp Repeaters.
Hours of Opening
In common with a number of signal boxes on the Stour Valley at the time, Catchem's Corner was normally open from 6.00 a.m. Monday to 5.50 a.m. Sunday.
Historic Events
The splendid 'Railways Archive' site has a PDF of the report following an accident at Catchem's Corner in 1912 here. It gives a fascinating insight into how the railway was then, plus clearly showing how a moment's lapse of concentration can have disastrous consequences.
In 1965, after I'd stopped visiting Catchem's Corner, John Thompson shipped a series of loads called the "Heaviest Single Load carried by British Railways" through the Ettingshall Road Goods Yard. There's a detailed article with photographs about these loads in 'BRILL' (see 'references ' below). I did signal one of these loads through Tipton Curve Junction and I've described that here.
Notes
[Note 1] Near the end of mechanical signalling on this line, this signal was replaced by a conventional tubular post, with a 'Shunt Ahead' arm underneath. This later arrangement is shown in the post Railway Signalling: Spring Vale Sidings Box.
[Note 2] Near the end of mechanical signalling on this line, a motor-operated distant for Spring Vale Sidings was placed underneath the Up Home. This later arrangement is shown in the post Railway Signalling: Spring Vale Sidings Box.
References
For a track diagram produced by John Swift showing Catchem's Corner, refer to the Signalling Record Society publication 'British Railways Layout Plans of the 1950's', 'Volume 11: LNWR Lines in the West Midlands' (ISBN: 1 873228 13 9).
There's nothing left now except plain double track - see 'Railway Track Diagrams Book 4: Midlands & North West', published by Trackmaps (ISBN: 0-9549866-0-1).
'Keep Big Loads off the Roads - a record of the single heaviest load carried by BR' in 'British Railways Illustrated' ('BRILL') Volume 9 Number 3, December 1999.
The following brief report is based on information from Doctor Hla Tun, who also supplied the photographs.
Second Bhamo Cruise 2013
On 31st August 2013, the 'Road to Mandalay', on its second Bhamo Cruise in 2013, anchored off Shwe Paw Island, at the end of the Ayeyarwady River's Second Defile. The Guests were able to visit the island and participate in the distribution of stationery to the 103 students at the island's school.
Students at Shwe Paw Island school standing on benches, ready to recite poems to the visitors after the distribution of stationery.
There is no clinic, no doctor and no nurse on Shwe Paw island. Patients need to go to Shwe Ku Town on the 'mainland' if they wish to see a doctor. Doctor Hla Tun always treats patients during his visits to the island and the shelter at the ferry landing stage is used as a makeshift 'clinic'.
Treatment of patients in the shelter at the ferry landing stage.
Third Bhamo Cruise 2013
On 15th September 2013, a further visit was made to the island school and, once again, stationery was distributed.
On the same day, Doctor Hla Tun treated patients in the shelter at the ferry landing stage.
The photographs above are from the set RTM Social Contribution.
I've previously visited Shwe Paw Island myself in 2010 and 2012. My reports are here (for 2010) and here (for 2012).
[Visit during Third Bhamo trip added 25-Sep-2013]
The following brief report is based on information from Doctor Hla Tun, who also supplied the photograph.
During the 'Road to Mandalay' second Bhamo Cruise in 2013, a donation of 80 sets of Blood Bottles and Blood Sets was made to Katha District Hospital. These are used for collecting blood from blood donors at the hospital. The blood is used for transfusions during emergency surgical operations or emergency situations involving profuse bleeding.
This was the second occasion on which donations of Blood Bottles and Blood Sets have been made to the hospital.
Donation of empty Blood Bottles and Blood Sets to a Laboratory Technician at Katha District Hospital.
The photograph above is from the set RTM Social Contribution.
On 14th September, during the third Bhamo Cruise in 2013, a further donation of 48 sets of Blood Bottles and Blood Sets was made to the hospital. That was third donation of Blood Bottles and Blood Sets to the Hospital, bringing the total number of Blood Bottles donated to 128.
I've not visited the Katha District Hospital but I've been to Katha in 2010 and 2012. My reports are here (for 2010) and here (for 2012).
[Details of donation made on 14-Sep-2013 added on 29-Oct-2013]
When the Vintage Tea Party (described in a post here) was being planned earlier this year, an interest in letting people see some of the inside of Brewood Hall was discussed. There have been a number of visits in the past (including two organised by Brewood Civic Society). It was agreed that the Vintage Tea Party organisers would take bookings for conducted tours on the 14th and 15th September 2013.
About 120 people booked so they were arranged into four groups - 2.00 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. on Saturday 14th and at the same times on the Sunday.
Each group assembled in the Lounge Hall at the appointed time where there was sufficient seating for (most) people. Jan gave a talk lasting around half an hour about the history and architecture of Brewood Hall (the post Brewood Hall has some information about history and architecture).
Jan talks about the history and architecture of the Hall.
Marion and Visitors in the Lounge Hall.
The group was then divided into two. Jan led the first party on a tour of the principal rooms of the building, finishing in the oak-panelled Dining Room. At the same time, Marion Reeves led the second party on a tour of the Small Barn (which received a major restoration a few years ago - the post Brewood Hall Small Barn has a little more information) and the Gardens (when the weather permitted), finishing back in the Hall itself. Jan then took the second party around the principal rooms and Marion took the first party to see the Barn and Gardens.
Visitors climbing the Main Stairs to the First Floor.
Jan describes the Tibetan wall-hanging - 'Thangka' - on the panelling behind her in the Dining Room.
At the beginning of September, the weather had turned much colder. On the Saturday, the weather was bright, cold but mainly dry. The Sunday was dull, cold and with intermittent rain. If visitors found the weather too inclement for a tour of the Gardens, they were invited to spend additional time in the Oriental Room, which has numerous artefacts from various countries.
Everybody seemed to enjoy the event and a number of the Visitors commented that they found the tour very interesting.
No admission charge was made for these tours, but donations were invited towards the work of the Jan Ford Foundation which supports charitable initiatives in Myanmar (Burma) including a Free Medical Centre, various School Projects and a number of Orphanages. There are a number of posts describing these initiatives which can be found here.
There are a few pictures taken during these Conducted Tours in the set Tour of Brewood Hall, September 2013.
There are a number of posts which describe earlier visits to Brewood Hall:-
NADFAS visit to Brewood Hall
Visit to Brewood by 'History Walks'
Wulfrun College Retired Staff Association visit Brewood Hall
'Inner Wheel' visit to Brewood Hall
Brewood Scouts visit Brewood Hall
Staffordshire Libraries visit to Brewood Hall
Brewood Civic Society visit to Brewood Hall
You can find all the posts about Brewood Hall here.
The following brief report was received from Doctor Hla Tun:-
On 20th August 2013, a stationery distribution was made at Naba railway station, during the 'Road to Mandalay' Bhamo Cruise 1.
Dr. Hla Tun and a young Guest from 'Road to Mandalay' distributing stationery to students on the broad platform at Naba Railway Station.
This photograph is from the set RTM Social Contribution.
The rather odd venue for the stationery distribution is because the 'Road to Mandalay' Guests had travelled from Katha to Naba by Private Train and so the station was a convenient location for the stationery distribution.
I've previously visited Naba myself in 2010 (when I was allowed to travel in the cab of the diesel locomotive hauling the Private Train) and again in 2012. However, we didn't make a stationery distribution on either of these trips. My report of the trip in 2010 is Train Ride to Naba (with links to my photographs). My report for the trip in 2012 is By Train to Naba (again, with links to photographs).
Education Support in Myanmar
I've written a number of posts describing the support which the 'RTM Social Contribution' makes to education in Myanmar. You can find all these posts here. A number of these posts describe visits to schools to distribute stationery to students but, in general, these schools are in the Mandalay and Bagan area, accessible as the 'Road to Mandalay' ship carries out its regular cruise schedule on the Ayeyarwady River.
Each year, the 'Road to Mandalay' makes two or three extended cruises further upstream as far as Bhamo, accompanied by two 'Fast Boats' which act as ferries taking Guests ashore for various trips. Some of these trips include visits to schools with donations of stationery. In addition, a number of schools along the river receive donations of stationery, although the 'Road to Mandalay' does not stop. In these cases, the 'Fast Boats' load the stationery and, preceding the 'Road to Mandalay' up river, drop off the donated materials at each of the schools in turn. This means that, by the time the 'Road to Mandalay' comes abeam each school, the students are waiting on the river bank, waving exercise books which they have received and indicating their thanks by waving and cheering. I have been on Bhamo Cruises in 2010 and 2012 and can confirm that the excitement as the 'Road to Mandalay' passes, sounding her siren, is quite affecting.
Stationery Distribution in 2010
My first Bhamo Cruise was in 2010. All my reports on that trip can be found here. On 26th August 2010, after visiting the 'Pottery Village', we sailed past a number of schools which had earlier received stationery donations and there's a brief description in the post Nwe Nyein Pottery Village.
Students waving as the 'Road to Mandalay' passes in 2010.
There are a number of pictures of the schools we passed in the set Cruising North on the Irrawaddy.
Stationery Distribution in 2012
I repeated the Bhamo Cruise in 2012 and all my reports are here. The itinerary was similar to that on my first Bhamo Cruise and, on Thursday 13th September 2012, we visited the 'Pottery Village' and then sailed past eight schools where the 'Fast Boats' had earlier delivered stationery. The post Visit to a Pottery Village and Stationery Distribution to 8 Schools describes the day.
Children waving their new, blue exercise books in 2012.
All my pictures as we cruised north are in the set Schoolchildren and others along the Ayeyarwaddy.
In order, as we sailed north, these are the schools we passed:-
| Place |
Nbr of Students |
River Bank |
| Ma Au |
154 |
West |
| Pya |
58 |
East |
| Nyaung Pin Thar |
95 |
East |
| Yone Pin |
270 |
West |
| Kote Tet |
355 |
West |
| Ka Bwet |
327 |
West |
| Kyaw Lay Well |
60 |
East |
| Pon Ner |
108 |
East |
The following reports on the Bhamo Cruises are based on information from Doctor Hla Tun.
Stationery Distribution on First Bhamo Cruise in 2013
On the 15th August 2013, the 'Road to Mandalay' sailed north through the Third Defile of the Irrawaddy River, passing eight riverbank schools where the 'Fast Boats' had earlier delivered stationery to about 1300 students. As the 'Road to Mandalay' passed each school, students, assembled on the riverbank, waved in thanks.
There are about 300 students at Ka Bwet school which also includes a secondary school.
There are about 340 students at Kote Tet school which includes a secondary school.
There are around 125 children in Pon Ner Village.
Stationery Distribution on Second Bhamo Cruise in 2013
On the 28th August 2013, the 'Road to Mandalay' sailed north on the second Bhamo Cruise. Once again, stationery, exercise books, pencils, rulers and ballpens were distributed to the eight riverbank schools.
Stationery Distribution on Third Bhamo Cruise in 2013
During the third Bhamo Cruise in 2013, on September 12th stationery was again distributed to more than 1300 students of the eight schools along the Third Defile of the Ayeyarwady River.
Pictures showing these riverbank schools are included in the set Schoolchildren and others along the Ayeyarwaddy.
[Second Bhamo Cruise in 2013 added 16-Sep-2013, Third Bhamo Cruise in 2013 added 25-Sep-2013]
This report is based on information from Doctor Hla Tun, who also supplied the photographs.
The Abbot of the Min Ga Lar Pa Ra Hi Ta Monastery in Pagoda Hill Village, Twan-Taye Township, accepts about 700 girls and 460 boys who are orphans, single parent children or very poor. The Monastery provides accommodation, food, school attendance and teaches handicrafts to offer a future career. The Monastery is around 30 miles south of Yangon and, if the traffic is quiet, the journey from Yangon takes around 75 minutes.
Five volunteer teachers, the Abbot and the visitors.
Orient Express operate The Governor's Residence Hotel in Yangon, often referred to simply as 'TGR'. On 13th July 2013 Doctor Hla Tun, together with staff from The Governor's Residence visited the Monastery to make donations of old linen, uniforms, gloves and stockings from the Hotel, plus stationery and soap.
Linen, old uniforms, stationery and soap donated to the Monastery.
There is a Government-recognised Middle School within the Monastery Compound which accepts children up to Grade 9. Beyond this, students have to attend the Government High School in the Village. Between 25 and 30 students from the Monastery Graduated and around 15 of these now work as Volunteer teachers in the Monastery. In addition, about 20 Monks work as Guardians in the Monastery.
Girls in front of their hostel. The building in the background is used as a dining room but it is not large enough to take all 1,160 children at one time so Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are each divided into two sittings.
Boys in their hostel building. Note the blue mosquito nets on the wall.
Inside view of hostel building.
Photographs
Min Ga Lar Pa Ra Hi Ta Monastery.
The Governor's Residence Hotel.
This report is based on information from Doctor Hla Tun, who also supplied the photographs.
In an earlier post ('Road to Mandalay' co-operation with other organisations) I described how the United Nations Childrens Fund ('UNICEF') had withdrawn funding from the Orphans and Vulnerable Children ('OVC') Project in Myanmar. I also explained that a German Foundation which provides help for HIV affected children, with local assistance from Doctor Hla Tun, started to provide funding in 2012 to allow the 'OVC' project in Myanmar to continue its work.
The 'OVC' Project in 2013
Between the 31st May and 2nd June 2013 (during the 'Road to Mandalay' 'off season' for 2013), Doctor Hla Tun visited Mon State and villages within Tha Nin Thar Yi Division to provide assistance to the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Project. The Project includes HIV infected children, HIV affected children and children whose parents can’t afford for them to attend school.
These children are helped by providing school enrolment fees and stationery. Twice a year a Forum is arranged providing snacks and cold drinks. Material and moral support is also provided to the Education Car Provider - the Self Help Groups ('SHG').
In the 2012-13 academic year, help was provided to 446 'OVC' students but in the 2013-2014 academic year (starting on 3rd June 2013) this number was raised and 758 'OVC' students were helped.
The distributions for 2013-2014 were made during Doctor Hla Tun's visits to Maw La Myaing City and Mu Don Township (included in Mon State) and the villages of La Mine and Kod Dut (included in Yaye township within Tha Nin Thar Yi Division). The numbers of 'OVC' students assisted at each location are:-
Maw La Myaing: 288
Mu Don: 142
Kod Dut: 202
La Mine: 126
Distribution at Mu Don
There are three Drop In Centres ('DIC') in Mu Don township (part of Mon state). Students from those centres came to the Win Sein Taw Ya Pagoda Compound on 1st June 2013 to receive support for the academic year 2013-14. Students were given school enrolment fee, stationery, a cold drink and a snack.
Distribution of support to OVC students at Win Sein Taw Ya Pagoda Compound.
The Win Sein Taw Ya Pagoda houses the World's Largest Reclining Buddha.
The World's Largest Reclining Buddha.
Incidentally, I visited the World's Largest Reclining Buddha in 2012 and that visit is described here. My photographs of this remarkable construction are here.
Distribution at Kod Dut
Distribution of stationery, snacks and drinks was made at the Drop In Centre ('DIC') in Kod Dut village on 1st June 2013.
Distribution of stationery, snacks and drinks at the Drop In Centre in Kod Dut village.
The Mon Ethnic Temporary School is about 5 miles from Kod Dut. It was founded by a Monk, has five classrooms and is recognised by the government.
Mon Ethnic temporary School.
Very poor Mon students attending the school were invited to Kod Dut on 1st June 2013 to receive stationery. They travelled from their school in the Monk's white pick-up, wearing the traditional Mon ethnic costume of white and red. The girls cheeks were covered with thanaka (the creamy, natural make-up and sun-screen made from the Thanaka tree), rather than cosmetics.
Students from Mon Ethnic temporary School.
This report is based on information from Doctor Hla Tun, who also supplied the photographs.
The 'Road to Mandalay' luxury river cruise ship (operated by Orient-Express) has a regular schedule sailing the Ayeyarwady River between Mandalay and Bagan in Myanmar (Burma). On Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week the 'Road to Mandalay' is anchored at Bagan, whilst the ship's Guests experience the remarkable sights of Bagan.
Doctor Hla Tun is the Ship's Doctor on 'Road to Mandalay' and he also manages the 'RTM Social Contribution' which supports a number of charitable initiatives in Myanmar in the field of education and medical support. The Bagan Medical Clinic, opened in August 2011, is perhaps the most ambitious of these initiatives. The Clinic is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week, staffed by two local doctors and a number of health assistants. In addition to looking after the Guests on the ship, the indefatigable Doctor Hla Tun becomes the senior doctor at the Clinic on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The 'Road to Mandalay' has an 'off season' (in 2013 from 8th May to 14th July) when Doctor Hla Tun is able to return to Yangon. However, the Bagan Medical Clinic continues to open as normal during the ship's 'off season' and, in 2013, Doctor Hla Tun spent five weeks during the 'off season' back at the Bagan Medical Clinic.
Patients waiting in front of the clinic. Some are holding their white medical record books issued by the Clinic.
During May, 3,303 treatments were carried out, during June a further 5,586 and during July 6,079 more, bringing the total number of treatments since the Clinic opened (on 6th August 2011) to 69,892. Because of the high demand, the facilities at the Clinic are being expanded with the construction of a new building.
Patients enjoying free lunch in front of the new clinic building under construction next to the original building.
A free lunch is provided because the long distances most patients travel to reach the Clinic necessitates patients setting off very early in the day or even the previous day.
Treatment is provided free for poor patients and on a cost-sharing basis for those who can afford to make a contribution. Where hospitalisation is required for further management of their condition, poor patients may also receive a donation from the Clinic for transportation, accommodation and part of cost of surgical procedures or blood transfusions. All this work is funded by both foreign and local donors, supported by local volunteers.
Monks and volunteers preparing lunch in the Monastery Compound for clinic patients.
As an example, one young boy was diagnosed with Ascites (accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity) and congenital heart disease. A donation was made by the Clinic for further management of the condition in hospital.
This boy with Ascites and congenital heart disease was given a donation for further management of the condition in hospital.
The Clinic can only deal with outpatient procedures. Not realising this, one mother brought her son who is suffering from congenital Spina Bifida. However, the Clinic was able to refer her to a hospital for further management of the condition and donate money towards the costs.
Spina Bifida patient.
One 49 year old lady had a very unfortunate experience. She suffered from Diabetes with numbness of her feet and hands due to neurological involvement. Since she lived in a remote village about 70 km from the Bagan Clinic she hired a motor bike and driver to bring her to the Clinic. On the way, the motor bike suffered a flat tyre and she and the driver had to walk for around an hour to reach a shop which could re-inflate the tyre. Whilst walking, she removed her sandals but because of the numbness in her feet she did not realise that the friction between the soles of her feet and the tarmac road surface was damaging the skin on her feet and creating blisters. On arrival at the Clinic, she had to sleep in the Monastery overnight, before seeing Doctor Hla Tun the following day, with additional problems to the original diabetes with neurological involvement.
Damage to the feet of a diabetic patient.
Treatment Summary
The table below summarises the number of treatments per month and the total number of treatments since the clinic started.
| Month |
Patients treated |
Total treatments |
| August 2011 |
355 |
355 |
| September 2011 |
784 |
1,139 |
| October 2011 |
1,434 |
2,573 |
| November 2011 |
1,723 |
4,296 |
| December 2011 |
2,013 |
6,309 |
| January 2012 |
1,605 |
7,889 |
| February 2012 |
2,464 |
10,353 |
| March 2012 |
4,603 |
14,956 |
| April 2012 |
2,043 |
16,999 |
| May 2012 - Jan 2013 |
To be added |
To be added |
| February 2013 |
2,713 |
49,850 |
| March 2013 |
2,713 |
49,850 |
| April 2013 |
2,061 |
54,924 |
| May 2013 |
3,303 |
58,227 |
| June 2013 |
5,586 |
63,813 |
| July 2013 |
6,079 |
69,892 |
This report is based on information from Doctor Hla Tun, who also supplied the photographs.
April 2013
The Bagan Clinic treated 2,061 patients in April 2013, bringing the total number of treatments since the Clinic opened on 6th August 2011 to 54,924.
Many patients have to set off very early in the day (or even the previous day, sleeping overnight in the Monastery compound), to register for treatment. For this reason, a free lunch is provided for patients and, in the afternoon, waiting patients can often be found sleeping near the clinic.
A small group of waiting patients resting near the clinic.
In front of clinic, two members of the clinic staff are kept busy measuring patients' blood pressure prior to the patients being seen by a doctor.
Measuring blood pressure in front of the clinic.
This lady had a painful abdomen after drinking or taking small amounts of food. The clinic treated her with Vitamins and Amino Acid and, because she was poor, donated money for referral to hospital where immediate surgery was performed, allowing her to eat and drink.
This 40 year old lady had suffered from a swollen, painful right knee joint for more than a year. She was referred to hospital for further management and the clinic made a donation for transportation and accommodation.
Treatment Summary
The table below summarises the number of treatments per month and the total number of treatments since the clinic started.
| Month |
Patients treated |
Total treatments |
| August 2011 |
355 |
355 |
| September 2011 |
784 |
1,139 |
| October 2011 |
1,434 |
2,573 |
| November 2011 |
1,723 |
4,296 |
| December 2011 |
2,013 |
6,309 |
| January 2012 |
1,605 |
7,889 |
| February 2012 |
2,464 |
10,353 |
| March 2012 |
4,603 |
14,956 |
| April 2012 |
2,043 |
16,999 |
| May 2012 - Jan 2013 |
To be added |
To be added |
| February 2013 |
2,713 |
49,850 |
| March 2013 |
2,713 |
49,850 |
| April 2013 |
2,061 |
54,924 |
Clinic photographs in 2013
Bagan Medical Clinic (2013).
Related posts in this blog
You can find all my posts about the Bagan Medical Clinic here.
The 'Road to Mandalay' charity opened the Free Medical Clinic in Bagan on 6th August 2011. Details about the early months can be found in a series of earlier posts 'Free Medical Clinic in Bagan' - Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. My visit in September 2012 is described in the post The Bagan Clinic. I was in Bagan again on Friday 15th February, 2013 and there's a little about visiting the Clinic in my post Bagan with photographs here.
March 2013
The following report is based on information from Doctor Hla Tun, who also supplied the photographs.
The Bagan Clinic treated an amazing 3,013 patients in March 2013, bringing the total number of treatments since the Clinic opened on 6th August 2011 to 52,863.
Over 80% of the patients travel distances between 30 km and 150 km to reach the Free Clinic at Bagan. A few patients travel between 150 km and 170 km to attend! For this reason, a free lunch is provided for patients.
Some of the more notable conditions presenting in March included:-
This elderly lady was referred to hospital with a dislocated hip. The clinic made a donation for the necessary transportation and accommodation.
This young girl suffered from stiffness of the right hand. After being treated twice in the Bagan Clinic, she could passively move her right hand with assistance from her left hand.
This 10 year old girl suffers from Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura and needs to be treated with fresh blood transfusion every 3 to 4 weeks. For a single transfusion, her parents need around 50 US Dollars for transportation, fee and hospitalization and the necessary blood tests prior to transfusion. The clinic made a donation to the girl's mother for blood transfusion. The clinic can directly provide medication for vitamin, minerals and liver support.
Treatment Summary
The table below summarises the number of treatments per month and the total number of treatments since the clinic started.
| Month |
Patients treated |
Total treatments |
| August 2011 |
355 |
355 |
| September 2011 |
784 |
1,139 |
| October 2011 |
1,434 |
2,573 |
| November 2011 |
1,723 |
4,296 |
| December 2011 |
2,013 |
6,309 |
| January 2012 |
1,605 |
7,889 |
| February 2012 |
2,464 |
10,353 |
| March 2012 |
4,603 |
14,956 |
| April 2012 |
2,043 |
16,999 |
| May 2012 - Jan 2013 |
To be added |
To be added |
| February 2013 |
2,713 |
49,850 |
| March 2013 |
3,013 |
52,863 |
More Photographs
Free Clinic in Bagan.
Around the Bagan Free Clinic.
Bagan Medical Clinic (2013).
The 'Road to Mandalay' charity opened the Free Medical Clinic in Bagan on 6th August 2011. Details about the early months can be found in a series of earlier posts 'Free Medical Clinic in Bagan' - Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. My visit in September 2012 is described in the post The Bagan Clinic. I was in Bagan again on Friday 15th February, 2013 and there's a little about visiting the Clinic in my post Bagan with photographs here.
February 2013
The following report is based on information from Doctor Hla Tun, who also supplied the photographs.
The Bagan Clinic treated 2713 patients in February 2013, bringing the total number of treatments since the Clinic opened on 6th August 2011 to 49,850. Some of the more unusual conditions presenting included:-
This 30 year old patient first came to the clinic on 22nd February 2013 from her village about 17 km south of Bagan with severe memory loss. For ten months she had been unable to name her children or recognise neighbours. Happily, following treatment, she returned to the clinic on the 8th March, able to respond to any question and name her three children and their ages.
Most patients have had to travel to reach the clinic, sometimes considerable distances. With the co-operation of the local Monastery and the 'Road to Mandalay' ship, a free lunch is served to waiting patients.
This 12 year old boy was diagnosed with congenital hyperlipidemia. The clinic treated him with cholesterol-lowering agents but he was referred to hospital for further management of the condition.
A four year old boy had a congenital hernia with hypospasdias (an abnormally placed urinary meatus). This boy was referred to hospital for surgery.
In a number of cases, the clinic donated funds to poor patients for transport and accommodation where hospitalisation was necessary.
Treatment Summary
The table below summarises the number of treatments per month and the total number of treatments since the clinic started.
| Month |
Patients treated |
Total treatments |
| August 2011 |
355 |
355 |
| September 2011 |
784 |
1,139 |
| October 2011 |
1,434 |
2,573 |
| November 2011 |
1,723 |
4,296 |
| December 2011 |
2,013 |
6,309 |
| January 2012 |
1,605 |
7,889 |
| February 2012 |
2,464 |
10,353 |
| March 2012 |
4,603 |
14,956 |
| April 2012 |
2,043 |
16,999 |
| May 2012 - Jan 2013 |
To be added |
To be added |
| February 2013 |
2,713 |
49,850 |
More Photographs
Free Clinic in Bagan.
Around the Bagan Free Clinic.
Bagan Medical Clinic (2013).
Gradient Diagram of Stour Valley Line.
Click here for larger image.
