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'Later Developments' heading and info added
Sometimes described as the '''[[Thaton-Duyinzaik Light Railway]]''' , the 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) line was originally built and worked by Mr. George Dawson of Rangoon. From [[Thaton]], the railway extended 8 miles east alongside a public road through jungle to Duyinzaik, connecting with a daily launch service also operated by Mr. Dawson to [[Moulmein]] <ref>[http://janfordsworld.blogspot.fr/2015/06/thaton-duyinzaik-railway.html “The Thaton-Duyinzac Railway” by Jan Ford]; Retrieved 17 Aug 2016</ref>.
The [[Imperial Gazetteer of India]] states '"The capital cost of construction up to the end of 1895, the last year for which capital and revenue accounts were submitted, was nearly 4½ lakhs. By an agreement entered into between Government and the original owner {Mr George Dawson} in January 1884, a subsidy of Rs.1,000 per mile was paid for three years after the date of opening on condition that a proper service be maintained, and for ten years Government kept up all the bridges on the line. From December 1900 the tramway passed into the hands of the '[[Irrawaddy Flotilla Company]]'. The receipts amounted in 1903 to Rs.32,000. In all 34,362 persons travelled by tramway in that year' " <ref name=Gaz9-185>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V09_191.gif Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 9, p. 185-186; 1908]; Retrieved 17 Aug 2016</ref>.<br>''The background to the change of ownership of this tramway, or for how long this arranement existed, has not been determined.''
The [[Imperial Gazetteer of India]] in 1908 states ‘The "The tramway , 8 miles long, built in 1883, runs along a metalled road from Thaton, the district headquarters on the west bank of the Donthami river, whence a steam-launch plies on weekdays to Moulmein. The tramway plays an important part in the carriage of paddy " <ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V23_343.gif Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 23, p. 336 and 337]; Retrieved 17 Aug 2016</ref>. The Royal Museums, Greenwhich have Photographic Album No ALB0298; Negative number: B2726(F) 79. Date c.1914‘Locomotive engine built at Dick Kerr & Co’s Works Kilmarnock 1901 – Thaton-Duyinzeik Railway [Shows the left side of a 0-6-0 Kerr 2ft 6ins gauge 18 tons locomotive with its 2-axle tender and looking pretty new – Photograph taken in a workshop, probably in Burma’<ref>[http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/533596.html#S2qtl9hwt2usyEVr.99 ‘The Royal Museums, Greenwhich’ – “Photographic Album No ALB0298” ; Negative number: B2726(F) 79.]; Retrieved 15 Oct 2017</ref>. ''This record has not been examined''
The 1921 book “Burma: A Handbook of Practical Information" by Sir J G Scott confirms the tramway was still in operation ‘In the Salween basin there are launches running daily from Moulmein to Duyinzeik in conjunction with a steam tramway from there to Thaton <ref>[https://ia800200.us.archive.org/5/items/cu31924023503208/cu31924023503208.pdf “Burma. A Handbook of Practical Information “ by Sir J G Scott, KCIE, 1921, page 310. Reproduced by Forgotten Books as a pdf file, page 381]; Retrieved 17 Aug 2016</ref>.
There is an unconfirmed report that the four NG steam locomotives that worked this line were transferred to the [[Madaya Light Railway]] on the ‘closure of the line’, possibly in 1907. However the statement mentioned above indicates that in 1921 the tramway was in service.
==Later Developments==
It would appear that the line of this abandoned tramway was upgraded and extended to Myaingalay; reported in 1988 as a ‘new branch Thaton – Myaingalay, with a line length of 38.3 km’
<ref>[https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/update-from-myanmar.html ‘Railway Gazette - Update from Myanmar -Railway openings in Myanmar 1988 - 2004’, 01 Nov 2004.]; Retrieved 4 Feb 2019</ref>. Myaingalay is the location of the cement plant at Myaing Ka Kay
''This is the total of all information despite extensive searches''
