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12/20/2024
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Viewing Album:  SRT -Tham Kra Sae viaduct and the 'Bridge on the River Kwai'.
 
By:Marty Pfohl
Dates:5/16/2014 - 5/18/2014
Album Info: This is an album for Thailanc's 'Death Railway' made famous by the classic war movie 'Bridge on the River Kwai'. This line of the SRT is officially the Namtok Branch aka Thai-Burma Railway and part of the 'Southern Line[s]. It was largely built during WW2 with forced labor from US and allied POWs, all of whom suffered greatly and with great cost in lives to complete the through line to Burma. After the war the line was cut and large parts were abandoned. Starting in 1949, Thak Railways took control and began rebuilding the line from Nam Tok, [Water falls] its present teminus, back toward Bangkok.Today, this line is just barely surviving on the tourists which come to see the Death Railway remanent. My album aoveres the 2 most famous locations on this line, Tham Kra Sae, a cliff-side viaduct, and the River Khwai Bridge. [Khwai Noi= 'Small Fork' river, often confused with Kwai, 'Water Buffalo']
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RKB
Title:  RKB
Description:  The famous Bridge on the River Kwai! It's a safe bet this 'version' is built after WW2. Allies tried 3 times to blow the bridge during the war. Trains to Tham Kra Sae and current end of line Nam Tok cross about 5 times a day each way. SRT also has a little homebuilt push-pull tourist train going back and forth across the bridge every few minutes.l
Photo Date:  5/15/2014  Upload Date: 6/2/2014 2:33:51 AM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Bridge
Locomotives: 
Views:  130   Comments: 3
RKBs2
Title:  RKBs2
Description:  1/2 way across and inbetween trains, looking to the cool shade of a 'tree tunnel' on the far side of the bridge. The public is free to walk the bridge.
Photo Date:  5/18/2014  Upload Date: 6/2/2014 2:35:03 AM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Bridge
Locomotives: 
Views:  94   Comments: 0
RKBs3Dtl
Title:  RKBs3Dtl
Description:  Detail of the bridge plate located on the 'back' side of one of the middle spans. Being that this plate is in English, i will venture to say it was built after the war as a reimbursement project.
Photo Date:  5/18/2014  Upload Date: 6/2/2014 2:35:47 AM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Bridge
Locomotives: 
Views:  106   Comments: 0
SRT719RKB
Title:  SRT719RKB
Description:  On static display a stone's throw from the Kwai bridge, SRT mogul No. 719 symbolically blows a smoke ring into the blue skies above. This steamer is a Japanese product of Kisha Seizo; 1936; b/n 1352. As it has a JR number on the boiler door, I would think this locomotive was payment to Siam for war damages.
Photo Date:  5/18/2014  Upload Date: 6/2/2014 3:30:09 AM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Roster,Steam
Locomotives:  SRT 719(2-6-0)
Views:  194   Comments: 0
SRT804RKB
Title:  SRT804RKB
Description:  Brightly painted but in a state of disrepair SRT [then known as RSR-Royal State Railways [of Siam}] Pacific No. 804 is another static display at Kwai bridge. This lady was originally from the Federated Malay Railways and of British manufacture; thus its distinctly European look. A broken cab window gives the apperence of the Engineer's ghost looking to the line ahead...
Photo Date:  5/18/2014  Upload Date: 6/2/2014 3:30:57 AM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Roster,Steam
Locomotives:  SRT 804(4-6-2)
Views:  174   Comments: 0
SRT 4036RKB
Title:  SRT 4036RKB
Description:  UM12C #4036 tiptoes across the Kwai bridge with a return train from Nam Tok.
Photo Date:  5/15/2014  Upload Date: 6/2/2014 4:38:16 AM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Bridge,Action
Locomotives:  SRT 4036(Unknown)
Views:  156   Comments: 0
SRT 4036RKBs2
Title:  SRT 4036RKBs2
Description:  SRT 4036 comes to a stop inbound at River Kwai Bridge.
Photo Date:  5/15/2014  Upload Date: 6/2/2014 4:39:09 AM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  SRT 4036(Unknown)
Views:  149   Comments: 0
SRT4007TKS
Title:  SRT4007TKS
Description:  From the lens of Ms. Sarnt, this is the 'classic' postcard view of a train on the Tham Kra Sae viaduct. It is the first train of the day, crossing at the still sleepy but relatively 'cool' hour of 6:11 am. This train is inbound to Bangkok and before crossing sounded off, waking us up!
Photo Date:  5/15/2014  Upload Date: 6/2/2014 1:29:11 PM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  B. Sarnt
Categories:  Scenic,Bridge,Action
Locomotives:  SRT 4007(Unknown)
Views:  140   Comments: 0
SRT4036TKSs1
Title:  SRT4036TKSs1
Description:  The mid afternoon train is headed inbound by UM12C no. 4036. We were able to watch all of the day's trains pass as it was pretty much too hot to do anything else....
Photo Date:  5/15/2014  Upload Date: 6/2/2014 7:55:04 PM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Scenic,Bridge,Passenger,Action
Locomotives:  SRT 4036(Unknown)
Views:  120   Comments: 0
SRT 4036TKSs2
Title:  SRT 4036TKSs2
Description:  A detail look at the 4036 from very low angle..this is the mid afternoon train just as she is about to cross the viaduct. Hidden out of sight just behind the engine is the Tham Kra Sae 'depot' -just a platform and a shelter for the tiny village here. Her 2 660hp engines are happily chortling along attest the open caps on the roofline!
Photo Date:  5/15/2014  Upload Date: 6/2/2014 7:54:10 PM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Scenic,Bridge,Action
Locomotives:  SRT 4036(Unknown)
Views:  125   Comments: 0
SRT 4036TKSs3
Title:  SRT 4036TKSs3
Description:  SRT 4036 was certainly busy pulling duty the day before AND the day of this photo. Here she brings the outbound 'nooner at a bit more than walking pace across the viaduct. She will return in a while with the inbound 'mid-afternooner.
Photo Date:  5/15/2014  Upload Date: 6/2/2014 7:53:12 PM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  SRT 4036(Unknown)
Views:  119   Comments: 0
SRT 4131TKS
Title:  SRT 4131TKS
Description:  The viaduct is still in shadow as the mid morning outbound train eases her way across. Alsthom AD24C no. 4131 leads the way.
Photo Date:  5/15/2014  Upload Date: 6/2/2014 11:18:33 PM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Passenger,Action
Locomotives:  SRT 4131(JT42BW)
Views:  188   Comments: 0
SRT 4131TKSs2
Title:  SRT 4131TKSs2
Description:  Moments later 4131 is already about halfway across.
Photo Date:  5/15/2014  Upload Date: 6/2/2014 11:19:50 PM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Bridge,Action
Locomotives:  SRT 4131(JT42BW)
Views:  188   Comments: 0
SRT 4131TKSs3Dtl
Title:  SRT 4131TKSs3Dtl
Description:  What looks like a scene in a scale layout is auctually railroading in 1:1 scale as cliffhugging AD24C 4131 nears the far end of the viaduct. Once past Tham Kra Sae the engineer will open 'er up and hightail out, making for a great sound show well echoed back by these cliffs! The old rails generously used to shore up the trestlework make the whole thing look rickety but it is definitely strong enough to endure daily use.
Photo Date:  5/15/2014  Upload Date: 6/2/2014 11:22:45 PM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Bridge,Action
Locomotives:  SRT 4131(JT42BW)
Views:  185   Comments: 0
GtzChcTKS
Title:  GtzChcTKS
Description:  One of the mid morning train coaches stood out in an unfortunate way..as the passengers gawk and take in the views..this 'Getz' character has also tagged right of way around Bangkok!
Photo Date:  5/15/2014  Upload Date: 6/3/2014 1:00:03 PM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Scenic,Bridge,Passenger,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  101   Comments: 0
SRT 4131TKSs4
Title:  SRT 4131TKSs4
Description:  4131 returns with the days' last train outbound. She is towing one of the older paint blue/white coaches. The first train[s] of the day were reasonably on time but as the day wore on the time gap became increasingly long, so that by the time of the last one as seen here, it was a bit of a challenge getting a decent photo with the fading light.
Photo Date:  5/15/2014  Upload Date: 6/3/2014 12:58:46 PM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Scenic,Bridge,Passenger,Action
Locomotives:  SRT 4131(JT42BW)
Views:  204   Comments: 0
SRTMWTKS
Title:  SRTMWTKS
Description:  With a 3 hour window before the noon train this MoW crew appeared to do some timber work on the trestle. Amazingly all the work here is manual and there is not a power tool in sight! At the bridge footings however, a series of floodlights were being replaced with LED type floods. At night the bridge is lit up with a 'streaming' display of changing colors.
Photo Date:  5/15/2014  Upload Date: 6/3/2014 1:30:05 PM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Bridge
Locomotives: 
Views:  100   Comments: 0
SRTMWTKSs2
Title:  SRTMWTKSs2
Description:  Nearing lunchtime and with the protective shade vanishing our MoW crew retreats for the day as they manually push thier equiptment off the viaduct. With no sound of machinery it was remarkably serene as they carried on thier work!
Photo Date:  5/15/2014  Upload Date: 6/3/2014 1:30:51 PM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  107   Comments: 0
SRTMWTKSs3
Title:  SRTMWTKSs3
Description:  It's a bit of a stretch to think this is 2014 and not 1880 as these 2 MoW workers push thier 100% Manual 'Burro' type derrick back to Tham Kra Sae and off the viaduct..time for lunch and a meet with the noon train..
Photo Date:  5/15/2014  Upload Date: 6/3/2014 1:31:41 PM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Bridge
Locomotives: 
Views:  109   Comments: 0
TKSVs1
Title:  TKSVs1
Description:  Deck level of the Tham Kra Sae Viaduct from the 'station'-of-same-name end. Below in the river is a well known resort with 'rustic' pontoon cabins offering the 'best view' of trains crossing the viaduct.
Photo Date:  5/16/2014  Upload Date: 6/3/2014 11:26:09 PM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Scenic,Bridge,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  91   Comments: 0
TKSVs2
Title:  TKSVs2
Description:  Tham Kra Sae Viaduct from the opposite end, Sai Tarn Iyara resort. It takes about 20 minutes at a liesurely pace to walk the length of the viaduct. We went across between midmorning and noon service and before the sun came over the cliffs.
Photo Date:  5/16/2014  Upload Date: 6/3/2014 11:27:04 PM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Scenic,Bridge
Locomotives: 
Views:  108   Comments: 0
TKSVs3
Title:  TKSVs3
Description:  Now a look back at Tham Kra Sae proper from Sai Tarn Iyara Resort. The jointed rails, ties, and deck show up beautifully in this photo.
Photo Date:  5/16/2014  Upload Date: 6/3/2014 11:28:00 PM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Scenic,Bridge,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  95   Comments: 0
Kp174TKS
Title:  Kp174TKS
Description:  Kilometer post in traditional thai script. This was tucked into the hillside curve at Sai Tarn. It reads: [km] 174. -from Bangkok, I presume..
Photo Date:  5/16/2014  Upload Date: 6/3/2014 11:29:03 PM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  93   Comments: 0
TKSVs4
Title:  TKSVs4
Description:  The sound of steel wheels on steel rails alerted us to this speeder ferrying workers to the Sai Tarn end. About 30 minutes later they came back.
Photo Date:  5/16/2014  Upload Date: 6/4/2014 12:04:30 AM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Scenic,Bridge,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  106   Comments: 0
TKSVs5
Title:  TKSVs5
Description:  Detail of some of the timberwork. On our way back we took a footpath below the viaduct revealing this variety of numbered supports.
Photo Date:  5/16/2014  Upload Date: 6/4/2014 2:18:11 AM
Location:  Bangkok, CO
Author:  Marty Pfohl
Categories:  Bridge
Locomotives: 
Views:  91   Comments: 0

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