A Train unlike any other!

Kanchanaburi

Our trip through Thailand takes us to Kanchanaburi, this beautiful region that I really appreciate, with its surrounding mountains, valleys, rivers, fields of crops, splendid rice fields.

My daughter born in Phuket, had never had the opportunity to board a train (there is no rail network in Phuket) and there, it was an excellent opportunity to discover the joys of the Thai rail network... well, it is true that this part of the network is rather folklore with a very clear tourist dominance, the other trains in Thailand being all the same more modern...

So I had the idea of taking this train ride in the middle of the mountains along the famous Kwai River, from Kanchanaburi to the terminus of the line, namely the small station of Nam Tok.

This line traditionally called "The Death Train" brings you to a site steeped in history that I have already been able to present here in photos:

We buy our ticket to go to the terminus of the line: NAM TOK, which is about two hours' drive.
The small station of Kanchanaburi is quite charming: beautifully flowered and maintained.
Our first surprise is to see a train in the station that has nothing to do with the idea I had of taking this little trip...
I quickly understand that this train is not the one we are going to use... it is the Eastern & Oriental Express from which I have gathered some pictures that you can visit here:

Wagons from another era!

While in this picture you can see (on the left) the Oriental Express, we hurry to get on board this old ass-kicking from another century to take a walk along the Kwai River.

All the windows are open, and the fans on the ceiling are running at full speed to stir up the hot air... it's promising! If the train looks really old, it is clean and well maintained.

We left the small station of Kanchanaburi.... and pass the small station of the Kwai River Bridge. There, many tourists board and in a few seconds, we find ourselves in an impressive mass tourism. Groups of French of course who complain that they don't have a seat... when you just have to go and look a little further in the other cars, in short, it's getting really hot.

Advice: if you are an individual, it is better to board the train at Kanchanburi station, where there is much less traffic, which makes it easier for you to choose your seat...

The train, which is swinging well, is moving at a little over 50 km/h. All in all.... he must reach 60... but given his state of seniority, I wouldn't like to go any faster anyway.

It's hot, very hot. In fact, the price of the ticket (100 bahts) included the sauna session!

Pancake and soft drink vendors spend every five minutes in the central aisle....

The wooden Viaduct, full of history

It's kind of funny to see all these people at the train windows. The attraction happens on this side of course, hence the advantage of being able to choose your place at the start and on the right side... I noticed that many people could not take good pictures because of the size of the windows at that time... and that moment only lasts a few seconds, the time to spend on the wooden viaduct, certainly in slow motion... but the time is short, very short.

The famous wooden viaduct full of history, very impressive on which the train passes several times a day.
I had read before on some articles that wood cracked with the weight of the train: it is not so, it is absolutely false.
This passage is finally the major attraction of the route, which does not last a few seconds....

Terminus: Nam tok

After two hours of driving, the little train arrives at Nam Tok station.
Unfortunately, for our excursion, the train was late (Oriental Express obliges) and we didn't have time to go to discover the waterfall which seems to you, it is superb. We were just able to enjoy a good local dish before heading back home.