Have you ever heard of the Death Railway? AKA the Burma Railway, this line was constructed by Prisoners of War of WWII and nonetheless runs by means of components of Thailand. It’s an enchanting a part of Thai tradition and world historical past, and has even influenced movie and literature. Here are 7 highlights alongside the observe you possibly can’t miss.
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I wipe sweat from my eyes as we stare at what’s in entrance of us. Although we’ve been on the street for 2 days to get right here, it’s nonetheless so hanging I’m struggling to gather my ideas.
And though we’ve simply bought out of the van’s air-con, my garments are caught to me and my water bottle wants one other refill.
Thailand in April has a repute.
We’re looking at a reasonably easy metal bridge about 130m lengthy with a single gauge prepare observe working alongside it. Beneath it’s a fast-running however in any other case unremarkable river.
The bridge has no title despite its infamy. Instead, it’s the river under that takes the title.
Thais name it Kwae Yai. We understand it because the River Kwai.
Bridge Over The River Kwai And The Burma Railway
Running from Ban Pong close to Bangkok 415km northwest to Thanbyuzayat in Myanmar, the aptly named Death Railway was a significant undertaking of the Japanese Imperial Army (JIA) within the later phases of World War II.
Planning to create provide routes between Thailand and the west coast of Burma (now Myanmar), the JIA constructed a prepare line by means of mountains and jungles, and over rivers.
They used Allied prisoners of conflict, captured in Singapore and Indonesia, and conscripted civilians from completely different components of Asia as an enslaved labour pressure.
Between May 1942 and August 1943, 60,000 PoWs and 200,000+ civilians from round Asia labored on the road. More than 13,000 troopers and up 80,000 Asian labourers misplaced their lives right here. On common, 20 males died a day in these 15 savage months.
Much of the Death Railway has gone now, however a 120km stretch of observe nonetheless operates, and what stays is heavy with historical past.
Here are 7 factors alongside the Burma Railway which might be nicely price visiting to study this unimaginable epoch that had far-reaching impacts in Thailand and the world at massive.
1. Thonburi Rail Station, Bangkok – the place the Burma Railway started
Historically, Thonburi Station is the beginning of the Burma Railway that went from Bangkok all the way in which as much as Thanbyuzayat in Myanmar some 415km north. The station was bombed by the Allies in WWII and rebuilt within the Nineteen Fifties.
You can catch a prepare from this station, which continues to be thought-about the 0km mark for Bangkok prepare programs, and it’ll take you all the way in which to Kanchanaburi and the Death Railway correct.
2. Ban Pong — historic Burma Railway begins
About 70km west of Bangkok’s Thonburi Station, Ban Pong is the primary cease on the Namtok Line, the observe on the unique provide line of the Burma Railway.
Although we didn’t be a part of the prepare journey right here, we did cease for lunch. Highly beneficial is the Rain Tree Cafe 10 minutes up the street from the station on the banks of the Mae Klong River.
One factor I actually wasn’t anticipating to seek out (or like for that matter) was an area specialty ‘coffee orange’. Half recent orange juice and half chilly brew espresso, this drink sounds fairly terrible, nevertheless it’s surprisingly tasty and even higher on a sizzling day.
I’ll be preserving this concept in my pocket for the warmth of the Sydney summer season for positive.
3. Bridge over the River Kwai
The Mae Klong River winds by means of southern Kanchanaburi to affix the well-known River Kwai and its bridge, after which on to the ocean.
You get a solemn thrill seeing the bridge for the primary time. The curved arches on both financial institution are the originals from WWII, however the center sq. sections are replacements from the place Allied forces blew it up in 1945.
You can stroll throughout the bridge alongside the prepare tracks, which is kind of a wierd sensation. Especially as trains do nonetheless run alongside right here.
It’s onerous to think about, with all of the inns, eating places, outlets and market stalls lining the river, that this was as soon as a spot of torment, battle and demise.
4. Kanchanaburi War Cemetery and Museum
A bit of means downstream from the bridge is Don Rak, the largest Allied conflict cemetery in Thailand.
Here, 6,858 conflict graves mark the ultimate resting place of Australian, New Zealand, British and Dutch troopers misplaced within the building of the Burma-Siam Railway.
The cemetery is fantastically maintained. Headstones are clear and polished, and the grass and fairly shrubs are in good order.
Down the street is the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, a wonderful museum that exhibits what the circumstances have been like, the aim of the railway and plenty of extra particulars.
5. Hellfire Pass or Konyu Cutting — Anzac memorial and museum
For us, probably the most vital web site of the Burma Railway is Hellfire Pass. This place brings into sharp focus the horrors and insurmountable duties the PoWs needed to endure. Hellfire Pass — or Konyu Cutting — is the deepest and longest part of excavation alongside the railway.
Men hacked and chipped their means by means of stable rock on no sleep, no meals, no water, and the specter of ache and demise all the time hanging over them. The reducing runs 25 metres deep and 75 metres lengthy, and is vast sufficient for a prepare to suit by means of.
At the tip of the reducing is the ANZAC Memorial the place the Dawn Service is held on twenty fifth April yearly. We have been fortunate sufficient to have the ability to attend the Dawn Service right here. Outside Europe, this is among the few memorials that maintain such a ceremony in a spot that has seen energetic battle.
It’s an immensely thought-provoking place that brings to life the enormity of what the troopers who suffered right here needed to endure.
While you’re right here at Konyu Cutting, be sure to additionally go to the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre and Memorial Walkway.
This museum has some fascinating (and haunting) displays, which begin with sounds of metal hammers on stone and a slender hall representing the reducing. On the partitions are the names of the lads who labored on the railway.
They cowl each partitions, flooring to ceiling.
6. Hintok River Camp
There are loads of locations to remain across the space, together with in Kanchanaburi Town itself. We stayed near Hellfire Pass on the Hintok River Camp.
Once a labour camp for British PoWs engaged on close by Compressor Cutting, this web site is now a glamping resort.
There are loads of nods to its historical past, together with the reproduction guard tower on the entrance, however fortunately it’s nothing like what the positioning’s earlier occupants would’ve needed to put up with.
The ‘tents’ are extraordinarily snug — with a full toilet, kingsize mattress and even a/c. Breakfast and dinner are served right here on the camp, there’s a pool and deck out on the river, and you’ll even seize a therapeutic massage on the on-site spa!
A great distance certainly from the circumstances of the Forties.
7. Nam Tok Station – the tip of the road
This is our final cease on the Burma-Siam Railway. From right here, you possibly can board one of many outdated mulberry and gold carriages of a heritage prepare.
It’s a wierd, conflicting feeling using this line.
On one hand, you’re appalled on the brutality that occurred right here. On the opposite, you possibly can’t assist however really feel impressed by what these males have been capable of obtain underneath such circumstances.
And but nonetheless extra conflicting are the views from the prepare home windows, that are at occasions so stunning, it’s straightforward to neglect the actual purpose you’re taking this journey. The curve of the observe exhibits the prepare’s flank and the timber trestles because it leans towards the perimeters of cliffs.
Occasionally, the river comes into view following the prepare, and working quick by means of fields and amongst little villages that roll on by.
It’s an iconic prepare journey in a spot that brings deep reflection.
