View Full Version : RailHistory/Heritage:Dalat Line
Interesting pictures and account of South Vietnamese railway freight traffic to support the American war effort there, circa 1968-9:-
http://134.198.33.115/railops/railops2.htm
EPILOGUE Life as a traffic management type Transporter at Tuy Hoa Air Base with TMA-MACV had its routine days, and its not-so-routine days. Some of Tuy Hoa's rail operations were defintely not routine. We did what we could with what we had. Lessons learned? Don't park your vehicle downtown at the railroad station with a filled five-gallon gas can on the vehicle (the cans tend to disappear). Watch out for fully-loaded fighter-bombers taking off as your road goes around the end of the runway (the blast from the afterburner will warm up your vehicle even when the aircraft is maybe only twenty feet above you). Other than that, it was an interesting experience.
http://134.198.33.115/railops/Nd49_x.jpg
http://134.198.33.115/railops/train1.jpg
The Da Lat Railway Station: A Restored Bit of History
Wednesday, 11 January 2006, 1:24 GMT + 07:00
http://www.ven.org.vn/images/load_news/6266_56681.jpg
The elegant Da Lat
railway station
The old Da Lat railway station was abandoned in 1975 and neglected until 1991 when it was restored and put into in operation again.
The nicest railway station in all Indochina
In 1903, the French built a railway that connected the cool, high city of Da Lat with the hot, low-lying coastal area of Phan Rang so French people could more conveniently live and work for periods of time in the cool city of Da Lat. The 84km long Da Lat-Thap Cham route include a 41km long Thap Cham-Krong Pha section opened in 1919 and a 43km long Krong Pha-Da Lat section opened in 1932, the latter of which is sloping and has serrated rails in three different places and five tunnels.
In 1932, two French architects, Moncet and Reveron, designed the Da Lat railway station and hired Vietnamese companies to build this station about two kilometers from Xuan Huong Lake in Da Lat. The station's design was distinctly western but also has some characteristics of a Tay Nguyen (Central Highland) communal house with its high, steep roof. The station is divided into three areas, each of a nice size with stained-glass windows and arched ceilings.
As soon as the station went into use in 1936, trains with brand new Japanese locomotives carried passengers and freight along three routes: Thap Cham-Da Lat, Nha Trang-Thap Cham-Da Lat, and Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City)-Thap Cham-Da Lat. The station had three Japanese made steam locomotives. The steam engines were fueled by wood, bringing the temperature up to boil water (12 cubic meters of water were carried), creating steam that was converted into a pulling power of 700 tonnes. Due to American bombing, the trains hauled their last passenger in 1972 and ceased operations completely. Some 20 years ago, two of the three steam locomotives were sold and now can be seen at a train museum in Switzerland.
Another tourist attraction
In 1991, Vietnam's railway sector restored the 7km long Da Lat-Trai Mat section of the old railway. The Ministry of Culture and Information certified the Da Lat railway station as a national historical and cultural site in 2001, this being the first and only railway station in Vietnam to receive such a certification. Since May 2005, the Da Lat railway station has been operated as a tourist attraction and the station was improved more for the 2005 Da Lat Flower Festival. The number of people going to Da Lat for pleasure has been increasing in recent years, with the number of visitors stopping to view the Da Lat railway station increasing from 7,900 in 1998 to 32,000 in 2004 (5,540 being foreigners) and to almost 40,000 in 2005. Currently, there are six trains going from Da Lat to Trai Mat, with each train carrying a maximum of 120 passengers.
Ngo Minh Chau, the director of the Da Lat railway station, said that the management would like to improve the station's yard to make it look better and turn the station's two lobbies into souvenir shops and pavilions displaying Tay Nguyen cultural products. Pictures, photos and figurines of the Da Lat railway station will be on display.
Mr. Chau said that they'd like to build a railway museum there at the Da Lat railway station and exhibit railway-related items such as a real steam locomotive and serrated track.
By Khac Quang
Vietnam Economic News Online
http://www.ven.org.vn/view_news.php?id=6279
R. Zimmermann
05-02-07, 10:01 PM
"Brand new Japanese Engines" cannot be. Between 1923 and 1930 seven rack engines were supplied by SLM of Winterthur, further two were built by Maschinenfabrik Esslingen to SLM design. In 1947 four engines were bought from the Furka Oberalp Bahn (FOB) after its change from steam to electric traction.
In 1990 four of the surviving locomotives were returned to Switzerland for service on the Furka Bergstrecke Museumsbahn which had revived the abandoned mountain section of the FOB.
A Japanese C12-type engine (VN number 131-428) was seen at Da Lat station by this correspondent in 2003. It was allegedly servicable on demand or on special occasions. It had nothing to do with the original railway, but had been part of the Japanese war efforts. The service was performed by an
ex-Russian rail inspection verhicle and 2 out of 4 available small passenger coaches.
These pictures were sent by a forum reader to admin: -
http://www.2bangkok.com/07/news07feb.shtml#dalat
http://www.2bangkok.com/07/dalat1.jpg
(Photo: Richard O'Keeffe)
Da Lat train station - February 6, 2007
Richo notes: I noticed there was something about Da Lat train station on your site. I went there in December 2004 and these are the photos I took.
http://www.2bangkok.com/07/dalat2.jpg
(Photo: Richard O'Keeffe)
http://www.2bangkok.com/07/dalat3.jpg
(Photo: Richard O'Keeffe)
http://www.2bangkok.com/07/dalat4.jpg
(Photo: Richard O'Keeffe)
R. Zimmerman: "Brand new Japanese Engines" cannot be. Between 1923 and 1930 seven rack engines were supplied by SLM of Winterthur, further two were built by Maschinenfabrik Esslingen to SLM design. In 1947 four engines were bought from the Furka Oberalp Bahn (FOB) after its change from steam to electric traction.
In 1990 four of the surviving locomotives were returned to Switzerland for service on the Furka Bergstrecke Museumsbahn which had revived the abandoned mountain section of the FOB.
A Japanese C12-type engine (VN number 131-428) was seen at Da Lat station by this correspondent in 2003. It was allegedly servicable on demand or on special occasions. It had nothing to do with the original railway, but had been part of the Japanese war efforts. The service was performed by an ex-Russian rail inspection verhicle and 2 out of 4 available small passenger coaches.
See also today's post on a feasibility study for a Vietnam-Laos rail link:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=1055
1928 Thap Cham-Da Lat Railway returns
07:38' 07/10/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - The Government has agreed to restore the Thap Cham-Da Lat Railway, one of the unique mountain railways around the world.
Opened in 1928, the 84 km Thap Cham-Da Lat Railway linking the Central Highlands city of Da Lat with the coastal areas in central provinces was closed shortly after due to the lack of economic efficiency.
Currently, 7 km of the route, from Da Lat to Trai Mat, are put into use to serve tourists. There are four trains operational daily, providing services to hundreds of tourists.
The Government also allowed the private sector to take part in the re-construction of the railway, as the entire railway will be restored to its original state.
(Source: VNA)
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/travel/2007/10/748034/
Gov’t okays Thap Cham-Da Lat railway project
11:41' 16/10/2007 (GMT+7)
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/dataimages/200710/original/images1430801_NewFile
[Photo: VietNamNet - Da Lat Train Station in the old days (File photo/FULKA)]
VietNamNet Bridge - The government has agreed to inject VND5,000 billion (about US$312 million) into a project restoring the Thap Cham-Da Lat railway system, one of the unique mountain railways in the world.
The 84 km long railway linking Phan Rang-Thap Cham city in Ninh Thuan Province and Da Lat city in Lam Dong province will be restored from 2007 to 2015.
The French-built railway was opened in 1928. But this line was destroyed in the war and abandoned in the late 1960s. Seven kilometers of the track between Da Lat and Trai Mat has been reconstructed and operated for tourism purpose since 1997. Currently, the station is one of the attractive tourist destinations in Da Lat.
The Da Lat railway station was recognized as a national historical and cultural site in 2001. And it was also considered the nicest ancient railway station in all Indochina.
The government also allowed the private sector to take part in the re-construction of the railway, as the entire railway will be restored to its original state.
Once finished, the railway is expected to boost tourism in Lam Dong, Ninh Thuan as well as coastal central provinces.
(Source: SGGP)
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/lifestyle/2007/10/749632/
See also the following links on the existing 7 km. tourist line with interesting pictures of Da Lat Station:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=13398&postcount=12
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=13396&postcount=11
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=13365&postcount=10
Visiting some previous posts in this subforum, I found these 1:50,000 maps that show pretty much the whole line - complete with stations, (what are either) double-track sections or rack sections, bridges, tunnels, embankments, sidings and reversing triangles:
http://www.mekongexpress.com/vietnam/general/maps/images/02%20stns%20Trai%20Mat%20&%20Da%20Tho.jpg
[Map: http://www.mekongexpress.com - Trai Mat and Da Tho Stations.]
Dalat Station
http://www.mekongexpress.com/vietnam/general/maps/Dalat%20Station.htm
Trai Mat and Da Tho Stations
http://www.mekongexpress.com/vietnam/general/maps/TraiMatDaThoStations.htm
Cau Dat Station
http://www.mekongexpress.com/vietnam/general/maps/CauDatStation.htm
Tram Hanh and Don Duong Stations
http://www.mekongexpress.com/vietnam/general/maps/TramHanh-DonDuongStations.htm
Eo Gio Station - This one also appears to show either a funicular railway or a cable car.
http://www.mekongexpress.com/vietnam/general/maps/EoGioStation.htm
Song Pha Station
http://www.mekongexpress.com/vietnam/general/maps/SongPhaStation.htm
Line below Song Pha
http://www.mekongexpress.com/vietnam/general/maps/LineBelowSongPha.htm
Line above Tan My
http://www.mekongexpress.com/vietnam/general/maps/LineAboveTanMy.htm
Tan My Station
http://www.mekongexpress.com/vietnam/general/maps/TanMyStation.htm
Dong Me Station
http://www.mekongexpress.com/vietnam/general/maps/DongMeStation.htm
Thap Chap (Phan Rang) Station
http://www.mekongexpress.com/vietnam/general/maps/ThapChapStation.htm
See also:
http://www.mekongexpress.com/vietnam/general/viet_map_index.htm
Another find at the same site. Pictures of the old trackbed and stations that show why this line might appeal to tourists:
http://www.mekongexpress.com/vietnam/photoalbum/dalatcograilway.htm
This set of photos was taken on 8 September 2005. In a Toyota Land Cruiser, John Haseman and Jim Michener made the trip down the mountain. The cog railway, now abandoned, is commonly known as the Dalat-Phan Rang Line. But the station at Phan Rang is named Ga (station) Thap Cham.
The three central roof gables of Ga Dalat symbolize the three mountain peaks -- all steeped in local lore -- of Dalat.
http://www.mekongexpress.com/vietnam/photoalbum/images/028%20Ga_Dalat%20micro10.jpg
[Photo: http://www.mekongexpress.com]
See also today's previous post with maps & photos:
Visiting some previous posts in this subforum, I found these 1:50,000 maps that show pretty much the whole line - complete with stations, (what are either) double-track sections or rack sections, bridges, tunnels, embankments, sidings and reversing triangles:
Here's also a crop that I made from my own collection of digitized 1:250,000 American Military Maps from the 1950s. Click on image to see it in its original size:
http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=txuoclc6535632nc491el5.jpg
Last updated: 16:25 - November 12, 2005
Da Lat railway station makes tourism
http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/travel/121105/images/12-11gadalat.jpg
[Photo: http://www.nhandan.com.vn ]
Travelling on an old steam train is unique in Vietnam. Moreover, Da Lat Railway Station is considered the most beautiful in Indochina and is one of two national heritage sites in Lam Dong province.
“The station is located in the tourist city of Da Lat so attracting tourists is one of railway staff’s responsibilities,” said Ngo Minh Chau, director of the Da Lat Railway Station.
Tourists who want to call at the railway station have to buy tickets, the same as other places of interest in Da Lat City, said the Central Highlands Province of Lam Dong People’s Committee.
The number of visitors to the railway station and those who travel by the old steam engine in the city which is 1,500 metres above sea level has increased considerably in the first ten months of the year,” said Mr Chau.
As many as 40,000 tourists, including 10,000 foreigners have visited the station in the first ten months, doubling last year’s figures, according to the station’s director.
Recently, the provincial people’s committee has asked the railway industry to restore and improve the Da Lat Railway Station to turn it into an attraction for tourists when the flower festival is due to take place in mid-December.
In Vietnam’s colonial era, people who fancied a spell in the cool, jungle-clad mountains of Da Lat often used to get there by train.
It was a wonderful trip: as the carriages lumbered along their winding, climbing track, the passengers could watch the breathtaking scenery and dense forest from the comfort of their seats.
From time to time, the train would dive into a long, dark tunnel, plunging the travellers into pitch blackness, but amplifying the train’s cacophony of hissing, creaking and clanking.
The end of the journey sits Da Lat Railway Station, one of the most striking and attractive railway terminals in Vietnam.
The station was built by the French between 1932 and 1936, and followed their usual habit pf importing a European architectural style for their work.
But in building the rail route itself, they used a method not employed anywhere else in the country.
The colonialists hired Swedish engineers for the job, who were the most experienced at building zigzag railways for use on steep slopes.
The tricky rugged terrain made the work very difficult. Although track-laying began in 1903, it took a full 30 years to complete the 105km route.
The work was carried out in three stages. The 21 km Thap Cham-Tan My stretch was built between 1903 and 1913, the 41km Tan My-Krong Pha-Da Lat section during the last 14 years.
The last stretch was the hardest. It traversed the Lam Vien Plateau, 1,500m above sea level, and involved the train in an almost non-stop ascent up some very steep slopes.
Hence the need for a zigzag section, which prevents the train from sliding downwards, and also gave the journey much of its charm.
Many tunnels were also required: on the 84km stretch from Tan My to Da Lat, there are five tunnels with a total length of 1,090m.
Once the railway was finished, it was linked up to Saigon and Nha Trang stations, and Da Lat Station hosted three arrivals and departures everyday: a train to and from Thap Cham, a train to and from Saigon, and another to and from Nha Trang.
Together with the road and air access, Da Lat suddenly became a very accessible and popular spot, and was known to the French as “the summer capital” of Indochina.
Later, many French people built European-style villas in the city, and it became known as “Little Paris:.
But the railway station was among the first colonial-style edifices to be built in the area. It is a stunning piece of architecture, and the largely French style is complemented by architectural gestures towards the particular cottage style of the Highlands ethnic minorities.
Right in the middle if its facade, three high, pointed roofs cut a striking shape against the sky.
Under the central roof sits a large clock, a special feature that has been recently restored.
The front of the building is made even more impressive by its porte-cochere, supported by two rows of columns, twelve in each row.
In 1991, a small section of the line won a new lease on life. Everyday for the past decade, a little train has made the 7km journey from Da Lat to Trai Mat, a small town near the central city.
Two carriages, built to resemble those of an earlier era, are pulled up and down the route by a steam engine made in 1936.
This is really what makes Da Lat Railway Station unique in Vietnam. It’s not just the fresh air, the tranquillity, the elegant atmosphere and the romantic scenery. This is the only station in Vietnam which is solely for tourists.
The scenic journey takes visitors past colourful flower gardens and verdant vegetable fields. The hills that line the route are covered in cherry blossoms and fruit orchards.
At Trai Mat tourists usually visit the local pagoda, which contains a huge dragon whose scales were made with the bottoms of 4,500 beer bottles.
http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/travel/121105/dalat.htm
Interesting pictures of the present railway:
http://www.highway57.co.uk/seasia/index?sec=94
http://www.highway57.co.uk/seasia/pix/lo/1626.jpg
[Photo: Trai Mat Station]
http://www.vnanet.vn/Home/EN/tabid/119/itemid/224734/Default.aspx
A more contemporary text is the 'Song of the building of the railway'. The French colonial government constructed a railway from Hanoi to Kunming via Jinghong (Chengrung) between 1900 and 1909, with the help of 'coolies'. As many as one million people are said to have died in the building of this railway due to insufficient food, malaria etc. The 'coolies' were predominantly mountain peoples, especially Adzjaw Akha. They still have a song about it: 'If you want to have your iron road, we are happy to ride on it too some day. One day we will ride on it, as you will be far away. Now we die and you ride; one day we will ride and you will die; would you mind, iron road? (Perot, 1909; Adzjaw, 1979).
http://www.hani-akha.org/mpcd/hani-akha/history.html
See also today's post on a feasibility study for a Vietnam-Laos rail link:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=1055
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/travel/2007/10/748034/
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/lifestyle/2007/10/749632/
See also the following links on the existing 7 km. tourist line with interesting pictures of Da Lat Station:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=13398&postcount=12
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=13396&postcount=11
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=13365&postcount=10
This article seems to place in doubt the Sabah State Railway (http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=1179) claim that it has the only remaining firewood-burning steam train:
Century-old cogwheel railroad and antique station in Da Lat
Posted at 16h35, day 30 January, 2008
Hanoi Times – It is among the few remnants of the original rolling stock left over from the Cham Tower – Da Lat route, o*ne of the world’s oldest cogwheel railroads.
Once restored, the Cham Tower – Da Lat route in the central highlands will be o*ne of the world’s two oldest cogwheel railroad lines along with a Swiss counterpart.
A cogwheel system is designed for steep slopes and has a locomotive with a center cogwheel that engages with a cogged center rail.
The Da Lat line is o*nly 84 km long but since it was set up in a dangerous area of high mountains and tortuous slopes, it took French and Swiss designers years to design and build it. It was mooted in 1900 and construction began eight years later.
The segment which includes the Dran iron bridge, located in Lam Dong Province’s Don Duong District, was completed in 1925.Three years later, the Cham Tower – Da Lat route opened to traffic.The most expensive part of the project was the 14-km stretch of cogged central line.
The operation of trains came to a halt in 1968 because of the war, resumed in 1975 after the country’s reunification, but, due to its low profitability was finally stopped. Sold as scrap
Once operations o*n the route were halted, most of the cogwheel system and the Dran iron bridge were dismantled and sold as scrap.The Cham Tower – Da Lat route passed into legend.
After the Vietnamese Railway Union sold two Swiss-made Puka steam locomotives in 1988 to a Swiss partner, just o*ne Japanese engine is left from the original system.
It is now in Da Lat station.Made in 1936, it runs o*n firewood.The station also has a toothed-wheel cargo car made in Germany in 1930.
Designed by French architects Moncet and Reveron and built in 1936, the station has three roofs representing the top of Langbiang mountain, the symbol of Da Lat.In 2006 it was recognized as a national historical monument.
Many historical documents describe Da Lat station as the oldest and most beautiful in Indochina.
The Transport Ministry recently asked the government to restore the Cham Tower – Da Lat railroad route.Once approved, the project, to cost some VND 5 trillion (US$312 million), will be completed in 2015.
Those who adore Da Lat’s grace and charm will surely long to see o*ne of the world’s oldest and most quaint railroads resume service.
(thanhniennews)
http://www.hanoitimes.com.vn/newsdetail.asp?NewsId=2837&CatId=37
See also previous post on "Big Plans" for Vietnam's railways in 2008.
Loads of truly excellent rail pictures below. I've given you just a small sample, so visit the site itself at all costs:
During March and April we arrange for some EU group visit Steel Factory and arrange Steam train for them. I enclose here some photos that special in Vietnam because not so much people in Vietnam know that: steam locos still in use.
Visit to the steelworks Thai Nguyen and pictures of blast furnace area
http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2915&highlight=
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/IMG_2883.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/DSC01932.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/IMG_2554.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/DSC01950.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/IMG_3842.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/IMG_2647.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/IMG_2604.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/IMG_2426.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/IMG_2500.jpg
Hanoi Diesel Depot. 10 images altogether:
http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2916&highlight=
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/IMG_3884.jpg
See also previous post on "Big Plans" for Vietnam's railways in 2008.
Loads of truly excellent rail pictures below. I've given you just a small sample, so visit the site itself at all costs:
One of those KTM Railfan threads have just been updated with a whole load of more wonderful photographs of Vietnam's modern diesel locos (and a few more steamers) at Yen Vien Depot. Scroll down to find the newest additions. Unfortunately, I notice you now have to register to view. it is little more than a quick formality and the whole forum is a very worthy effort. Lots of interesting photos and comments on Malaysia's KTM (& other) railways:
http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2916&highlight=
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/trantrongluu/YenVien012.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/trantrongluu/bandoduongsatVN.gif
Not forgetting that thread on the dual-gauge lines and steampower around the Thai Nguyen steelworks:
http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2915&highlight=
"Brand new Japanese Engines" cannot be. Between 1923 and 1930 seven rack engines were supplied by SLM of Winterthur, further two were built by Maschinenfabrik Esslingen to SLM design. In 1947 four engines were bought from the Furka Oberalp Bahn (FOB) after its change from steam to electric traction.
In 1990 four of the surviving locomotives were returned to Switzerland for service on the Furka Bergstrecke Museumsbahn which had revived the abandoned mountain section of the FOB.
A Japanese C12-type engine (VN number 131-428) was seen at Da Lat station by this correspondent in 2003. It was allegedly servicable on demand or on special occasions. It had nothing to do with the original railway, but had been part of the Japanese war efforts. The service was performed by an
ex-Russian rail inspection verhicle and 2 out of 4 available small passenger coaches.
It seems that a Vietnam Railways railfan is of more-or-less the same opinion:
I upload some photos and a topic about Thap Cham-DaLat line in a domestic website www.daumaytoaxe.4sql.net
Some document can translate to English but I'm so busy, so sorry. I seach some photo from Google and upload here the steam locos (ever been working in this line, but now using by Furka Company.
This one now in Dalat Station, made in Japan 1930 but for flat line, not suitable for Dalat line
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/trantrongluu/131DalLat1-1.jpg
This one sold for Furka Company.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/trantrongluu/daumayDalatVNtaiThuysy.jpg
http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2916&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15
But check it out for yourself because he's just added a whole load more pictures of the loco sheds at Thai Nguyen. You will need to register, bit it is well-worth the small effort.
Art exhibition about the memory of Long Bien bridge
Posted at 23h11, day 10 June, 2008
http://www.hanoitimes.com.vn/images_upload/small_2947.gif
[Photo: Hanoi Times]
The art house at 31A Van Mieu in Hanoi will organize an exhibition entitled “Memory of Long Bien Bridge, past and present” in mid-June to mark the 105th anniversary of the bridge.
Completed in 1903 by architect Gustave Eiffel, Long Bien Bridge crosses the Red river. Before seizing independence, the bridge was named Doumer Bridge after Paul Doumer, the French Governor-general of Indochina. At that time, it was o*ne of the longest bridges in Asia and the world with the length of 1860 meters. In the war to sabotage the northern Vietnam, the bridge was heavily damaged. Now, o*nly half of the bridge is original. Hanoians consider the bridge a living witness of history associated with their daily life.
The exhibition will draw the participation of domestic and foreign artists, collectors, historians, writers, photographers, calligraphers and sculptors. Photos, pictures, stamps and ancient documents about the bridges will be gathered. As an aesthetic symbol, the bridge not o*nly links the two river banks but also links past and present, arts and human, Vietnam and the world.
VNA
http://www.hanoitimes.com.vn/newsdetail.asp?NewsId=6522&CatId=19
Wisarut
12-06-08, 08:27 PM
http://www.hanoitimes.com.vn/newsdetail.asp?NewsId=6522&CatId=19
Well, the contractor of Long Bein Bridge is Dayde ... the contractor of the original Rama 6 Bridge ..... winning the bidding due to Franc depreciation in the level that French bridge was cheaper thant British Bridge ....
.... However, RSR has selected Dorman Long from britain as the contractor for the Rama 6 Bridge after the War ...
All Photos from the KTM Railfan site. Only a small selection of those available at that site posted below:
http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com
http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2916&start=30
Hanoi Railway Station in the 19th century:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/10835414-0210-ga-Ha-Noi-to.jpg
Hanoi - Vinh line (to the South) during Vietnam War:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/duongsatHanoi-Vinhthoichientranhcho.jpg
Thap Cham - Dalat line during French Colonial Era
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/tuyenduongThapCham-DaLatthoiPhap.jpg
Long Bien Bridge - the oldest railway bridge in Vietnam:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/cauchuongduong_154.jpg
Some old photos from the 1960s to 1980s:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/longbien1_606.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/longbien2_529.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/longbien_291.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/longbien3_744.jpg
Long Bien Bridge 1924:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/sakura_2505/cauLongBien1924.jpg
This article seems to place in doubt the Sabah State Railway (http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=1179) claim that it has the only remaining firewood-burning steam train:
http://www.hanoitimes.com.vn/newsdetail.asp?NewsId=2837&CatId=37
Wonderful webpages on the Dalat Railway and its history. There is just so much of it, in the form of old photos & maps, I won't bother to try and give you a taster here. It looks like a fairly permanent site anyway. when you have finished looking at the Dalat Railway stuff, the rest of the site is also fascinating:
http://www.vnafmamn.com/tracing_shangrila.html
http://www.vnafmamn.com
http://www.vnafmamn.com/photos/Dalat_CogRail30.jpg
[Photo: http://www.vnafmamn.com]
See also the following posts in this thread on the Dalat railway with more photos & maps:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=21780&postcount=13
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=21777&postcount=10
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=21775&postcount=8
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=21774&postcount=7
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=21773&postcount=6
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=21772&postcount=5
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=21771&postcount=4
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=21770&postcount=3
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=21769&postcount=2
The Wikipedia entry on Vietnam Railways also has some interesting history & heritage info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Railways
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