Thai Railway Timelines

[ncr]

I just wondered - regarding the Thai rail network:

When (what year) were the SRT main lines finished?

BKK-Chiang Mai?
BKK-Nongkhai?
BKK-Ubon?
BKK-Aranyaprathet?
BKK-Ban Plutaluang? (If you count that as a main line...)
BKK-Padang Besar / Sungai Kolok?

(The Burma -- Kanchanaburi/Three Pagodas Pass -- Line is a somewhat special relict from WW II, as we all know, so I don't include it in my question.)

And what was the last line/extension built so far?

Probably Khlong Sip Kao - Kaeng Khoi? But that's only freight trains. And for passenger service? Kaeng Khoi - Bua Yai?

And when was the shortcut Nong Pladuk - Suphanburi - (Lopburi) 'completed'? (rather not)

[Wisarut]

BKK-Chiang Mai -> Opened January 1, 1922

BKK-Nongkhai -> July 1, 1958
BKK-Ubon -> April 1, 1930
BKK-Aranyaprathet -> 1928
BKK-Ban Plutaluang? (If you count that as a main line...) -> Actually, Chachoengsao - Sattahip (passenger service run onl;y at Ploo Taluang -> 1984
Thonburi - Padang Besar -> 1918
Hatyai - Sungai Kolok? -> 1921

The latest line is Klogn Sip Kao - Kaeng Khoi ( a short cut for Northeastern cargo train to Laem Chabang) -> 1995
For the passenger train -> Chachoengsao - Sattahip -> 1984.

The line from Nong Pladue to Supahburi was completed in 1963.
No wonder that after Field Marshall Sarit passed away, the line was NOT extendedto reach Lopburi (his political base -> the military town).

[ncr]

Thanks, Khun Wisarut!

And how about Kaeng Khoi - Bua Yai?

And do you also know the opening dates for
Thung Pho - Khirirat Nikhom? (According to an earlier post, construction to Phuket stopped in 1956?)
Thung Song - Trang/Kantang?
Khao Chum Thong - Nakhon Si Thammarat?

By the way, what is the story behind / reason for the branch line Ban Dara - Sawankhalok?

[Wisarut]

Kaeng Khoi - Bua Yai - Opened for the Public in 1967 - the short cut which enable SRT to add more trains to Khon Kaen, Udorn Thani, and Nong Khai withotu having to go through the steep section from Kaeng Khoi to Pak Chong.

Thung Pho - Khirirat Nikhom opened in 1956

Thung Song - Kantang - Opened in 1914

Khao Chumthong - Nakhon Srithammarat - circa 1915.

British engineers have used the pier at Kantang, Songkla and Ban Don to ship theri railway equipments and materails to speed up the project withotu having to wait unti the main line from Wang Pho to Reach Thung Song, Khao Chumthong and Hat Yai.

Ban dara to Sawankhalok branch is the branch to connect with Mae Nam Yom (Yom river) ... Thsi branch will help those who live in Sawankhalok Province as well as those who live along Yom river (e.g. Lampang, Phrae) to ship their product to the Railway (Sukhothai was just a district inside Sawankhalok Province but today is reversed) This brach was originally a standard gauge and opened in April 1909 - same as the brach to Klong Toei whcih facilitate the shippin of locomaterail to Makkasan Depot and Maintainance center (opened aroudn 1909).

[ncr]

To make the history complete...

So if the original Southern Line started from Thonburi (not Hualamphong), when was the Taling Chan - Bang Son - Bang Bamru - Bang Sue connection constructed?

And the very first railway line in Thailand was Bangkok - Ayutthaya, do I remember that correctly? When did it open again?

And finally, the opening dates for:

-Paknam Line?
-Mahachai Line?
-Maeklong Line?

Thank you so much!

[Wisarut]

For the case fo Talingchan - Bang Bumru - Rama 6 Bridge - Bang Son - Bang Sue, it was OPENED on Jan 1, 1927 (the day when Rama 6 Bridgewas Opened)

However, the section form Ban Bumru to Talingchan and Bang Son - Bang sue may be opened between Jan 1, 1923 - Jan 1, 1927 that to facilitate the construction fo Rama 6 Bridge. The Rama Ferry was introduced at that time though ....

For BKK - Ayudhaya route -> March 26, 1897 with 9 stations
BKK - Bangsue - Laksi - Lak Hok - Klong Rangsit - Bang Pa In - Chiang Rak - Chiang rak Noy - Ayudhaya.

Paknam Line -> April 11, 1893 (recorded and reported in Royal Garzette)
Mahachai Line (Klogn San - Mahachai) -> Jan 4, 1904
Maeklong Line - (Ban Laem Mae Klong) August 1907 -> after teh merge of both companies

[The Enforcer!]

Originally posted by Wisarut
BKK-Ban Plutaluang? (If you count that as a main line...) -> Actually, Chachoengsao - Sattahip (passenger service run onl;y at Ploo Taluang -> 1984
1984? - I thought it was much earlier?

The Enforcer!

[The Enforcer!]

Thus finally ....

Extension to Butterworth?

Line to Nam Tok?

The Enforcer!

[Wisarut]

According to the Record of Melayu Railway(http://www.geocities.co.jp/SilkRoad-Lake/3811/ktm/ktm-hist.htm), the FMSR railway has reached Padang besar on March 1, 1918.

The Railway from Bikit Metajam to Prai (the initial terminal to Penang) was opened on July 1, 1899. The terminal to Penang has been extended from Prai to Butterworth on Septemeber 14, 1967. At that tiem there was a Diesel railcar from Hatyai to Butterworth but it was ceased to exist due to the edict from the 4th Army Region Commander as a measure to curbe Smuggling. �@

On the otehr hand, the Track from Pasir Mas to Rantau Panjang�@on Septemeber 1, 1920 while the bridge across Golok river has been done on November 1, 1921 - connecting with Siamese railway network there.

For Namtok Line, the section form Nong Pladuk to Kanchanaburi has been opened for passengers service on June 24, 1949 after reconditioning the track to be servicable. The section to Namtok was opene in July 1, 1958 ....

[The Enforcer!]

Thanks,

The Enforcer!

[ncr]

I guess we should sort this chronologically to create a better overview and put it on one page on 2bangkok.com as "a short timeline of Thai railways" or so.

[The Enforcer!]

Originally posted by ncr
I guess we should sort this chronologically to create a better overview and put it on one page on 2bangkok.com as "a short timeline of Thai railways" or so.
Well volunteered!

The Enforcer!

[ncr]

OK, I’ve done it: here is my attempt at chronicling Thai Railway History. The following list was compiled from this thread, plus various pages on 2bangkok.com, and the SRT website. I included all rail-bound mass transit: railways, trams, Skytrain and Subway. (Not: industrial branch lines for sugar factories, rubber plantations and the like.) Passages in bold script denote uncertainties and questions. Note: names and routes of the Bangkok tram lines are somewhat disputed and vary according to different sources. Another note: the original file was a MS Word table, but I cannot insert that here. Sorry for the not so pleasant (hard-to-read) result.

Let’s do the following: Anyone who has corrections, additions and answers to my questions, please send me a private message. (Don’t post here, as it will get too messy.) I will then update this post accordingly. Finally, Ron can take all this information and put it on a separate page, or add it to some railway section of the website.


A Timeline of Thai Railways
*22 September 1888 First Bangkok Tram Line (horse-drawn) opened between City Pillar and Thanon Tok
*11 April 1893 Hualamphong-Paknam Railway (private) opened
*May 1894 Tram Line No. 1 electrified
*26 March 1897 Hualamphong-Ayutthaya Railway (state-run) opened
*September 1901 Bangkok Tram Line No. 2 opened between Samsen/Bang Krabue and Hualamphong; added later: Atsadang and Ratchawong feeder lines
*04 January 1905 Khlong San-Mahachai Railway (private) opened
*01 October 1905 Bangkok Tram Line No. 5 opened between Banglamphoo and Hualamphong
*1905 or 1906 Tha Ruea-Phra Phutthabat Railway (750 mm gauge) opened
*August 1907 Ban Laem-Maeklong Railway (private) opened
*1909 Yommarat (or Makkasan?)-Khlong Toey Line (AKA Port Railway, Maenam Railway) opened (originally standard gauge)
*April 1909 Ban Dara-Sawankhalok branch line opened (originally standard gauge)
*1914 Thung Song-Kantang branch line opened
*1915 Khao Chumthong-Nakhon Si Thammarat branch line opened
*19xx Hat Yai-Songkhla branch line opened
*1918 Thonburi-Padang Besar Line opened (connecting with Malayan Railway: 01 March 1918)
*1918-? Construction of the Khun Tan Tunnel
*1921 Hat Yai-Sungai Kolok Line opened (bridge connecting with Malayan Railway at Rantau Panjang: 01 November 1921)
*01 January 1922 Ayutthaya-Chiang Mai Line opened
*circa 1926-1930 Bang Krabue-Hualamphong tram line extended to Sathorn and later Khlong Toey; other extensions include Yotse-Ratchaprasong-Soi Ruam Ruedi, Pratunam-Silom, Samsen-Bang Sue, Thewet-Wat Liab, and City Circle Line; Bangkok tramway network finally comprises 7 lines
*12 February 1926 Start of electric tram service on Mahachai Line (between Khlong San and Wat Sai Stations; later extended to Wat Singh)
*01 January 1927 Taling Chan-Bangsue connection opened (via Rama VI Bridge, the first - and only - rail bridge across the Chao Phraya River)
*1928 Bangkok-Aranyaprathet Line opened
*01 April 1930 Ban Pachi-Ubon Ratchathani (Warin Chamrap) Line opened
*1936 Paknam Railway nationalized and electrified
*July 1942 Tha Ruea-Phra Phutthabat Railway closed
*16 September 1942 Start of works on the Burma Line (AKA Death Railway) (Nong Pladuk-Kanchanaburi-Three Pagodas Pass-Thanbyuzayat)
*February 1943 Wooden bridge across the River Kwai completed
*April 1943 Steel/concrete bridge across the River Kwai completed
*194x Burma Line opened (for Japanese military use only)
*June 1943 Start on works for another Japanese military line from Chumphon to Kraburi and La-Un (Ranong) (standard gauge)
*November 1943 Chumphon-La-Un Line completed
*13 February 1945 Central spans of River Kwai Bridge destroyed in allied air raid
*05 March 1945 Thonburi Station destroyed in allied air raid
*19 March 1945 Parts of Chumphon-La-Un Line damaged in allied air raid
*(month?) 1945 River Kwai Bridge restored and re-opened (before the end of WWII)
*June 1945 Chumphon-La-Un Line partially dismantled (km 28-30) by the Japanese
*14 August 1945 Mahachai and Maeklong Railways nationalized
*After August 1945 Chumphon-La-Un Line completely dismantled by the British military
*24 June 1946 Nong Pladuk-Kanchanaburi section of Burma Railway re-opened
*? 1947 ? Nam Tok-Three Pagodas Pass section of Burma Railway dismantled
before 1950 Ratchawong (feeder) Line and part of Dusit Line (on Phitsanulok Road) of Bangkok tramways closed
*1950 Thonburi Station reconstructed and re-opened
*21 December 1951 Two more short branches of Bangkok tram network closed: Bang Krabue Pier-Bang Krabue Intersection and Chao Phraya River-Wachira Intersection
*01 February 1955 Electric tram service on Mahachai Line discontinued
*1955-1960 (?) The short period of operation of the Lopburi Tramway (1 Line)
*1956 Thung Pho-Khirirat Nikhom Line opened (originally intended to reach Phuket, but never completed)
*01 July 1958 Khorat-Nongkhai Line opened;Kanchanaburi-Nam Tok Section of Burma Railway re-opened
*01 January 1960 Paknam Railway closed and dismantled, stations demolished
*07 January 1961 Khlong San-Wong Wian Yai section of Mahachai Line closed, Khlong San Station demolished
*January 1962 Bang Krabue-Hualamphong section of Samsen Tram Line closed and dismantled
*April 1962 Bang Krabue-Bang Sue Tram Line closed and dismantled
*May 1962 Banglamphoo-Hualamphong Tram Line closed and dismantled
*June 1962 Pratunam-Silom Tram Line closed and dismantled
*July 1962 Yotse-Ratchaprasong Tram Line closed and dismantled
*October 1962 Hualamphong-Sathorn (-Khlong Toey?) section of Samsen Tram Line closed and dismantled
*December 1962 City Pillar-Saphan Lek section of Bangkholaem Tram Line closed and dismantled
*1963 Nong Pladuk-Suphanburi Line opened (originally intended to reach Lopburi, but never completed)
*July 1963 Saphan Lek-Thanon Tok section of Bangkholaem Tram Line and Thewet-Saphan Dam section of Dusit Tram Line closed and dismantled; Saphan Dam-Wat Liab section of Dusit Line added to City Circle, the last tram line in Bangkok
*October 1963 Wang Burapha-Wat Liab section of City Circle Tram Line closed
*December 1963 City Circle Tram Line cut into two unconnected sections by removing the rails from National Theater to Phra Arthit Road
*1967 Kaeng Khoi-Bua Yai shortcut opened
*01 October 1968 Last parts of Bangkok Tramways (two unconnected sections of City Circle Line: Saphan Dam-National Museum and Phra Arthit Road-Wang Burapha) closed and dismantled
*1974 Service between Aranyaprathet-Khlong Luek-Poipet discontinued
*01 July 1978 Hat Yai-Songkhla Line closed
*1979 Bangkok Mass Transit Master Plan comes up with first proposal for an elevated/underground rail system (Lavilin Skytrain – three lines expected to open in 1984)
*19xx End of steam era for Thai railways
*1984 Chachoengsao-Sattahip Line opened Laem Chabang Branch line? Map Tha Put Branch Line?
*09 November 1990 Contract over construction of the BERTS (Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System) signed between the Thai Government and Hopewell Holdings of Hong Kong
1992 Contract for the Lavilin Skytrain scrapped by the government
*1994 (?) Rail track from Nongkhai Station to Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge laid
*1995 Khlong Sip Kao-Kaeng Khoi shortcut opened (cargo trains only)
*May 1995 Bangkok Land Skytrain Project cancelled by the government
*1996 Proposal for “Khlong Tramway” (monorail along three major canals in Bangkok) by Governor Bhichit – never realised
*August 1997 Hopewell Project abandoned due to financial difficulties and corruption
*05 December 1999 First 2 BTS (Elevated Railway, Skytrain) Lines opened(Light Green and Dark Green Line: National Stadium – Saphan Taksin and Mor Chit – On Nut)
*04 October 2003 Thonburi Station closed/relocated to Bangkok Noi Station to make way for Sirirat Hospital extension
*2003 or early 2004 Short extension of the Burma Line: section between Nam Tok and Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi (1.4 km) re-opened
*20 March 2004 Agreement signed between Thai and Lao governments over the 3.5 km track extension from the Friendship Bridge to Tha Nalaeng (first ever railway in Laos)
*03 July 2004 First Bangkok MRT (Subway) Line opened (Blue Line: Hualamphong-Bangsue)

Other facts to be added:
-when was RSR (Royal State Railway) founded?
-when was the name changed to SRT (State Railway of Thailand)?
-when was Makkasan Railway Plant opened?
-when was the Yommarat Triangle completed?
-when was the track doubling/tripling on the SRT commuter lines done?
-when was passenger service between Sungai Kolok and Rantau Panjang discontinued?
-opening and closing dates of the Thonburi-Bang Bua Thong 750 mm gauge line?
-opening and closing dates + technical details of the rail (tram?) shortcut through the “Phra Pradaeng Isthmus”?

The future/proposed rail projects in Thailand:
*BTS extensions
*MRT extensions
*Hopewell Revival/Red Line Commuter/Airport Express
*Bangkok Ring Railway
*SRT Double Tracking
*SRT Electrification
*Rail Lines to the New City at Ban Na
*High Speed Rail to Khorat
*High Speed Rail to Prachuap Khiri Khan
*High Speed Rail to Padang Besar
*SRT network extensions (Den Chai-Phayao-Chiang Rai/Chiang Saen; Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son; Bua Yai-Roi Et-Mukdahan-Nakhon Phanom; Map Tha Phut-Rayong-Chanthaburi; Khirirat Nikhom (or Surat Thani?)-Tha Nun-Phuket; also proposed: Warin Chamrap-Chong Mek; Phitsanulok-Tak-Mae Sot; reconstruction of Burma Line to Three Pagodas Pass, or Kanchanaburi-Dan Bong Tee; Lam Narai-Phetchabun-Loei-Chiang Khan, or Jaturat-Chaiyaphum-Loei-Chiang Khan; Lang Suan-Ranong; Ban Tap Lamu (Phang Nga)-Ban Bang Poe (Nakhon Si Thammarat); Satun-Songkhla)
*Hualamphong-Pak Tho Line with bridges across the Chao Phraya, Tha Chin and Maeklong Rivers/upgrading and electrification of Mahachai and Maeklong Railway
*Chiang Mai Subway/LRT
*Hat Yai Monorail/Hat Yai-Songkhla LRT
*Phuket LRT

[Wisarut]

1891 BKK - Korat Line Constructyion Started

23 march 1892 The change of ownership within Bangkok Tram

1 Feb 1893 Electrified Bangkok Tramway (City Pillar - Thanon Tok)
Opened with the ceremony by Crown Pricne Vajirunahit .... (reported in Bangkok Time issue Feb 22, 1893).

11 April 1893 Hualamphong-Paknam Railway (private) opened

May 1894 Tram Line No. 1 Service Resumed

26 March 1897 Hualamphong-Ayutthaya Railway (state-run) opened

1901: This Bangkrabue line (Bang Krabue - Hua Lamphong) Opened

1901: BKK - Ban Phachee - Korat Railway Line OPENED - Thsi lien has saved the country from DISINTEGRATION.

1901: Thonburi - Phetburi Railway Opened

04 January 1905 Khlong San-Mahachai Railway (private) opened

01 October 1905 Bangkok Tram Line No. 5 opened between Banglamphoo and Hualamphong

Note: This is the one owne by Prin Naradhip Praphanphongse ->
At the same day (October 1, 1905), the following 2 lines opened:

1) the City Circle line (Banglumphoo - Phan Fah - Wat Liab - Wat Pho - Sanam luang - Bang Lamphoo), and

2) Dusit Line (Thewet - Suan Kularb palace - Ratchadamnoen Avenue - Thewakam Bridge - Krung Kasem - Royal Tuft Club - Nakhon Sawan road - Saphan Dam - Kong Thom - SAB - Wat Tuek - Wat Liab)

1906: Tha Ruea-Phra Phutthabat Railway (750 mm gauge) opened since the first record by King Chulalongkorn about Tharue - Phraphutthabat ... criticism abotu derails several times.

August 1907 Ban Laem-Maeklong Railway (private) opened


1909 Yommarat - Makkasan-Khlong Toey Line (AKA Port Railway, Maenam Railway) opened (originally standard gauge). The section form makkasan to Chachongsao Opened in the same year for national security


April 1909 Ban Dara-Sawankhalok branch line opened (originally standard gauge)

1910-1912: Sukhothai line Opened from Vajira Hospital to the mouth of Samsen canal. This lined CLOSED in 1950 to make the way for Ratchaprasong - Soi Ruen Ruedee Tram line.

1912: Phetburi - Hua Hin - Wang Pho Opened
1914 Thung Song-Kantang branch line opened
1915 Khao Chumthong-Nakhon Si Thammarat branch line opened
1914: Hat Yai-Songkhla branch line opened
1918: Hatyai -Padang Besar Line opened (connecting with Malayan Railway: 01 March 1918)

Note: Teh survey on Khun Tan started in 1907 and the tunnel finished in 1918 by Siamese Army Engineeering Corp.

September 1920: Regauging of Railway line - Compeleted in 1930

1921: Hat Yai-Sungai Kolok Line opened (bridge connecting
with Malayan Railway at Rantau Panjang: 01 November 1921)

01 January 1922 Railway to Chiang Mai Line opened

1922 - 1927: The cosntruction of Rama 6 bridge

Note: Corrections -> Dusit line has route READJUSTED in 1926 to go alogn Phisanulok Road instad oif heading to Wang Suankularb sicne Want Suan Kularb (within Dusit Royal Palace Complex) no longer has any members of royal family there ....

1) Silom Line (Saladaeng - Bangrak) opened in 1925
2) Extension of bangkrabue line from Hau Lamphong to Klong Toei
via Rama 4 road Opened in 1925
3) Yotse Line (Yotse - Pathumwan - Ratprasong Cahloemlok Bridge) opened in 1926
4) Bangsue line (Bang Krabue - Saphan Daeng - Bangsue Junction) opened in 1926

12 February 1926 Start of electric tram service on Mahachai Line (between Khlong San and Wat Sai Stations; later extended to Wat Singh in 1927)

September 13, 1926 - Paknam Railway Electrfied

01 January 1927 Taling Chan-Bangsue connection opened (via Rama VI Bridge, the first - and only - rail bridge across the Chao Phraya River)

1928 Bangkok-Aranyaprathet Line opened

01 April 1930: Nakhon Ratchasima -Ubon Ratchathani (Warin Chamrap) Line opened

01 April 1933: Nakhon Ratchasima - Khon Kaen Line Opened

1936 Paknam Railway nationalized with a price tag of 350,000 Baht

June 24, 1941: Konkaen - Udorn Thani Opened

January 26, 1942: Military control of maeklogn Railway and Thai Electricity Corporation

July 16, 1942 Tha Ruea-Phra Phutthabat Railway closed

16 September 1942 Start of works on the Burma Line (AKA Death Railway) (Nong Pladuk-Kanchanaburi-Three Pagodas Pass-Thanbyuzayat)

February 1943 Wooden bridge across the River Kwai completed

April 1943 Steel/concrete bridge across the River Kwai completed

December 25, 1943: Burma Line opened (for Japanese military use only)

June 1943 Start on works for another Japanese military line from Chumphon to Kraburi and La-Un (Ranong) (standard gauge)

November 1943 Chumphon-La-Un Line completed

13 February 1945 Central spans of River Kwai Bridge destroyed in allied air raid

05 March 1945 Thonburi Station destroyed in allied air raid

19 March 1945 Parts of Chumphon-La-Un Line damaged in allied air raid

June 1945 Chumphon-La-Un Line partially dismantled (km 28-30) by the Japanese

14 August 1945 Mahachai and Maeklong Railways nationalized
After August 1945 Chumphon-La-Un Line completely dismantled by the British military


June 24, 1949: Nong Pladuk - Kanchanaburi Opened after rehabilitation.

1947-1958 Nam Tok-Three Pagodas Pass section of Burma Railway dismantled

before 1950 Ratchawong (feeder) Line and part of Dusit Line (on Phitsanulok Road) of Bangkok tramways closed

1950 Thonburi Station reconstructed and re-opened

21 December 1951 Two more short branches of Bangkok tram network closed: Bang Krabue Pier-Bang Krabue Intersection and Chao Phraya River-Wachira Intersection

Correction: Electric tram form Klognsan to Wat Singh still continue until the shorten of Klongsan - Wongwian Yai section and Cabinate resolution on Dec 19, 1961 to DISCONTINUE Tramway in Thailand.


1955: Udorn - Natha Railway lien Opened:

1955-1962: The short period of operation of the Lopburi Tramway (1 Line)

April 13, 1956 Thung Pho-Khirirat Nikhom Line opened (originally intended to reach Phuket, but never completed)

01 July 1958 Khorat-Nongkhai Line opened;
Kanchanaburi-Nam Tok Section of Burma Railway re-opened

01 January 1960 Paknam Railway closed and dismantled, stations demolished

07 January 1961 Khlong San-Wong Wian Yai section of Mahachai Line closed, Khlong San Station demolished

January 1962 Bang Krabue-Hualamphong section of Samsen Tram Line closed and dismantled

April 1962 Bang Krabue-Bang Sue Tram Line closed and dismantled

May 1962 Banglamphoo-Hualamphong Tram Line closed and dismantled

June 1962 Pratunam-Silom Tram Line closed and dismantled

July 1962 Yotse-Ratchaprasong Tram Line closed and dismantled

October 1962 Hualamphong-Sathorn section of Samsen Tram Line closed and dismantled

December 1962 City Pillar-Saphan Lek section of Bangkholaem Tram Line closed and dismantled

1963 Nong Pladuk-Suphanburi Line opened (originally intended to reach Lopburi, but never completed)

July 1963 Saphan Lek-Thanon Tok section of Bangkholaem Tram Line and Thewet-Saphan Dam section of Dusit Tram Line closed and dismantled; Saphan Dam-Wat Liab section of Dusit Line added to City Circle, the last tram line in Bangkok

October 1963 Wang Burapha-Wat Liab section of City Circle Tram Line closed

December 1963 City Circle Tram Line cut into two unconnected sections by removing the rails from National Theater to Phra Arthit Road

1967 Kaeng Khoi-Bua Yai shortcut opened

01 October 1968 Last parts of Bangkok Tramways (two unconnected sections of City Circle Line: Saphan Dam-National Museum and Phra Arthit Road-Wang Burapha) closed and dismantled

1974 Service between Aranyaprathet-Khlong Luek-Poipet discontinued

01 July 1978 Hat Yai-Songkhla Line closed

1979 Bangkok Mass Transit Master Plan comes up with first proposal for an elevated/underground rail system (Lavilin Skytrain – three lines expected to open in 1984)

1982: End of Stream traction of Thai Railway after the closedown of Steam Maintainance Center at Makkasan in 1975

1984 Chachoengsao-Sattahip Line opened

1995: Laem Chabang Branch & Map Tha Put Branch Line Opened

09 November 1990 Contract over construction of the BERTS (Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System) signed between the Thai Government and Hopewell Holdings of Hong Kong
1992 Contract for the Lavilin Skytrain scrapped by the government

1994: Rail track from Nongkhai Station to Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge laid

1995: Khlong Sip Kao-Kaeng Khoi shortcut opened (cargo trains only)

May 1995 Bangkok Land Skytrain Project cancelled by the government

1996 Proposal for “Khlong Tramway” (monorail along three major canals in Bangkok) by Governor Bhichit – never realised

August 1997 Hopewell Project abandoned due to financial difficulties and corruption

05 December 1999 First 2 BTS (Elevated Railway, Skytrain) Lines opened(Light Green and Dark Green Line: National Stadium – Saphan Taksin and Mor Chit – On Nut)

04 October 2003 Thonburi Station closed/relocated to Bangkok Noi Station to make way for Sirirat Hospital extension

2003: Short extension of the Burma Line: section between Nam Tok and Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi (1.4 km) re-opened

20 March 2004 Agreement signed between Thai and Lao governments over the 3.5 km track extension from the
Friendship Bridge to Tha Nalaeng (first ever railway in Laos)

03 July 2004 First Bangkok MRT (Subway) Line opened (Blue Line: Hualamphong-Bangsue)

Answer: RSR Fouded1890

Answer: name changed in 1951 after SRT Act of BE 2494 has become effective on July 1.

Answer: Yommaraj - Makkasan - Chachongsao Opened in 1909 as standard gauge line

Answer: September 1936 for Chitladda Triangle

Answer: BKK - Ban Phachee Double tracking Complete in June 24, 1942 ... BKK - Klong Rangsit Opened in 1932 though.

Answer: 1978: Sugie Kolok - Tumpat Discontinued

Answer: Bang Buathogn line Opening in 1915, Expanded form Bang Bua Thong to lad Lumkaeo in 1930 Closed on July 16, 1942

Answer: Phra Padaeng tram opened aroudn 1908 (concession singed on July 9, 1907 Closed in 1940

[Wisarut]

The following are list of railway opened and closed date form SRT:

Date: Line
26 March 1897 Krung Thep-Ayutthaya
01 May 1897 Ayutthaya-Ban Phachi-Kaeng Khoi
03 March 1898 Kaeng Khoi-Muak Lek
(Note: There is A monument Deidicated to King Chulalongkorn at Muak lek)
(for the openign of Muaklek Station)
25 Nay 1899 Muk Lek-Pak Chong
21 December 1900 Pak Chong-Nakhon Ratchasima (Nakhon ratchasima Line completed - Contry Saved from Disintegration)
01 April 1901 Ban Phachi Junction(!)-Lop Buri
19 June 1903 Thon Buri-Phetchaburi (First Section of Southern Line Started)
29 December 1904 Mahachai Line Opened by King Vajiravut (People could ride only after 4 January 1905)
31 October 1905 Lop Buri-Pak Nam Pho (Paknam Po is where Ping, Wang, Yom, Nan merged into Chao Phraya River)
24 January 1908 Pak Nam Pho-Phitsanulok
24 January 1908 Krung Thep - Chachoengsao (First section of Eastern line started)
11 November 1908 Phitsanulok - Ban Dara
11 August 1909 Maeklong section opened
15 August 1909 Ban Dara-Pang Ton Phung
15 August 1909 Ban Dara Junction(!)-Sawankhalok
15 February 1910 Makkasan-Mae Nam
01 June 1911 Pang Ton Phung-Mae Puak
09 June 1911 Phetchaburi-Ban Cha-am (Cha Am is the fisherman town andf then prince Narathip has develpped
into a resort to rival Hua Hin)
(Souhtern Railway Costrution started by 4 Million GBP loan from the Federated States of Malaya -
but hte actual cost overrun has shot up the loan to 6-7 Million GBP)
25 November 1911 Ban Cha-am-Hua Hin (Hua Hin is the first peremanent seaside resort in Thailand)
15 November 1912 Mae Puak-Pak Pan
01 April 1913 Kantang-Huai Yot (Knatang is a port town of Phuket Circle)
01 May 1913 Pak Pan-Huai Mae Ta
01 January 1914 Hua Hin-Wang Phong
01 January 1914 Huai Yot-Thung Song
01 January 1914 Utapao-Song Khla (Sonkla Branch line opened due to the port in Songkla)
01 January 1914 Phattalung-Utapao
(UTapao usd to be a junction but the flood proned area of Utapao compelled RSR to move to Hatyai)
01 June 1914 Wang Phong-Prachuap Khiri Khan
15 June 1914 Huai Mae Ta-Ban Pin
01 October 1914 Khao Chum Thong-Nakhon Si Thammarat
01 October 1914 Thung Song-Phattalung (Khao Chumthong has become a junction)
01 May 1915 Ban Phin-Pha Kho
01 December 1915 Prachuap Khiri Khan-Ban Krut
15 December 1915 Pha Kho-Mae Chang
14 February 1916 Thung Song Junction(!)-Ban Na
15 March 1916 Ban Krut-Bang Saphan Yai
01 April 1916 Mae Chang-Lampang
17 July 1916 Ban Na-Chumphon
01 September 1916 Bang Saphan Yai-Chumphon
20 December 1916 Lampang-Ban Hua Pong
01 April 1917 Utapao-Hat Yai-Khlong Sai (the line to Sugei Kolok Completed)
01 July 1918 Ban Hua Pong-Bang Yang
01 July 1918 Hat Yai Junction(!)-Padang Besar
01 November 1920 Khlong Sai-Balo
01 March 1921 Balo-Tanyong Mat
01 January 1922 Bang Yang-Chiang Mai (Northern Line Completed)
01 May 1922 Nakhon Ratchasima-Thanon Chira-Tha Chang (Ubon Line Started)
17 September 1922 Tanyong Mat-Sungai Kolok (Southern Line Compeleted)
01 Janaury 1925 Chachoengsao-Kabin Buri
01 April 1925 Tha Chang-Buri Ram
01 May 1926 Buri Ram-Surin
08 November 1926 Kabin Buri-Aranyaprathet (Eastern Line Completed)
01 January 1927 Bang Sue Junction(!)-Taling Chan Junction(!) - Rama 6 Bridge Opened
01 May 1927 Surin-Huai Thap Than
01 August 1928 Huai Thap Than-Si Sa Ket
01 May 1929 Thanon Chira Junction(!)-Non Sung (Nong Khai Line Started)
01 April 1930 Si Sa Ket-Ubon Ratchathani (Ubon Line Completed)
01 January1932 Krung Thep-Khlong Rangsit(DOUBLE TRACKED)
01 May 1932 Non Sung - Bua Yai
01 April 1933 Bua Yai - Khon Kaen
15 October 1936 Chitladda - Makkasan (Chitladda Triangle) Opened
24 June 1940 Khlong Rangsit-Bang Pa-In(DOUBLE TRACKED)
24 June 1941 Khon Kaen-Udon Thani
24 June 1942 Bang Pa-In-Ban Phachi Junction(DOUBLE TRACKED)
24 June 1949 Nong Pla Duk Junction(!)-Kanchanaburi
01 April 1952 Kanchanaburi-Wang Pho
13 September 1955 Udon Thani-Na Tha
04 January 1956 Kaeng Khoi Junction(!)-Suranarai
13 April 1956 Ban Thung Pho Junction(!)-Khiri Ratthanikhom
01 July 1958 Wang Pho-Nam Tok (Namtok Line Completed)
31 July 1958 Na Tha-Nong Khai (Nong Khai Line Completed)
1 January 1961 Wongwian Yai - Klong San (CLOSED)
11 October 1961 Suranarai-Lam Narai
16 June 1963 Nong Pla Duk Junction-Suphan Buri
19 August 1967 Lam Narai-Bua Yai Junction(!) (kaeng Khi - Bua Yai Shortcut completed)
01 July 1978 Utapao - Song Khla(CLOSED)
28 September 1984 Chachoengsao Junction(!)-Pattaya(First passenger train)
16 July 1985 First goods train Bang Sue Junction-Bang Lamung
27 February 1990 Official opening Chachoengsao Junction-Sattahip
19 August 1995 Sri Racha Junction (!)- Laem Chabang Opened
19 August 1995 Khao Cheejan Junction (!) - laem Chabang Opened
19 August 1995 Kaeng Khoi - Klong Sipkao shotcut Opened for Cargo line
25 November 1999 New line via Pa Sak Jolasid Dam opened

[ncr]

Thanks Khun Wisarut! So far, I only took into consideration your first reply.....

Here is edit No. 1 (I could not change my original post because it would have exceeded the limit):

A Timeline of Thai Railways
*22 September 1888 First Bangkok Tram Line (horse-drawn) opened between City Pillar and Thanon Tok (AKA Bangkholaem Line) by a Danish company, later sold to a British company
*1890 Royal State Railway of Thailand (RSR) founded
*1891 Bangkok-Ayutthaya-Nakhon Ratchasima Railway construction started
*23 March (May?) 1892 Tram ownership transferred to Siam Electricity Company Ltd. (SEC) is this correct? tramway ownership issue is very complicated....
*11 April 1893 Hualamphong-Paknam Railway (private) opened
*May 1894 Tram Line No. 1 electrified what’s the meaning of ”11 February 1893-electrified service opened, May 1894-service resumed”????
*26 March 1897 Hualamphong-Ayutthaya Line (state-run) opened
*1901 Ayutthaya-Ban Phachi-Nakhon Ratchasima Line and Thonburi-Phetchaburi Line opened
*September 1901 Bangkok Tram Line No. 2 opened between Bang Krabue and Hua-lamphong (AKA Samsen line), owned by Bangkok Tramways Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of SEC; Atsadang and Ratchawong feeder lines added later
*04 January 1905 Khlong San-Mahachai Railway (private) opened
*01 October 1905 Bangkok Tram Lines No. 5, 6 and 7 opened: between Banglamphoo and Hualamphong (Hualamphong Line); between Thewet and Wat Liab (Dusit Line); and the City Circle Line – all of which owned by the Siamese Tramway Co., Ltd. of HRH Prince Naradhip
*1905 or 1906 Tha Ruea-Phra Phutthabat Railway (750 mm gauge) opened
*1907-1918 Construction of the Khun Tan Tunnel
*August 1907 Ban Laem-Maeklong Railway (private) opened
*around 1908 ‘Phra Pradaeng Tram‘ (rail shortcut through the narrowest land portion within the Chao Phraya River bend) opened
*01 February 1908 Siamese Tramway Co., Ltd. merged into Bangkok Tramways Co., Ltd.
*1909 Yommarat-Makkasan-Khlong Toey Line (AKA Port Railway, Maenam Railway) and Makkasan-Chachoengsao Line opened (originally standard gauge)
*April 1909 Ban Dara-Sawankhalok branch line opened (originally standard gauge)
*circa 1910-1912 Short feeder tram line between mouth of Khlong Samsen and Wachira Hospital (‘Sukhothai Line’) opened
*1912 Phetchaburi-Hua Hin-Wang Pho (or is that Thung Pho?) Line opened
*1914 Thung Song-Kantang branch line and Hat Yai-Songkhla branch line opened
*1915 Khao Chumthong-Nakhon Si Thammarat branch line opened
*1915 Thonburi-Bang Bua Thong Railway (750 mm gauge) opened
*1918 Thonburi-Padang Besar Line opened (connecting with Malayan Railway: 01 March 1918)
*Sept. 1920-1930 Regauging of Thai railway lines (standard to meter gauge)
*1921 Hat Yai-Sungai Kolok Line opened (bridge connecting with Malayan Railway at Rantau Panjang: 01 November 1921)
*1922-1927 Construction of Rama VI Bridge, the first - and only - rail bridge across the Chao Phraya River
*01 January 1922 Ban Phachi-Chiang Mai Line opened
*1925 Bangkok tram network continues to grow with Hualamphong-Sathorn-Khlong Toey extension and Pratunam-Silom Line
*1926 Two more tram extensions added: Yotse-Pathumwan-Ratchaprasong and Bang Krabue-Saphan Daeng-Bang Sue; readjustment of Dusit tram line to go along Phitsanulok Road (instead of Uthong Nok/Ratchasima Roads and Wang Suan Kulab)
*12 February 1926 Start of an electric tram service on Mahachai Line (between Khlong San and Wat Sai Stations; later extended to Wat Singh in 1927)
*13 September 1926 Paknam Railway electrified
*01 January 1927 Taling Chan-Bangsue connection opened (via Rama VI Bridge)
*1928 Bangkok-Aranyaprathet Line opened
*1930 Bang Bua Thong Railway extended to Lat Lum Kaeo
*01 April 1930 Ban Pachi-Ubon Ratchathani (Warin Chamrap) Line opened
*1932 Double tracking between Bangkok and Khlong Rangsit completed
*01 April 1933 Nakhon Ratchasima-Khon Kaen Line opened
*1936 Paknam Railway nationalized (for a price of 360,000 Baht)
*September 1936 Chitladda rail triangle completed
*28 September 1939 Name of SEC changed to Thai Electricity Corporation
*1940 Phra Pradaeng Tram closed
*24 June 1941 Khon Kaen-Udon Thani Line opened
*26 January 1942 The military assumes control over the Maeklong Railway and Thai Electricity Corporation
*24 June 1942 Double tracking between Rangsit and Ban Phachi completed
*July 1942 Tha Ruea-Phra Phutthabat Railway closed
*16 July 1942 Bang Bua Thong Railway closed
*16 September 1942 Start of works on the Burma Line (AKA Death Railway) (Nong Pladuk-Kanchanaburi-Three Pagodas Pass-Thanbyuzayat) by POWs
*February 1943 Wooden bridge across the River Kwai completed
*April 1943 Steel/concrete bridge across the River Kwai completed
*June 1943 Start on works for another Japanese military line from Chumphon to Kraburi and La-Un (Ranong) (standard gauge)
November 1943 Chumphon-La-Un Line completed
*25 December 1943 Burma Line opened (for Japanese military use only)
*13 February 1945 Central spans of River Kwai Bridge destroyed in allied air raid
*05 March 1945 Thonburi Station destroyed in allied air raid
*19 March 1945 Parts of Chumphon-La-Un Line damaged in allied air raid
*1945 (still before the end of WWII) River Kwai Bridge restored and re-opened
*June 1945 Chumphon-La-Un Line partially dismantled (km 28-30) by the Japanese
*14 August 1945 Mahachai and Maeklong Railways nationalized
*After August 1945 Chumphon-La-Un Line completely dismantled by the British military
*1947-1958 Nam Tok-Three Pagodas Pass section of Burma Railway dismantled
*24 June 1949 Nong Pladuk-Kanchanaburi section of Burma Railway re-opened after track rehabilitation
*before 1950 Ratchawong (feeder) Line of Bangkok tramways closed
*1950 Thonburi Station reconstructed and re-opened
*01 January 1950 Bangkok tramways nationalized to Bangkok Municipality and run by the Dept. of Civil Works, Ministry of Interior
*01 July 1951 Name of RSR changed to State Railway of Thailand (SRT) by government act
*21 December 1951 Two more short branches of Bangkok tram network closed: Chao Phraya River-Bang Krabue Intersection (?) and Chao Phraya-Wachira Intersection (‘Sukhothai Line’); after that: Yotse-Ratchaprasong Tram Line extended to Soi Ruam Ruedi
*1955 Udon Thani-Na Tha section of Nongkhai Line opened
*01 February 1955 or 1960/61? (see below) Electric tram service on Mahachai Line discontinued
*1955-1960 (?) The short period of operation of the Lopburi Tramway (1 Line)
*1956 Thung Pho-Khirirat Nikhom Line opened (originally intended to reach Phuket, but never completed)
*01 July 1958 Na Tha-Nongkhai section of Nongkhai Line opened;Kanchanaburi-Nam Tok Section of Burma Railway re-opened
*01 January 1960 Paknam Railway closed and dismantled, stations demolished
*07 January 1961 Khlong San-Wong Wian Yai section of Mahachai Line closed, Khlong San Station demolished
*19 December 1961 Cabinet resolution to discontinue all tramways in Thailand
*January 1962 Bang Krabue-Hualamphong section of Samsen Tram Line closed and dismantled
*April 1962 Bang Krabue-Bang Sue Tram Line closed and dismantled
*May 1962 Banglamphoo-Hualamphong Tram Line closed and dismantled
*June 1962 Pratunam-Silom Tram Line closed and dismantled
*July 1962 Yotse-Ratchaprasong Tram Line closed and dismantled
*October 1962 Hualamphong-Sathorn (-Khlong Toey?) section of Samsen Tram Line closed and dismantled
*December 1962 City Pillar-Saphan Lek section of Bangkholaem Tram Line closed and dismantled
*1963 Nong Pladuk-Suphanburi Line opened (originally intended to reach Lopburi, but never completed)
*July 1963 Saphan Lek-Thanon Tok section of Bangkholaem Tram Line and Thewet-Saphan Dam section of Dusit Tram Line closed and dismantled; Saphan Dam-Wat Liab section of Dusit Line added to City Circle, the last tram line in Bangkok
*October 1963 Wang Burapha-Wat Liab section of City Circle Tram Line closed
*December 1963 City Circle Tram Line cut into two unconnected sections by removing the rails from National Theater to Phra Arthit Road
*1967 Kaeng Khoi-Bua Yai shortcut opened
*01 October 1968 Last parts of Bangkok Tramways (two unconnected sections of City Circle Line: Saphan Dam-National Museum and Phra Arthit Road-Wang Burapha) closed and dismantled
*1974 Service between Aranyaprathet-Khlong Luek-Poipet discontinued
*1975 Steam Maintenance Center at Makkasan closed
*1978 Rail service between Sungai Kolok and Tumpat (Malaysia) discontinued
*01 July 1978 Hat Yai-Songkhla Line closed
*1979 Bangkok Mass Transit Master Plan comes up with first proposal for an elevated/underground rail system (Lavilin Skytrain – three lines expected to open in 1984)
*1982 End of steam era for Thai railways
*1984 Chachoengsao-Sattahip Line opened
*09 November 1990 Contract over construction of the BERTS (Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System) signed between the Thai Government and Hopewell Holdings of Hong Kong
*1992 Contract for the Lavilin Skytrain scrapped by the government
*1994 (?) Rail track from Nongkhai Station to Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge laid
*1995 Khlong Sip Kao-Kaeng Khoi shortcut, Laem Chabang Branch line and Map Tha Put Branch Line opened (cargo trains only)
[.....]


unanswered questions:
-when was Makkasan Railway Plant opened?
-technical details of the ‘Phra Pradaeng tram’? What gauge? What kind of rolling stock? What was its function? Passenger or cargo service?
-so until 1920, all RSR lines were indeed standard gauge?
-when was double tracking to Chachoengsao and Nakhon Pathom (is the latter double track, not sure?) completed?

Regarding the electric trams on the Mahachai Line: From 2bangkok.com:

The Mae Klong Railway
from Locomotives & Carriages/Wagons, State Railway of Thailand, 1991 (translated by Wisarut Bholsithi)

[…]Tram service on Mae Klong Railway track was discontinued on February 1, 1955 so as to follow the regulation of SRT.[…]

[Wisarut]

Khun NCR

Well, My Mistake -> 23 May 1892 - the ownership transfer from Danish company to british company ... and then the danish company had taken the ownership of Bang Kholaem Tram
Back .... SEC has founded in Copenhage in 1897 though ... and they make a temporary power station at Si Phraya until SEC has taken over the Wat Liab power plant of the Ammattayakul family and the power plant Chaophraya Surasak Montri .... in 1898 ....

Well, after my investigation through the Microfilm in national Archives, I got Stunned that the actual electrification of Bangkholaem tram line was on Feb 1, 1893. However, the oldest record in Thai langauge mentgioned about the electrified tram was in May 1894 ...

*1912 Phetchaburi-Hua Hin-Wang Pho -> It is Wang Pho Commune within Hua hin district of Prachuab Khirikhan ... There was a railway line from Thonburi to Wang Pho though ...


Initially, I thought that Klong San - Watsingh tram was closed in 1955 but I foudn later on that they still keep in service until the cabinate resolution on Dec 19, 1961 to eliminate all the tram in Thailand ...

Dec 1, 1962 - Lopburi Tram Closed.

// -----------------------------------------------------------------

From my investigation, I thought that Makkasan depot
was opened at the same time the line from BKK to Chachongsao was Opened (24 January 1908)

According to the National Archieves, Phra padaneg tram was gasolene engine tram since there was No power line in Phra Padaeng. It is a meater gauge tram with 39 lb/yard rail with groove.

Until 1920, Standard gauge line were only the Northern Line (Up to Pang Tonphueng), Eastern line (Up to Chachongsao) and Khorat line (Up to Nakhon Ratchasima)

Now, The double track from Hua Mark to Chachongsao is COMPLETED and opened aroudn December 2002. The double tracking from the Bangsue to Nakhon Pathom was done in 2000 but it would take time until the modern signals have been fully installed and the fixation on the routes and the reinforcement of Rama 6 Bridge (accept 20-ton axle load in both inbound and outbound without bridge collapse) to ensure that the doubel track service could be ACTUALLY run from Bangsue to nakhon Pathom - ... not just ending up at Bang Bumru ...

[ncr]

That's all very interesting information....!

I will try to insert all the missing facts from Wisarut's replies No. 2 (well, not ALL the opening dates of all the small sections) and No. 3 into my list and make corrections where necessary.

After that, it should already be quite, hmmm, comprehensive and useful, so I will forward it to Ron and he can then post it on the website.

That is, if there is no one else who wishes to contribute bits and pieces.... :D

By the way, has this ever been attempted before? Actually I cannot imagine that there is no book about Thai rail history featuring a similar chronology.

[The Enforcer!]

Originally posted by ncr
By the way, has this ever been attempted before? Actually I cannot imagine that there is no book about Thai rail history
featuring a similar chronology.
If there is then I have never been able to find a copy!

Congrats to NCR and Wisarut on this!

The Enforcer!

[Wisarut]

Well, Royal Siamese Railways and SRT had published the commemorated books about Railway History ...

1) Openiong Southern Railway of 1917
2) 3 Cycle of Siamese Railway - 1933
3) 50 years of Tahi Railway - 1947 -> very hard to Find -> If you find out, buy it NOW even though you have to pay about US$ 1000 ...
4) Opening of Rama 6 Bridge - 1953
4) 60 Years of Thai Railway - 1957
5) Opening of Nakhon Ratchasima Depot - 1958
6) Opening of Nong Khai Station, custom house and Ferry across Mekhong - 1958
7) 72 Years of Thai Railway - 1969
8) Prince Purachad Memorial - 1983
9) 100 year Thai Railway - 1997
10) Annual Roport of SRT


Furthermore, a few Thai writers have written about
the records of Thai Railway history ...

[Wisarut]

Opening of Double Track section without modern signal installation:

1) Northern line: Nong Wiwat - Ban Pa Wai (31 km) -
October 1, 2002
2) Northeastern line: Nong Kuay - Nong Bua (24.66 km) -
October 1, 2002
3) Southern line: Bang Bumru - Nakhon Pathom - May 14, 2003
4) Eastern line: Hua Mark - Chachoengsao - December 15, 2003

The rest will be opened after the instalation of moderen signals by Bombadier in both Northern line (Bangsue -Ban Phachee - Lopburi) and Southern line (Bangsue - Rama 6 Bang Bumru - Nakhon Pathom) is DONE even though the doubel tracking are done in the followign routes:

1) Ban Phcachee - Lopburi (ITD/Cogifer TF): July 25, 2002 (started in July 26, 2000)
2) Talingchan - Nakhon Pathom (AS Associate Engineering/ Tekken
done in Nov 25, 2002 started in July 26, 2000) .. even though the track raising between Wartsuwan to Nakhon Chaisri is not done until Jan 25, 2003.
3) Ban Phachee - Map Krabao (ITD/Cogifer TF): July 25, 2002 (started in July 26, 2000)
4) Hua Mark - Chachongsao (ITD/Cogifer TF) April 11, 2003 (started December 12, 2000)

[ncr]

@The Enforcer:

Thanks for your encouragement. We can get the Thai railway history straight.It's hard work, but it's also a lot of fun.
Hope to see you at the coming 2Bangkok.com meeting next Tuesday!


@Khun Wisarut (AKA "The Living Railway Encyclopedia"),

I have almost finished my list and included all your contributions. Just a couple more questions:

*So RSR actually means Royal Siamese (not "State") Railway?

*Is Pang Ton Phueng in Uttaradit or Phrae Province (or even Lampang)? By the way, why did they start with standard gauge, then decided for meter gauge? How did they operate the mixed network? I mean, no problem for the separate Southern Line from Thonburi, but what happened between Khorat/Thanon Chira and Pan Tong Phueng/Mae Puak when they still had different gauges?

*Do you have information on when SRT acquired/used a diesel locomotive for the first time?

*The only major remaining problem I have is with the early history of tramways...... rather confusing! Well, that all was a long time ago.

-when was ownership of the first line transferred to the British company?
-then it went back to the Danish company once again, you said???
-when was it finally acquired by SEC?

From the page "Bangkok Tramway Routes" on 2Bangkok.com:

[...]It was openedfor service as a horse drawn tram on September 22,1888 by a Danish company. However, the line ran at a loss so it was sold to a British company. However, the British company did no better than the old enterprise, so it was sold to Siam Electricity Company Ltd. (an electric utility company founded by the Danes) around 1890. Siam Electricity Company decided to electrify the line and buy street cars from Belgian and Prussian companies.... [...]

But you said SEC was founded as late as 1897???

Maybe something is wrong in the paragraph above? Maybe it was something like this?
1888-founded by the Danes
1889/90/91-sold to British company (=Bangkok Tramways Co., Ltd.)
May 1892-back to Danish company (but not yet SEC)
1897-SEC

After we have clarified this, I can send the complete table to Admin.

[Wisarut]

Yep, RSR is Royal Siamese Railway. At one time it has become TSR
(Thai State Railway) durign WW2 ... eventually it has become SRT by SRT Act of BE 2494 (1951).

Pang Tonphueng is a village (Mooban) within Ban Dannakham Commune, Muang district of Uttaradit.

The reason for standard gauge is all about politics. At that time German railway enginers have been the Director general of Royal Railway Dept, and the loan for the construction of BKK to Khorat as well as Thonburi to Phetburi come from Prussia. To get the Melayu connection, the meter gauge has been used in the Southern line while the North, Northeastern and Eastrern route has been Standard gauge ....

However, the conflicts between German and British officers in Railway Depts about the Southern line management (Thonburi - Phetburi in German hand and the rest of the southern line in the British hand) has prompted the Separation Raiolway Dept into Northern and Southern Railway Dept in 1913. It is not until 1917 which Northern and Southern Railway Dept have been merged ...

The decision on the nationwide meter guage was decied in September 1919. During the decade of mixed gauge, they had to lay the 3rd rail for the meter guage on the standard gauge track so as to enable the meter guage to run all the way to Hua Lamphong without problems and then they removed the standard guage track out pieces by pieces until 1930.


Yeah, the first Diesel Loco -> Swiss Loco No 21-22 in 1928 and then series 501-506 Swiss Loco in 1931, series 551-556, 601 Frich Loco in 1932.

For the case of the ownership of BKK Tramway, it seems to me that it is quite confusing .... but for one sure thing SEC has merge Bangkholaem and Bangsue line into a part of the company in 1901. It woudl take time to track them all though

[Wisarut]

Hi Everybody,

I have added the distance of the track after openign so that you can get the rough idea

Date: Line
26 March 1897 Krung Thep-Ayutthaya (71 km)
01 May 1897 Ayutthaya-Ban Phachi-Kaeng Khoi (53)
03 March 1899 Kaeng Khoi-Muak Lek
(Note: There is A monument Deidicated to
King Chulalongkorn at Muak lek) (27 km)
25 May 1899 Muk Lek-Pak Chong (28 km)

(total distance of kaeng Khoi - Pakchong is 55 km - the line which Malaria had claimed German engineer and Chinese workers ... There is also a shrine for the Lord of Pha Sedej who protect Dong Phrayayen - All the loco have to ring the whistle to pay the respect to Lord of Pha Sadej to ensure safety trips.)

21 December 1900 Pak Chong-Nakhon Ratchasima (Nakhon Ratchasima Line completed - Contry Saved from Disintegration) -
(85 km) -> total distance from BKK to Nakhon Ratchasima is 265 km.
01 April 1901 Ban Phachi Junction(!)-Lop Buri (43 km)
19 June 1903 Thon Buri-Phetchaburi (First Section of Southern Line Started - total distance of 150 km)
29 December 1904 Mahachai Line Opened by King Vajiravut (People could ride only after 4 January 1905) - 33.1 km
31 October 1905 Lop Buri-Pak Nam Pho (Paknam Po is where Ping, Wang, Yom, Nan merged into Chao Phraya River) - total distance of 117 km - enable to transport the product from the North to BKK and vice versa even though the line is not reached Chiangmai yet.
24 January 1908 Pak Nam Pho-Phichit - Phitsanulok (149 km)
24 January 1908 Krung Thep - Chachoengsao (First section of Eastern line started - 61 km)
11 November 1908 Phitsanulok - Ban Dara (69 km)
11 August 1909 Maeklong section opened (33.8 km)
15 August 1909 Ban Dara- Uttaradit - Pang Ton Phung (51 km)
15 August 1909 Ban Dara Junction(!)-Sawankhalok (29 km)
15 February 1910 Makkasan-Mae Nam (5 km)
01 June 1911 Pang Ton Phung-Mae Puak (19 km)
09 June 1911 Phetchaburi-Ban Cha-am (Cha Am is the fisherman town andf then prince Narathip has develpped
into a resort to rival Hua Hin) (36 km)
(Souhtern Railway Costrution started by 4 Million GBP loan from the Federated States of Malaya - but hte actual cost overrun has shot up the loan to 6-7 Million GBP)
25 November 1911 Ban Cha-am-Hua Hin (Hua Hin is the first permanent seaside resort in Thailand) (26 km)
15 November 1912 Mae Puak- Denchai - Pak Pan (10 km)
01 April 1913 Kantang-Huai Yot (Katang is a port town of Phuket Circle) -
01 May 1913 Pak Pan-Huai Mae Ta (12 km)
01 January 1914 Hua Hin-Wang Phong (20 km)
01 January 1914 Huai Yot-Thung Song - 49 km
01 January 1914 Utapao-Song Khla (Sonkla Branch line opened due to the port in Songkla) - 29 km
01 January 1914 Phattalung-Utapao (84 km)
(UTapao usd to be a junction but the flood proned area of Utapao compelled RSR to move to Hatyai)
01 June 1914 Wang Phong-Prachuap Khiri Khan (69 km)
15 June 1914 Huai Mae Ta-Ban Pin (13 km)
01 October 1914 Khao Chum Thong (!)-Nakhon Si Thammarat (35 km)
01 October 1914 Thung Song- Ronphibun - Khao Chumthong(!) - Phattalung (Khao Chumthong has become a junction) (89 km)
01 May 1915 Ban Pin-Pha Kho (17 km)
01 December 1915 Prachuap Khiri Khan-Ban Krut (59 km)
15 December 1915 Pha Kho-Mae Chang (19 km)
14 February 1916 Thung Song Junction(!)-Ban Na (89 km)
15 March 1916 Ban Krut-Bang Saphan Yai (16 km)
01 April 1916 Mae Chang-Lampang (42 km)
17 July 1916 Ban Na - Thung Pho - Suratthani- Chumphon (193 km)
01 September 1916 Bang Saphan Yai-Chumphon (92 km - The Southern Line has met!)
20 December 1916 Lampang- Pang Hua Pong (33 km)
01 April 1917 Utapao-Hat Yai-Khlong Sai (the line to Sugei Kolok Started - 100 km)
01 July 1918 Pang Hua Pong - Pang Yang (4 km)
01 July 1918 Hat Yai Junction(!)-Padang Besar (29 km) (Theline to Malayu Started as local train until the international express from Thonburi has been introduced in Jan 2, 1919)
01 November 1920 Khlong Sai - Yala - Balo (36 km) - ONLY the province whcih are loyal to Siam would have the railway station in the provincial hall.
01 January 1922 Pang Yang - Lumphun - Chiang Mai (Northern Line Completed - 91 km)
01 March 1922 Balo - Tanyong Mas (38 km)
01 May 1922 Nakhon Ratchasima-Thanon Chira-Tha Chang (Ubon Line Started - the first line with all Siamese engineers and workers) - 21 km.
17 September 1922 Tanyong Mat-Sungai Kolok (Southern Line Compeleted) (45 km)
01 Janaury 1925 Chachoengsao-Kabin Buri (100 km)
01 April 1925 Tha Chang-Buri Ram (91 km)
01 May 1926 Buri Ram-Surin (44 km)
08 November 1926 Kabin Buri-Aranyaprathet (Eastern Line Completed - 94 km)
01 January 1927 Bang Sue Junction(!)-Taling Chan Junction(!) - Rama 6 Bridge Opened
01 May 1927 Surin-Huai Thap Than (61 km)
01 August 1928 Huai Thap Than-Si Sa Ket (34 km)
01 May 1929 Thanon Chira Junction(!)-None Soong (Nong Khai Line Started - 21 km)
01 April 1930 Si Sa Ket-Ubon Ratchathani (Ubon Line Completed - 61 km)
01 May 1931 Non Sung - Bua Yai (51 km)

01 January 1932 Krung Thep-Khlong Rangsit(DOUBLE TRACKED)
01 April 1933 Bua Yai - Khon Kaen (104 km)
15 October 1936 Chitladda - Makkasan (Chitladda Triangle) Opened (3 km)
24 June 1940 Khlong Rangsit-Bang Pa-In(DOUBLE TRACKED)
24 June 1941 Khon Kaen-Udon Thani (120 km)

24 June 1942 Bang Pa-In-Ban Phachi Junction(DOUBLE TRACKED)

24 June 1949 Nong Pla Duk Junction(!)-Kanchanaburi (53 km)
01 April 1952 Kanchanaburi-Wang Pho (61 km)
22 April 1955 Aranyaprathet - Klong Luek - Thai Stop (6 km)
(now Klong luek and Thai stop are out of used despite of the reopenign in February 1992)
13 September 1955 Udon Thani-Na Tha (49 km)

04 January 1956 Kaeng Khoi Junction(!)-Suranarai (61 km) - some of the tracks were from the Death Railway

13 April 1956 Ban Thung Pho Junction(!)-Khiri Ratthanikhom (31 km)
01 July 1958 Wang Pho-Nam Tok (Namtok Line Completed - )
31 July 1958 Na Tha-Nong Khai (Nong Khai Line Completed - 6 km)

1 January 1961 Wongwian Yai - Klong San (CLOSED)
11 October 1961 Suranarai-Lam Narai (23 km)
16 June 1963 Nong Pla Duk Junction-Suphan Buri (78 km from the leftover rails of the Death railway)
19 August 1967 Lam Narai-Bua Yai Junction(!) (166 km -> Kaeng Khoi - Kha Phanghei (the mountain which separate Isan form the rest of the country) Bua Yai Shortcut completed)
01 July 1978 Utapao - Song Khla(CLOSED)
28 September 1984 Chachoengsao Junction(!)-Pattaya(First passenger train)
16 July 1985 First goods train Bang Sue Junction-Bang Lamung
14 July 1989 Chachongsao - Sri Racha - Khao Cheejan - Sattahip COMPLETED.
27 February 1990 Official opening Chachoengsao Junction-Sattahip (136 km)

25 April 1994 Sri Racha Junction (!)- Laem Chabang Opened (9 km)

19 August 1995 Khao Cheejan Junction (!) - Map Ta Put Opened
(24 km)
19 August 1995 Kaeng Khoi - Klong Sipkao shotcut Opened for Cargo line
25 November 1999 New line via Pa Sak Jolasid Dam opened

[The Enforcer!]

Guys,

You give both 1904 and 1905 as the start of the Mahachai Line?

The Enforcer!

[ncr]

As usual, thanks, Khun Wisarut.

A question on WWII:

In the other thread where I asked about the Hualamphong Station of the Paknam Railway, you referred me to some old photos of Thai Railways that you had posted on a Thai language forum.

One of them shows how one of the spans of Rama VI Bridge had collapsed. What confuses me is that the date mentioned is 09 February 1946 (BE 2489). Is that a mistake, or was an unexploded bomb triggered AFTER the end of the war?

Also, what railway infrastructure was destroyed in the war (apart from the River Kwai Bridge + Thonburi Station + Rama VI Bridge)? For example, the HQ of RSR is mentioned as having been destroyed in the description of the last photo.

And one more - when was the freight terminal relocated to Bang Sue (and from where)?

[Tower 43]

It is my understanding that the first B-29 raid of the War was on the shops at Makkasan. I assume other targets were included in Bangkok but never heard which ones?

[Wisarut]

Well, My mistake ....

Rama 6 had been bombed several times .... and the raid with 4 bombers on Feb 9, 1945 knocked Rama 6 Bridge Down as you have seen in 1946 Photo ....

Furthermore, when SRT workers were working on the Rama 6 Bridge reparation in 1969, they found 1000 Lb unexploded bomb in Rama 6 Bridge in BKK side ....
When tehy asked the officers from JUSMAG to deal with the bomb, they foudn that the chemical stuffs has been oozing out when they try to defuse the bomb .... They have to ask for the helicoptor to take that bomb out to the Gulf of Thailand since the bomb was ready to explode at any seconds .....

Chulachomklao Bridge (AKA Suratthani Bridge) across Tapi river at Suratthani, and Paramen (AKA Ban dara Bridge) bridge across Nan river also destroyed ... it is not until Feb 16, 1953 whcih Suratthani bridge could be used as railway bridge while it is not until March 14, 1953 whcih Paramen brridge could be used again ....

Makkasan depot had been trashed by the bomb .... Uttaradit and Chaingmai station were also desroyed by the
allied bombs ... and Yes -> Railway Dept HQ also destroyed by the bomb ....

Now, I just got the official info from SRT -> Makkasan Depot and maintainance center was opened in June 1910 .... It was initially run by German and British engineers and Siamese engineers had taken over the jobs as the head of Makkasan depot and maintainanace center in 1930 ... Makkasan has been expanded in 1938

Even though Railway Dept has moved some equipment form Makkasan to Kaeng Khoi and Nakhon Ratchasima in 1943 but many parts of Makkasan were utterily destoryed ....

That Pahholyothin freight termial has replaced Hua Lamphong freight termial in 1968 (most likely) ....


For the case of 2 dates on the opening of Klong Sarn - Mahachai .... The inauguration by Crown Prince Vajiravut was done on Dec 29, 1904 whiel the opeing of pasenger service was
Jan 4, 1905 ... same can be said to BKK - Ayudhya line -> opening openin on March 26, 1897 while the reguilar service for the peopel was opened on March 28, 1897.

[Wisarut]

Well, you should add the opening date for the double trak from bangsue to Bang Bumru via Rama 6 Bridge -> October 9, 2004

[ncr]

I have added that already, Khun Wisarut, and will forward the whole list to Ron today. :)

As for the idea with the map....... YEEEES, someone please do it! (But probably not me.)

[Tower 43]

The information on the history is great!!!

Didn't the SRT handle mail at one time and if so when was it discontinued?

[ncr]

The list is now permanently hosted at

http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/srt/timeline.shtml


:)

...and will probably be updated in the future.

[The Enforcer!]

Originally posted by ncr
The list is now permanently hosted at

http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/srt/timeline.shtml


:)

...and will probably be updated in the future.

Congrats NCR - looks great!

The Enforcer!

[Wisarut]

Khun Tower 43,

What do you mean -> "Didn't the SRT handle mail at one time and if so when was it discontinued?"

[von Hirschhorn]

Khun Wisarut

Until 1920, Standard gauge line were only the Northern Line (Up to Pang Tonphueng)

Since long I try to puzzle out the matter of standard and meter gauge in the North, especially Chiang Mai.
Pang Tonphueng I have no idea where that is although it could not been far from Chiang Mai. Can you precise.
January first 1922 is marked as the opening date of the line, but what year the railhead reached Chiang Mai?
There must be a very small time span between the date one decided to convert from standard to meter and reaching Chiang Mai. (as early as 1920 I have heard)
My thoughts always where there must have been standard gauge in Chiang Mai although for a very short period.
In perspective of the whole operation in terms of time, there could not have been enough propper rolling stock availlable for service if the last leg to Chiang Mai was build only in meter gauge.
If my thoughts are complete wrong, I am pleased to hear.

[Wisarut]

Khun von Hirschhorn,

NO ... the last leg of Northern lien was constructed in meter gauge ....


As far as I concern, RSR and Army Engineer had to lay the 3rd rail so as to enable RSR to run the meter gauge on the sstandard gauge track ... even though sometimes it was quite tough to install the 3rd rail so as to run the long distance service to Chiangmai without rough and tumble at very short period of time ... and they had to use spare rails as well as import special keys for rail changing ... as the way make a quick fix before removing the rail whcih is standard gauge out.

Ther was a record that it took 5 days for the officer with their family (with 8-month-old baby) to ride the train from Bangkok to Chiangmai ...when the track form BKK to Chiangmai is not fully opened .... from Nov 19, 1920 to Nov 24, 1920 .... At that time, there was to railway hotel in Phitsanulok so they had to rent the bogie from RSR which has to be returned when they reached Pang Yang (now defunct station) and they had to ask special permission to use Khuntan Tunnel along with the lease of the BLT with temporary roof .... That is the way to reach Chiangmai
At that time, the route to Chiangmai was not fully opened yet ...

// -------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think you got the answer when the railhead has reached Chiangmai -> 1920 .... but it would take time to construct those testles and tunnels for very rough section ....

[Tower 43]

K. Wisarut,

Handle mail.

The transportation (movement) of mail in special rail cars built for that purpose. Bags of mail might also have been loaded in baggage cars for distribution to stations, as an example, between Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

[ncr]

Another real freak discussion :D (but interesting nonetheless....)

Originally posted by von Hirschhorn
Pang Tonphueng I have no idea where that is although it could not been far from Chiang Mai.No, it is nowhere near Chiang Mai, but some 260 km away! As Khun Wisarut already explained, Pang Ton Phueng is in A. Muang Uttaradit (see above in this thread - post dated 09-25-2004 06:37 AM).

Originally posted by Wisarut
At that time, there was to railway hotel in Phitsanulok so they had to rent the bogie from RSR which has to be returned when they reached Pang Yang (now defunct station) and they had to ask special permission to use Khuntan Tunnel along with the lease of the BLT with temporary roof .... That is the way to reach Chiangmai 1) What is the meaning of "BLT"?

2) I noticed one apparent contradiction (?) in the facts. You said the official decision to use meter gauge was not made before September 1919. But the standard gauge line reached Pang Ton Phueng in August 1909 and Mae Puak (the following stage) in June 1911. Even Pang Yang, the last section 91 km before Chiang Mai, was reached as early as July 1918. Why then did they already decide to build meter gauge north of Pang Ton Phueng, 10 years before the resolution to use it nationwide??? Is that really true? What is your source that claims Pang Ton Phueng was the end of the standard gauge track? (According to logic, it should rather have ended at some place in Lamphun Province.)

Thus, von Hirschhorn's objection is justifiable.

In case of the other two lines that were initially standard gauge, everything is clear, on the other hand: the Northeastern Line extension beyond Khorat was only started in 1922, and the Eastern Line extension beyond Chachoengsao in 1925 (i.e. in both cases after the decision for meter gauge). Only the Northern Line causes some headache here....

[Wisarut]

Naah Khun NCR,

The train to Chaingmai in 1920 was NOT a regular train ... It is a special train which had to be returned when Royal; Railway Dept had requested to do so ... When they return that train, they have to request for a BLT (Bogie with Lower side ... nto so sure about the correct full name though) with temporary roof .....

This kind of action by Royal Railway Dept might imply that the regauging process was NOT compeleted yet .... so they have to return that bogie back to BKK .... Even though Khun tan tunnel was DONE ....

[von Hirschhorn]

Exact what I mean, khun NCR, something does not fit in a time schedule, railroad laying is a time consuming business and only under extreme circomstances like the Japanese who could forced with all sorts of brutality the Burma line at a speed of 1 km a day, it could have been done.
If they decide to change from gauge on the month and year mentioned, it was not far from Chiang Mai, I guess even beyond the Khun Tan tunnel.
The Chiang Mai turntable for instance was dilivered in 1922
(still there today)
So what sort of ' table' there was in 1920 when the line reached
Chiang Mai or was there no turntable at all and did the locomotives just reverse (tender front)
Khun Wisarut's answer is nice, whatever a BLT with lower roof might be, it does not say anything about the gauge.
Chiang Mai is my town, many times I visited the station and always wonder about old remarks of former track in the concrete structure of the turntable. Next time I'll take the size.

[The Enforcer!]

Originally posted by Wisarut
Opening of Double Track section without modern signal installation:

1) Northern line: Nong Wiwat - Ban Pa Wai (31 km) -
October 1, 2002
2) Northeastern line: Nong Kuay - Nong Bua (24.66 km) -
October 1, 2002

Can't seem to locate these stations.

The Enforcer!

[Wisarut]

Pa Wai is 5 km South of Lopburi while Nogn Wiwat is 36 km South of Lopburi.

Nong Kuay and Nong Bua are in Saraburi though

[Tower 43]

2) Northeastern line: Nong Kuay - Nong Bua (24.66 km)

Nong Kuay is at Kilometer 94 just beyond Ban Phachi Jct. and Nong Bua is at Kilometer 119 just beyond Saraburi.

[The Enforcer!]

Thanks guys,

Why are these stations not on any SRT timetables?

The Enforcer!

[dick]

When was the line from Tha Rua to Khun Khlon opened?
I see on my map only one stop on this line, not far from the roadcrossing with the road to Ban Mau. Only one station? What kind of exploitation we could find here?

[Wisarut]

For the railway from Tha Ruea to Khun Klone (Phra Phutthabat), it the good old Tha Ruea Railways ... Service started sicne November 11, 1902 ....
Service stop after Roayl decree revoked in Feb 19929. Teh service resumed in 1931 ... before final closure on July 16, 1942 ... before remopval to construction as the industrial train for Wang Kraphi Sugar Mills :eek:

[dick]

Khun Wisarut,
Thanks for this info. Remarkable that the line is still on the map from 1945; hope we can find some 250.000 scale maps from the same period to compare. We will continue.

[Wisarut]

Well, it is the time LAG that caused the decomissioned railways to appear on the map ....

Even though teh map is published in 1945, the info may be older than that ...

Even the BKK Map that cover Bang Buathong Railway (published in 1931) still SHOWS the track to Wat Chaloem Prakiat even though thsi track has been REMOVERD to make the way to Bang See Thong (the pier opposite to Nonthaburi provincial Hall) :eek:

[ncr]

Well, it is the time LAG that caused the decomissioned railways to appear on the map .... Much the same like those current maps of Thailand that still show the Hat Yai - Songkhla Line..... 25+ years of "time lag".... :eek:

[ncr]

They show, amongst other things: -


The original teminus of the Mahachai railway.
The Samut Prakarn line.
Bang Sue as out in the country.
The original Chachoengsao terminus at Paed Riw.
The Si Chon Tramway.
The Suphanburi branch under construction.
As for the Suphanburi branch:

[Note: It seems the date of issue is indicated below the lower left corner of each map, e.g. "L509 Edition 1-AMS (First Printing, 7-58)", obviously meaning July 1958.]

The line is shown under construction on sheet ND 47-11 Thonburi (9-62), but not yet shown on sheet ND 47-7 Suphanburi (2-57).

For comparison, the Timeline of Thai Railways (http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/srt/timeline.shtml) gives June 1963 for the opening of the Nong Pladuk-Suphanburi branch line, which fits nicely with the two maps. Then there we have an August 1967 date for the Kaeng Khoi-Bua Yai shortcut (I compiled that table and I think these two dates were based on information from Khun Wisarut), which was also (at least partly?) constructed from the remains of the Death Railway, same as the Suphanburi branch. It is here where I found some interesting details:

On sheet ND 48-1 Chaiyaphum (no date, but 2-AMS, therefore probably early 60s) the line is shown shown as under construction (though strangely not quite reaching the main line at Bua Yai...). However on ND 47-8 Ayutthaya (7-58) and ND 47-4 Ban Mi (7-58) it is shown as complete from Kaeng Khoi Jn. to just north of Chai Badan (i.e. north of the later location of the Pasak Chonlasit Reservoir), and under construction from there on.

In summary, if both our timeline dates and the map information are correct,


the Kaeng Khoi-Bua Yai shortcut was opened 4 years after the Suphanburi line, but works on it had started earlier than those on the Suphanburi line, so the construction took much longer (which could be explained by the greater length and the mountainous terrain), as per the map evidence.....
...the Suphanburi branch was not yet started in 1957, but finished in 1963
...most of the shortcut was already under construction in 1958, and a first section in the plains of Saraburi/Lopburi had even been completed prior to 1958.

[Wisarut]

Suphaburi line was constructed in 1953 and opened on August 16, 1963 ... 10 years to be done ....

Kaeng Khoi - Bua Yai was constructed in 1950 .... using the old Military lien whcih was initially aikmed to Chai Badan and Phetchabun (consturcted in 1944) ... whcih has been stopped short at the first 5 km while the other 25 km was just the ground work .... after the leader was removed ...

The initial section (Kaerng Khoi - Suranarai) was opened on Jna 4, 1956 ... the second section (Suranarai - Lam Narai) was opened in 1961 ... and the last section was opened on August 19, 1967

BTW, there was a rumour that the project Nong Pladukl - Suphanburi - Lopburi was a pen project of Field Marshall Sarit ... to move the looted treasured to his base at Lopburi though :grin:

[railroader]

Hello, I'm new to the forum.

I note from the archives that several people have proposed a map of all of Thailand's railways at various times.
Has anything come of these projects?
I have been working on my own map of Thai railways and would hate to duplicate effort already made...

Does anyone have any information on when the deviations were built/opened:

a)around the Pasak Chonlasit reservoir on the Kaeng Khoi-Bua Yai branch?
b) around the Lam Takhong dam on the Eastern line between Kaeng Khoi and Khorat?
c) The purpose and dates of opening/closing of the small branch just before Ubon Ratchathani, that headed north to the Mun river, then east along the southern bank of the river, and whether it did actually loop back to rejoin the main Eastern line as some maps show (others show it ending along the southern bank of the Mun)

Thank you!

[dick]

Dear Railroader,
Dr. V.Wangemann, Sven Zeegers and I with help from railway fans are make a set of trackmaps of Thai Railways. Only that. Not an historical Railwaymap like you do. It seems to me a very good supplement to make a map with several dates of opening/closing of lines.
On your questions I have unfortunately no answer.

[Wisarut]

Hello, I'm new to the forum.

a)around the Pasak Chonlasit reservoir on the Kaeng Khoi-Bua Yai branch?
b) around the Lam Takhong dam on the Eastern line between Kaeng Khoi and Khorat?
c) The purpose and dates of opening/closing of the small branch just before Ubon Ratchathani, that headed north to the Mun river, then east along the southern bank of the river, and whether it did actually loop back to rejoin the main Eastern line as some maps show (others show it ending along the southern bank of the Mun)

Thank you!

a) the elevated track for Pasak Jolasit dam was opened on 19 June 1998 - if my memory is not corrupted
b) the track for Lam Takhong dam to replace the old one was oepned on 1 December 1967
c) the branch line of Bung Wai - Poh Mooon was for carring goods from the boats alogn Mun River ... It was opened 1 August 1930. However, this line was closed by 1953 due to the road to downtown Ubon (3 km from Warin) alogn with Seri Prachathipatai Bridge that ended any further needs for that branch line.