Industrial Lines

[RobChina]

I am a new member with a website which contains some information on preserved steam operation in Thaland. More information is always welcome.

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk

As primarily a steam railfan, I know a lot of others are also interested in such things as stationary steam engines.

I have done some considerable research on these in the sugar mills of Java and the rice mills of Myanmar/Burma.

I know there are stationary steam engines in some Thai rice mills and hope to visit as many as possible come December 2005. Any information would be most welcome.

Do any formum members have information on the sugar mills of Thailand? Do any still possess steam engines for the milling or other purposes such as vacuum pumps?

Please feel free to contact me directly off-forum.

Many thanks in anticipation.

[Wisarut]

Khun RobChina,

So far, we know that Wang Kraphi used to have the railway for Sugar mill (taken from bang Buathong railway and Phra phutthabat railway after july 16, 1942 - and the buildign started in 1943 durign WWII).

Now, Our Thai railfan has surveyed on Wang Kraphi to see what is left
from the sugar mill rauilway ...


Survey on Railway to Wang Kraphi & Firewoo Railway at Rai Oy - Na Yang Chapter 1
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2736

Survey on Railway to Wang Kraphi & Firewoo Railway at Rai Oy - Na Yang Chapter 2
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2779

Survey on Phra Phutthabat Railway
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2960

Survey on railway to Mae Moh Lignite Mine
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1260

Story abotu Phra Phutthabat Railway
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=24

Siam Cement Railway at Ban Moh, Lopburi
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2571


The Leftover of Soong noen Firewood Railway
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1351

Railway track to Ballast Mine at Ban Mi, Lopburi
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1836

Railway to Siam Craft paper Mill, Sra kosinarai, Kanchanaburi
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2649

Survey on Defuct Hat Yai - SOngkla Railway
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1493

Another Survey on Hat Yai - Songkla railway
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=414

Another Survey on Hat Yai - Songkla Railway 2
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=398

Well, Please list your request so we can ask our folks in Rotfaithai.com to help you out :p :D

[RobChina]

Actually you have a little misunderstood my request. But first to follow up what you have said.

My late friend Basil Roberts lived in Thailand over 30 years ago and he took some pictures of the steam locomotives of the following:
Srimaharacha Timber Company
Chonburi Sugar Mill
Wang Kapi Sugar Mill (metre gauge and narrow gauge)
Lampang Sugar Mill (metre gauge and narrow gauge)

These appear with more than 200 colour pictures of Thai Railways in the same period (mainly steam locomotives) on our CD-ROM Tiger Steam.
See http://www.javatour.dial.pipex.com/books/tiger.htm

Of course I have Ramaer's book which is a great source of information. I would very much like to post a list of preserved Thai steam locomotives on my website if anyone can provide it...

I lived in Malaysia in the 1970s and have great memories of steam in Haatyai and riding the Songkla branch with the baby Davenport diesels.

Right now I am very interested in the machines INSIDE the rice mills and sugar mills in Thailand. I know some of the rice mills use stationary steam engines, maybe the sugar mills do.

Please see something similar:

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/mills/burmamill01.htm (rice mills)

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/mills/javamill00.htm (sugar mills)

I know this is a little 'off topic' but in my experience many enthusiasts are (like me) interested in anything which uses steam power!

Thanks

[Wisarut]

Hi Khun Rob,

For the caseof Srimaharacha Railway, i just got mroe infomation about thisIndustrial Railway published in Thesis of Chualalongkorn Student published in 1980 which referred to the infomation from "50 Year Annivarsary of
Sri Maharacha Company" in 1967.

Khun Rob, I also asked Germany friend to buy YOUR Tiger Steam CD Rom.
so as to use for illustrations on Thai railways. :D

Wang Kapi Sugar Mill and Lampang Sugar Mill belonged to Thai Industry Promotioin Co.ltd., the state enterprise whcih run sugar mills in Thailand... but it is now dissoved ... do the railways and steams in those sugar mills have been scrapped .... except a very few that have been plinted in front of the sugar mill at Wang Kraphi.

[Wisarut]

The machine at be dated back to the very earlydays
of Wang kraphi Sugar mill -> circa 1940's- 1950's.

[von Hirschhorn]

Dear RobChina,

Although it seems that with every new member on this site the stories will repeat, no offence.
If you ploughed – or maybe this is a bit too much – through the already existing threads, you could have seen that I did my best to collect all the information possible about existing steam engines and other memorable rolling stock. Unfortunate the information stream about the latter is dried up a bit.
The steam list however, contents on the moment 78 items. The one on the river bottom excluded. The whole is packed in a file on Exel with two sub files for explanation.
So, if you are able to read Exel, give me an address and I’ll mail you the file forward.
It’s also possible to print and sent by ordinary mail.
About the intern steam operating things; In Rangsit at the Asia Rice Mills were, or still are, two engines, it is a long time ago since I went there. On the other hand I do remember vague visiting the Chonburi Mill full of old equipment. This in search for railway clues in connection with the Sri Maharachai Timber Company. Both factories in the North – Ko Kha and Wang Khapi (Ko Kha only narrow and no meter as you stated) – I visited several times but never seen their production lines.
The name Basil Roberts is familiar to me; I saw some pictures and read articles. This is the good thing on old pioneers; they were there on the right time and right place.

[dick]

For an article/book about narrow gauge railways a question. Where in Thailand are/were sugar factories with narrow gauge/decauville lines/yards? Is there a list with names and locations of sugar factories, perhaps with dates of closure. I like to make a map of this item.

[Wisarut]

1) Wang Kraphi (Uttradit)
2) Koh Kha (Lampang)
3) Kumphawapee (Udorn Thani)

[GWR]

This turned up while I was looking for maps. On the same site as some of the mapping as Volks electric railway:-

http://www.whitstablepier.com/bwlr/

http://www.whitstablepier.com/bwlr/siam-at-Welshpool.jpg

Pictured left while visiting the Welshpool and Llanfair is the 2ft 6in gauge 'Siam' our 0-6-0 side & well tank built by Henschel & Sohn, Kassel, Germany in 1956 (works no.29582).
Operated mainly on the Chon Buri Sugar Company Railway, Thailand, before coming to England in 1982. Acquired by the Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway in 1989 from Ganith Engineering, Wingham, Kent. Completely overhauled the locomotive is offered for sale in excellent condition and can be seen on display in our main exhibition hall. Price on Application

& from:-
http://www.messiaen.co.uk/steam/anz/aus.htm


Walhalla Goldfields Railway @ http://www.walhallarail.com

Part of the former Walhalla and Thomson River Tramway is intact at the Walhalla end - it was a former gold rush town. This 2ft 6in (762mm) gauge railway operated briefly in the 1970s and has been reconstructed between Happy Creek and Walhalla with the aid of Government grants. Apart from 'indigenous' locomotives, former Chonburi (Thailand) Sugar Factory 0-6-0T 103 is here and was working in 2001.

[Wisarut]

Okay, the addition:

4) Bang Bueng Sugar Mill, chonburi

[von Hirschhorn]

Khun Wisarut and / or anyone else who knows

If you know I like to have some more information about the Khumphawapee sugar factory in or near Udon Thani. Apparently this one is missing in my knowledge and collection. :confused:
You are certain this particular factory (or mill as you like to call it) once had rail transportation facilities.
What gauge then, and are there any remains left like rail in pavement or elsewhere, trackbed, and above all plinthed engines and / or other stock like at the Ko Kha factory near Nakhon Lampang and in a lesser way at Wang Kaphi near Uttaradit.