Last week I undertook a 45 hour long rail photographing trip to Kaeng Khoi Junction and Chong Samran in the highlands of Issan. This is the second time I have visited Kaeng Khoi. This time around I could photograph the various trains and workshop area in full daylight rather than at night as per the first trip to Kaeng Khoi. This also meant I could get a proper sleep albeit in a non aircon “3rd class hotel room” with shared bathrooms not far from the station at Kaeng Khoi. Kaeng Khoi Juction is a much better place for daylight rail photography than for night photograph. As the station has a nice mountainous backdrop to the east and there is a good covered footbridge over the middle of the rail yard allowing for some great elevated angle photos. As the station is east – west orientated late afternoon shots to the west will not be possible due to the angle of the sun. The footbridge is hardly used by people to cross the tracks locals cross via the yard at grade. A Little Background on Kaeng Khoi Junction. Kaeng Khoi Junction is located 125km from Bangkok at the foot of the Korat plateau. Kaeng Khoi is the junction for 3 lines. These are the Ubon Ratchathani, Bua Yai and Klong 19 lines. This junction is the gateway to Isarn and is part of an important cargo train bypass route around congested Bangkok. The station at Kaeng Khoi consists of 5 platforms. Two of the platforms are siding platforms off the main line. The other 3 platforms are on the main through running lines. To the right of the passenger train platforms is a 9 track cargo train holding and shunting yard. About 500 meters to the south east of the cargo yard is the Kaeng Khoi workshop area. The workshop area is mainly used to refuel locos and DMUs plus undertake minor repairs to cargo wagons and locomotives. Locos and DMUs are stored inside the large timber workshop building. There was once a hand operated turntable at Kaeng Khoi Junction. However this was removed around 2000 as part of a major double track upgrade project in the Kaeng Khoi area. Tuesday 6th January 2009 6:40am – Hualamphong Station Bangkok (0 km). 2. This is a shot of SRT loco 4137 waiting to depart Hualamphong Station with the 6.20am Ubon Ratchathani train. Loco type Ahlstrom. Taken looking south from between the tracks. In the background on the left is SRT loco 4531. Note this 6.20am train is an additional service for the New Year super peak travel period. Tuesday 6th January 2009 9:26am – Kaeng Khoi Junction (125.10 km). From approximately 10am until 5.30pm I spent the day in and around the station and yard area at Kaeng Khoi photographing trains and various other railway related items. 10. This is a general view of the Kaeng Khoi Railway workshop and yard. This yard is about a 10 min walk west along the track from the main station. Minor repairs are undertaken here and the rural commuter DMUs are stored here. 11. This is a shot of DMU unit number 1025. Taken looking north east from in the yard area. DMU type: RHN made by Hitachi & Nippon in 1971. 12. This is a shot of SRT loco number 4420. Taken from within the yard area. Loco type Ahlstrom. Note this loco has appears to have undergone a refurbishment recently.
13. This is an image of a miniature steam loco on display in front of a staff rest area inside the Kaeng Khoi workshop. It appears to be a model of the full size SRT steam engines. Its unknown if the miniature steam engine can actually be operated. The workshop staff where very proud of it and were eager for me to photograph it. 30. This is another angle on DMU number 1038 as it unloads passengers on platform 2 at Kaeng Khoi. DMU type: RHN made by Hitachi & Nippon in 1971. 31. This is a short movie of a DMU shunting on to the workshop siding at Kaeng Khoi Junction. DMU type: RH made by Hitachi in 1967. This type of DMU is the oldest remaining in daily service with SRT. Note the poor visibility pedestrian crossing next to the station masters office. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSet1nbwxOE"]YouTube - A RH DMU shunting into the workshop sidings at Kaeng Khoi.[/ame] 37. This is another angle on the 5 car intercity express DMU taken as it was departing from Kaeng Khoi. Photo taken from footbridge looking north east. 44. This is a short movie of the departure of a 4 car intercity express DMU service heading towards Bangkok. Note the sounds of the DMUs and the condition of them. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWwkEP2rKn0"]YouTube - A departure of a 4 car Hitachi and Tokyu DMU from Kaeng Khoi.[/ame] 46. This is a shot of SRT loco 4024 taken as it was stored in the back road of Kaeng Khoi yard. Loco type older style General Electric. These locos have been operating for over 50 years and are the oldest mainline locos that SRT own.
51. This is a shot of SRT loco number 4124 with an ordinary train to Lam Chi. Loco type Ahlstrom. Taken from the foot bridge. Note this train is a free service until end of Jan 2009. 52. This is a video of the departure of SRT loco 4124 with the free ordinary train to Lam Chi in Isarn. This train is 3rd class only and often overcrowded. Also station announcements can be herd as the train departs. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYAyLel4NxU"]YouTube - A Departure of Loco 4124 with the Lam Chi free train from Kaeng Khoi.[/ame] 55. This is a shot of SRT loco 4308 and a passing cement train at Kaeng Khoi Junction. Taken from the track level looking east towards the mountains. Loco 4308 was hauling two oil tank wagons. 57. This is a short video of SRT loco 4308 with two oil tank wagons. Filmed from track level as the train pulling away from inside the train wash shed. Note: the sounds of the loco and the condition of it. This train appears to be a repaired wagons transfer. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZpEJ9Mmh5w"]YouTube - SRT loco 4308 pulling away with two crude oil tank wagons.[/ame] 59. This is a short movie of SRT loco 4106 with a cement train bound for Bangkok. Filmed from within the cargo yard as it was powering through the yard of Kaeng Khoi Junction. Note the sounds of the loco and the wagons. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai0RMRj9W_o"]YouTube - SRT loco 4106 with a Cement train at Kaeng Khoi Junction.[/ame] 61. This is a movie of the departure of the 6 car intercity express DMU on its way to Bangkok with a full load. DMU type Hitachi (non aircon units) and Tokyu (aircon unit) Note: the sounds of the DMU and the condition of the DMU. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llNxRDheVQQ"]YouTube - A departure of a 6 car Hitachi and Tokyu DMU from Kaeng Khoi.[/ame] 67. This is a short movie of the arrival of DMU 1026 and 1038 into platform 2 at Kaeng Khoi to form the 17.00 rural commuter train to Lam Narai. Note the condition of the DMUs and the sounds of the engines. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRJ7ZCNOXdU"]YouTube - The arrival of DMU 1026 and 1038 at Kaeng Khoi Junction.[/ame] 69. This is a video of the departure of DMU 1026 and 1038 with the Lam Narai commuter train. Note: how all the doors are left open on departure and well after it has got up to speed. Often the doors need to be forced open to board or leave these DMUs due to rust in the door mechanism. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APnJGoHor-o"]YouTube - The Departure of DMU 1026 and 1038 from Kaeng Khoi Station.[/ame] In my last visit to Kaeng Khoi Junction I took only night shots and movies so to see what Kaeng Khoi looks like at 2am please visit this link. Thai Mass Transport Systems: SRT: Kaeng Khoi Junction night shots and movies. If you would like to see more picture from this current visit to Kaeng Khoi please visit: Thai Mass Transport Systems: SRT: Kaeng Khoi Junction in the Daylight. I hope you find the pictures and vehicles shown to be of interest if you view this please post some comments and feelings about the pictures.
Another excellent photo-essay. I love the shots at ground level, especially the first one in the thread. The night shots on your site are also superb. :thumbs_up:
