Recently I went on my longest ever rail photographing trip. This trip lasted 22 hours straight and it all started with taking the last train at 23.40 from Hualamphong station in Bangkok. The first stop on the trip was at 02.10 at a major railway junction named Kaeng Khoi. This stop is where I spent 3 hours taking various night shots and movies. Unfortunately the weather was damp and misty making for very difficult night photography conditions. A little background on Kaeng Khoi Junction. This junction is located just before the end of the double track line from Bangkok. The junction is the gateway to the Issan region of Thailand. All trains regardless if passenger or cargo must pass though this junction on their way to or from the Issan region. Next to the passenger station at Kaeng Khoi Junction is a large cargo shunting yard where cargo trains are broken down to reduce weight for the climb to Thanon Chira or to reverse cargo trains to head down to Chachoengsao. This means that there is a lot of light engine movements around the yard and cargo trains arrive and depart at all hours of the day and night. The main double track line from Bangkok splits into 3 smaller main lines at Kaeng Khoi Junction. These three lines are: Kaeng Khoi Junction to Bua Yai Junction. (Branch Line to Nong Khai) Kaeng Khoi Junction to Thanon Chira Junction (Main line to Ubon Ratchathani) Kaeng Khoi Junction to Klong 19 Junction. (Cargo only line to Chachoengsao) The line from Bangkok to Kaeng Khoi Junction opened in 1897. The very steeply graded main line to Ubon Ratchathani opened in various short stages from 1898 until fully completed in 1930. This line along with the Bangkok route was built as a 1435mm gauge line which was re gauged to 1000mm in 1922. The branch line from Kaeng Khoi Junction to Bua Yai was built in stages from 1956 until finally completed in 1967. This line was built as a lighter graded line to bypass the steep 1 in 30 grades and tight curves of the Kaeng Khoi to Thanon Chira line. This route has the only tunnel in the north east region of Thailand. The cargo only line from Kaeng Khoi Junction to Klong 19 Junction opened in 1995 this line was built as a cargo bypass route for cargo travelling from Issan and the eastern seaboard area of Chonburi. The cargo trains must reverse if coming from the Bangkok direction to access this line. The Bangkok line and a short section of the Ubon Ratchathani main line to Map Ka Bao was double tracked in 2002 to ease chronic line congestion on the Bangkok side of Kaeng Khoi Junction. However passenger train delays still occur regularly even on the double track section. 1. This is a shot of SRT loco 4307 on the 23.40 train to Ubon Ratchathani. This train is the last outbound train for the day. Taken looking toward platform 9 at Hualamphong Station. Loco type Alstrom. 2. This is another angle on SRT loco 4307. Taken looking south between platforms 9 and 10 and Hualamphong Station. 3. This is a shot of SRT DMU unit number 2515 waiting to depart on the 22:55 Special Express train to Yala in the Deep South. In Typical SRT style this train was 20 mins late leaving Hualamphong Station. DMU type Daewoo. This shot was taken while waiting for the 23:40 train to depart. Kaeng Khoi Junction (125.10 km) at 2.16 am. 6. This is a shot of the computer controlled signal system at Kaeng Khoi Junction. This junction is one of the busiest in all of Thailand. If you want to see more images and movies from Kaeng Khoi Junction please visit: Thai Mass Transport Systems: SRT: Kaeng Khoi Junction night shots and movies. 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.
8. This is an image of a newer GE loco running light engine through the cargo sidings at Kaeng Khoi Junction. Taken from Platform 5. 9. This is a picture of a stabled Bangkok commuter train set and loco in the platform road at Kaeng Khoi Junction. This train will form an early morning commuter service to Bangkok at 5.05am. 15. This is an image of SRT loco 4147 while stabled in platform 1 at Kaeng Khoi. Taken from track level directly in front of the loco. Loco type Alstrom. 17. This is an inside shot of the 3rd class non aircon commuter carriage stabled in platform one. Note the hard wooden seats this is one of the oldest wooden bodied carriages still in service on commuter trains.
18. This is a picture of the brake van of a NGV gas train that had just arrived in platform road 4 at Kaeng Khoi. Taken from platform level looking west. 20. This is a short movie of an Alstrom loco running light engine via the loco inspection shed on the far side of the cargo yard at Kaeng Khoi Junction. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HrHqCpBbqI"]YouTube - An Alstrom loco running light engine at Kaeng Khoi Junction[/ame] 23. This is a short movie of an Alstrom loco arriving at Kaeng Khoi Junction with a night express passenger train on its way to Bangkok. This train will arrive in Bangkok in 3 hours time around 6 am. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00kD7G2vycw"]YouTube - A night express train at Kaeng Khoi Junction[/ame] 24. This is a short movie of an Alstrom loco arriving at Kaeng Khoi with a Bulk Cement train in tow. Note the lit up loco cab and the driver getting ready for a swap over for another driver who is waiting on the platform. The train only stopped for 20 seconds. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPebMWael9w"]YouTube - A night driver change on a cargo train at Kaeng Khoi[/ame] 27. This is a shot of the very old Hitachi 2 car DMU sitting at Platform 2 waiting for the 05:00 rural commuter service to Khon Kaen. On the right hand side is the loco hauled Bangkok commuter train waiting to depart. Taken from track level looking west. SRT DMU unit number 45. 32. This is a movie of the Hitachi DMU number 45 as it approaches platform 2 at Kaeng Khoi Station. Note the engine sounds on the DMU. The rear car on this DMU had some engine problems and would not stop over revving until it got underway. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv8IHCZhQiA"]YouTube - The arrival of the Hitachi DMU at Kaeng Khoi Junction[/ame] This next section is the night cab ride from Kaeng Khoi Junction up the steeply graded Dong Phraya Yen Pass (Korat Pass) to Hin Lap Station. Note the videos in this section will be quite dark as the route is mostly monsoon rainforest. 33. This is a movie of the night departure from Kaeng Khoi Junction on the 05:00 Khon Kaen train. Filmed from the drivers cab on the DMU. Note the point work plus signals and how the drivers shut off there headlights when approaching each other. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NRuxRaR1YY"]YouTube - A night cab ride Departure from Kaeng Khoi Junction[/ame] 35. This is a movie of departing from Map Ka Bao station and starting the steep winding climb up the Dong Phraya Yen Pass. The line is all single track with short 600 meter loops from this station onwards. The track is in poor condition with a max speed of 20 kph for all trains. An attempt at concrete re sleepering has left the track in worse condition than all timber. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3H_ysFaCHc"]YouTube - A Night Cab ride up Dong Phraya Yen Pass[/ame] 37. This is a movie of the final approach to Hin Lap station. Note to the right of the train is the private sidings of the TPI cement mine and factory. The main line here is steeply graded and with a 20kph limit. Hin Lap station is my next destination on this trip I arrive there at 5.30am [FONT="] [/FONT] [FONT="]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoOrVL-sgDA[/FONT]
