Recently I embarked on an all day rail photographing trip to Paknam Pho on the Northern line. This is the 1st time I had photographed a rural railway location on the Northern line. A little Background on the Northern Line and Paknam Pho. The Northern line links Bangkok with Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand. The section between Bangkok and Ayutthaya was opened in 1897 some 5 years after the Paknam commuter line in Bangkok. Thus the Northern line is Thailand’s 2nd oldest railway not the oldest as many people like to note. The reason for confusion is that the construction works on the Bangkok to Ayutthaya section of the line commenced before the works for the Paknam line started. When the northern line was 1st built it was a 1435mm gauge line. In the 1920’s it was regauged to the South East Asian standard of 1000mm gauge. By 1922 the Northern line finally reached Chiang Mai where the lines terminus remains to this day. The section of the northern line between Sila At and Lam Phun is very steeply graded and passes through very mountainous areas. This section of the line has large sections of low line speed and very tight almost tramway grade curves that can force the train to a 15 kph crawl at times. The section of the Northern line between Bangkok and Paknam Pho was completed by 1905. Paknam Pho is located 250.56km from Bangkok. For many years it was an important transshipment location for river borne trade from the northern part of Thailand. The cargo pier is located 3.5km west of Paknam Pho station. However today this line is no longer in use and most of the cargo now goes by road or is transshipped at a container rail yard elsewhere. Paknam Pho consists of a 4 track yard and a 3 track passing loop. Due to the layout of the station the passenger platforms are located in the 4 track yard where no passenger trains stop. This means there are no platforms at Paknam Pho as all passenger trains stop on the loop tracks where you must board from the ground level. Passengers normally wait under the elevated signal box next to the Paknam Pho Loop. South west of the station and loop is a small railway workshop that dates back to the lines opening in 1905. The workshop only provides light repairs for locos and cargo wagons as its facilities are rather basic. In front of the workshop is a small hand operated turntable. It appears that the turntable is still in working order but very rarely used. The staff who work at Paknam Pho are very friendly and will show you around the small work shop and also let you know when any trains due to pass through the station. It is typical rural Thailand railway location with warm and friendly staff and locals. Passenger Train Timetable at Paknam Pho: To Bangkok: 06.50, 08.32, 12.44, 16.46 and 21.57. From Bangkok: 11.34, 15.10, 18.08, 22.39, 00.08 and 02.39. Due to the North East – South West layout of the station that coupled with high levels of locally produced haze made for very challenging photographing conditions when looking west. Bangkok Hualamphong at 7.00am. 1. This is a shot of SRT loco 4108 waiting to depart from Hualamphong station with Rapid 111 to Denchai. Loco Type Alstrom. Taken looking south along the platform. Noen Makok Loop (224.81km) at 11.36am. (The train is 40 minutes late.) 4. This is an image of a southbound Hitachi DMU coming to a halt in the 2nd road of Noen Makok Loop. Taken looking north from the doors of the North bound rapid train. 5. This is a shot of SRT DMU unit 2527 taken as it overtakes the rapid train and crosses the Hitachi DMU at Noen Makok Loop. This is known as a “triple cross”. DMU type Daewoo. 7. This is a short video of the Hitachi DMU as it powers up to depart from Noen Makok Loop as it makes its way to Bangkok on an inbound intercity train. Note the sound of the horn and engine. Also this is a 5 car set with one aircon carriage. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jbe7cJ3CBU"]YouTube - SRT Northern line: Cross at Noen Makok Loop[/ame] Paknam Pho Station and Yard (250.56 km) at 12.16pm until 4.59pm. 10. This is a shot of the signal control panel inside the elevated signal box at Paknam Pho station. The line is single track north and south of the station and the layout of the yard can be clearly seen on this board. The black lines are un-signaled tracks next to the old platforms. If you would like to see more images from Paknam Pho Please Visit: Thai Mass Transport Systems: SRT Northern Line: Paknam Pho Station and Yard. 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.
14. This is a general view of the yard and workshop area to the west of the station. The loco in the middle of the image is used for shunting duties at Paknam Pho. 16. This is another angle on SRT loco 4223 at Paknam Pho yard. Note this loco seems to leak large amounts of black oil onto the ground where it is stored when not in use. 17. This is a general view of the old railway workshop at Paknam Pho taken looking west. In the foreground the turntable can be seen. At some point in the past 4 locos would have been stored inside the shed. 34. This is a short movie of the departure of SRT loco 4129 with a rake of Crude oil from Paknam Pho. Filmed from the elevated signal box. Note the sounds of the loco as it powers up. Also the Brake Van can be seen. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rythIHdQrg"]YouTube - A Departure of a Crude Oil Train from Paknam Pho[/ame] 37. This is a shot of SRT loco 4146 taken as it was passing though Paknam Pho with a load of Crude oil tanks. This Alstrom loco is in very good condition it appears it’s been overhauled and repainted recently.
40. This is an image of an SRT DMU passing though at high speed on a Sawan Khalok Special express train. This DMU is imported from the UK and is a UK class 158. However they have really crappy aircon and appear to be only used on this Sawan Khalok service. Due to the light axle load needed for that line. 44. This is a short movie of a SRT staff member uncoupling the middle wagons of the Oil tank cargo train at Paknam Pho. They do this to allow pedestrian access across the middle of the yard. Otherwise people would have to walk around the cargo train or climb over or under it to access the station buildings. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl9wBqYYotc"]YouTube - Uncoupling Oil tank wagons at Paknam Pho Yard.[/ame] 45. This is a shot of SRT DMU 1118 Taken as it was approaching Paknam Pho. DMU type Hitachi. This service is a rural commuter train stopping at all stations between Phitsanulok and Lopburi. 46. This is a movie of the Hitachi DMU as it departs from Paknam Pho Station and makes it way to Lopburi. Note the lack of a platform for passengers and the sounds of the DMU. The white line on the video is from really bad reflections off the top of the train. Also a general view of the rail yard can be seen. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9zv4K7Rthg"]YouTube - A departure of a Rural commuter train from Paknam Pho.[/ame]
Nice stuff mate!. Paknam Pho is on my list of places to get to next time I am over if I have time. Am I right in thinking you live at Mahachai on the Maeklong? Can you tell me what time the trains start running on that line at the Bangkok end in the morning? I am in Bangkok in January and really want to do the Maeklong and find that old 4 wheel van I have seen picture of to measure it up for a modelling project.
Yes I do live on the Mahachai line near Rama 2 road. The 1st train is at 05.30 from wong wien yai station. Last train from Mahachai station is at 19.00. The 100 year old wooden cargo van wagon is at the back of Mahachai rail yard just past the end of the platform at Mahachai station. Walk past the old DMUs and turn to the right when you reach the workshop building.
cheers mate! Looking forward to a nice cold Singha and photographing everything that moves. At least now I have gone digital I can start uploading to Photobucket and Youtube whilst I am there rather than waiting for Kodachrome to go to Switzerland, come back to the U.K and then scanning it in.
