Steam Locomotives in Thailand

Ray Schofield reports on his visit:

20.4.97

Railway HQ gave permission for a visit to Makkasan works. Outside HQ is preserved 2-4-0T #7 (Krauss 5427/06). Inside the works are 0-6-0T 54 and 61, 4-6-0 165 and 4-6-2 278. At the rear of the works 2-8-2s 955 and 965 were alternating duties as stationary boiler.

21.4.97

We visited Thonburi shed. 4-6-2s 824 and 850 were outside being prepared for specials (22^nd to Ayutthaya and 23^rd to Nakhon Pathom, both from Hua Lam Phong - Bangkok's main station). Also on shed were 2-6-0s 713 and 715 and 2-8-2 953. Dumped in the yard were 2-8-2s 950 and 962. Back at Hua Lam Phong station preserved 2-6-0 714 was at the end of platform 11.

22.4.97

824 and 850 were passed waiting to back on to their special while we were en route to Kanchanburi on the regular weekend Kwai diesel railcar excursion. At the Kwai bridge, 2-6-0 719 and 4-6-2 804 are preserved, 2-8-2 + 2-8-2 Garratt 457 is preserved at nearby Kanchanaburi station.

23.4.97

Steam bargain of the year! 100 Baht (£2.50) for the return trip to Nakhon Pathom. As normal (due to lack of turning facilities) the Pacifics were running tender to tender. Biggest surprise was to find an English driver (Michael) on the footplate as regular steam excursion driver. Although photographically unexciting, footplating Pacifics at 55mph is not to be sniffed at! Apparently, the busiest time of year for specials is the King's Birthday at the end of November followed by the Kwai bridge 'Son et Lumière' in early December.

For details of the steam locomotives, please see: The Locomotives of Thailand, R. Ramaer, published in 1984 by Frank Stenvalls Förlag, ISBN 91-7266-084-8