River Kwai Bridge

River Kwai Bridge

Made famous by the movie The Bridge on the River Kwai, a 1957 British World War II movie, it seats on Kanchanaburi, Thailand a city easily reached from Bangkok in a train journey which may take from 3 to 4 hours.

It is a journey full o adventures, with several stops along the way, snaking through Thailand's country side. Starting from Bangkok the train crosses lots of slums with wooden/paper houses packed next or on top of each other... It is a myriad of life, colors, strange pets, babies crawling on barren dirt floors among bowls of tom yum, a potent combination of herbs and spices. 

Street vendors hop on the train to sell all sort of products: snacks, drinks, clothes and everything else you can imagine making their traditional noise. So, relax, eat and drink a lot, take pictures and prepare yourself for what's still to come.

Historical Background

During the Second World War the Japanese Army constructed a military railway line branching off the southern line at Nong Pladuk Station. 

This line crossed over the River Kwae Yai at Kanchanaburi, traversed along the bank of Kwae Noi River, cut across the Thai-Burma border at Chedi Sam Ong, continued on into Burma and joined the Burma railway line at Thanbyuzayat. The total length of line constructed was 419 kms., being in Thailand 303.95 kms. and in Burma 111.05 kms. 

Construction work started in October 1942. A year later on 23 October 1943 rail laying was completed. About 60,000 men consisting of Indian, Burmese, Malaysian, Indonesian, Chinese and Thai labourers as well as prisoners of war took part in the construction work. 

In speeding up construction work the Japanese Army built a temporary railway bridge across the River Kwae Yai downstream close to the existing bridge. After completion of the existing bridge composing of 11 steel spans with the rest of timber spans, the temporary bridge was dismantled to ease off river traffic inconvenience. Three steel spans nos. 4, 5, 6 were damaged by allied bombing during the war period (photo below). After taking over the line the State Railway of Thailand replaced the three damaged spans with two steel spans and changed all timber spans at the far end with six steel spans. 

Damage at the bridge during an allied bombing in World War II 

When the war come [sic] to an end in 1945 the British Army dismantled 3.95 kms. of track at the Thai-Burma border. The remaining length of 300 kms. was handed over to the State Railway of Thailand in 1947. With due and careful consideration in regard to transport economic as well as other aspects, the State Railway of Thailand was authorised to dismantle the track from the end of the line to Nam Tok Station and to upgrade the remaining length of 130.204 kms. to Nong Pladuk Station conforming to operational permanent way standard. 

Despite of all trauma, nowadays Kanchanaburi is one of the favorite spots for tourists who flocks it all year long. I took the same path twice, once by myself and another time with my brother-in-law and sister.

It is a very pleasant place, good atmosphere, several hotels and guest houses and wonderful food... 

River Kwai

My Balcony

Felix River Kwai Resort

Bridge over River Kwai

Felix River Kwai Resort

Felix River Kwai Resort

Felix River Kwai Resort

Felix River Kwai Resort