Last weekend I went for a rail photographing trip on the eastern line. However this trip was very different to all other rail photographing trips. As I didn't actually ride the train to get to the stations. Instead I went by private car directly from my condo to both of the stations. Although this is a far more costly way of doing these rail photographing trips but it was much more comfortable than spending hours upon hours in 3rd class non aircon trains. A little background on Kabinburi and the Eastern line. The railway to Kabinburi opened in 1925. On the 8th august 1926 the line was extended to Aranyaprathet on the Cambodian border. In the1940s the eastern line was further extended across the border and formed the main line between Cambodia and Thailand. The line opened and closed a number of times between Aranyaprathet and Poipet in Cambodia. The closures were mostly related to internal conflict in Cambodia making it very dangerous to operate trains across the border. Since 1994 the cross border section of the eastern line has remained closed despite the border areas being quite safe these days. There are plans to reopen the Cambodian section of the line in 2011 thus allowing cross boarder train services. But it will probably take many more years to reopen. Kabinburi is located 161.26 km from Hualamphong station in Bangkok. Kabinburi is a rural town that provides support for the farming areas around it. In the past Kabinburi used to provide a larger role in freight operations but today this has long since stopped. Kabinburi station is situated on a curve next to an urban lake in the centre of Kabinburi town. The station is made up of a single platform with a run around loop and a 2 track yard. There used to be a larger yard in the past with a functioning turntable. Today the turntable is inside a local park east of the station and is not connected by rail. Eight trains a day operate out of Kabinburi station. It is considered the 3rd busiest station on the eastern line outside of Bangkok. The fares for trains on the Eastern line are the lowest per km in the whole of Thailand with an end to end trip coming to a total of 48 baht per person. Kabinburi Train Timetable: Depart Kabinburi: 6.30am, 8.23am, 12.25pm, 3.39pm. Arrive Bangkok: 10.15am, 12.05pm, 4pm, 7.55pm. Depart Bangkok: 5.55am, 8.00am, 1.05pm, 3.25pm. Arrive Kabinburi: 9.48am, 11.35am, 4.12pm, 6.20pm All trains are 3rd class non aircon and stop at almost all stations. In addition to the trains there are 1st class aircon buses operating between 4am and 8.30pm every 40 minutes. The second station that I visited on the eastern line was Prachantakam. This station is located 137.65km from Hualamphong in Bangkok. Prachantakam station consists of a single platform with a crossing loop. The station is orientated east – west. This station is rather minor and doesn't get a huge amount of use. The crossing loop at Prachantakam station is locked out of use. The local area is very rural and thus is very quiet most of the time. Prachantakam station and loop does not have any signal system installed but instead relies on radios and a system of metal tokens to control the movement of trains on the line. Now onto the photographs of Kabinburi and Prachantakam. Due to the almost east – west alignment of both stations some pictures may have unusual shadows because of the angle of the sun early and late in the day. 4. This is another angle on the 8.23am train to Bangkok. Taken looking along the platform at Kabinburi station as it loads a number of passengers. Train type Hitachi (THN) DMU. 5. This is a shot of the Hitachi (THN) DMU on the 8.23am train to Bangkok. Taken looking west as it was departing from Kabinburi station. Note the amount of long grass covering the tracks. 6. This is a movie of the departure of the 8.23am train to Bangkok. Note the sounds of the DMU as it passes by. DMU type Hitachi (THN). This type of DMU is very common around Thailand. But is rare on the outer section of the eastern line. The grass makes the train appears as its not running on rails. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxzUT25-xqs"]YouTube - Departure of a Hitachi (THN) DMU from Kabinburi.[/ame] 9. This is a shot of the signal control system inside the ticket office at Kabinburi station. There is one machine for each direction and they indicate if there is a train on the track before and after Kabinburi station. This system was installed when the line 1st opened in the 1920's. At some point in the future they might be replaced with a centrally controlled signal system operated by computer. 16. This is a general view of the station lake at Kabinburi. Note the nice landscaped area around the lake and the shop houses of Kabinburi in the background.
24. This is another shot of the 9.48am Aranyaprathet train. Taken looking west from the track side at the eastern end of Kabinburi station. This train is the longest loco hauled train that services Kabinburi. 25. This is a movie of the departure of the 9.48am Aranyaprathet train. Filmed from the eastern end of the platform at Kabinburi station. SRT loco number 4210. Note the sounds of the engine and the horn. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG-YSs8oCqM"]YouTube - The departure of the Aranyaprathet train from kabinburi.[/ame] 27. This is a shot of SRT loco 4407 just after it had arrived from Bangkok. Taken looking west along the platform. This train terminates at Kabinburi at 11.35am daily. The loco will run around the train and form the 12.25pm Bangkok train. 28. This is a short movie showing the uncoupling of SRT loco 4407 at Kabinburi station. The loco will run around the train using the loop track. Within seconds the loco is uncoupled and the run around has begun. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwjy-ppoBjc"]YouTube - Running the loco around the train at kabinburi station[/ame] 30. This is an image of SRT loco 4407 taken as it was about to pass the 3rd class non aircon carriages of the train it was hauling. The loco is actually driven backwards down the loop track. The driver only changes end once it is re coupled to the train. 32. This is a movie of SRT loco 4407 re coupling to the carriages at the western end of Kabinburi station. Note how they have to try a couple of times to get the carriages to attach to the loco properly. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfZVf-XO8DQ"]YouTube - The coupling of the loco to the carriages at Kabinburi station.[/ame] 35. This is a shot of the 12.25pm Bangkok train as it was powering up on its departure from Kabinburi station. Taken from 400 meters west of Kabinburi looking east. 36. This is a movie of the departure of the 12.25pm Bangkok train from Kabinburi. Filmed as it was powering up towards the level crossing. Also the operation of the cable style level crossing can be seen towards the end of the film. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpYHrwn8GlI"]YouTube - Departure of a loco hauled train from kabin buri to Bangkok[/ame]
50. This is another angle on SRT DMU 1223. Taken looking east as it was powering up on its way to Aranyaprathet. This train is the only DMU service that operates beyond Prachinburi station. If you want to find out more about kabinburi and see more pictures then please visit: Thai Mass Transport Systems: The Eastern Line: Kabinburi and Prachantakam. 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.
East from Bangkok If anybody finds themselves in Bangkok and wants a pleasant day out I strongly recommend a trip out to Kabinburi by train. It ambles along through pleasant countryside with plenty of wildlife to see. A one way ride from Bangkok to Kabinburi, a distance of 161 kilometres cost me 30baht(less than a dollar!). the trains are third class only so your carraige basically has all the windows open and the roof fans running. You can photograph the stations as you pass and periodically some Thai ladies pass down the train selling street food, fresh and tasty. On the way at Chachoengsao Juntion there is a plinthed North british 4-6-0 that is well worth stoppimg and having a look at
