he Burma Railway, better known as the Death Railway, connects Ban Pong, Thailand to Thanbyuzayat, Burma. Stretching 415 kilometers, the railway consists of 111 kilometers in Burma and another 304 kilometers in Thailand. The Burma Railway is scenic, but it is mainly known for its historical significance. As train rides provide a unique way to experience any local culture, it is one of the best ways to immerse oneself in the railway’s history and the natural beauty of Thailand and Burma.
The train ride includes the scenic Wang Pho Viaduct, which crosses an original wood trestle bridge called Tham Krasae along the Kwai Noi River, clinging to the cliffside. Past Kanchanaburi, passengers start witnessing the valley and a breathtaking riverside landscape. The trains slow down when passing important and scenic parts of the trip to allow passengers to get a better view, with the ability to open carriage doors throughout the trip.
After invading and conquering Burma, the Japanese Empire ordered the construction of the Burma Railway in 1942 to transport weapons and supplies for the Burma Campaign of World War II. Construction began separately in Burma and Thailand and met in the middle when completed in 1943. Critics often attribute the speedy completion of the railway to the large number of workers involved in the construction. Of the 330,000 workers, over 100,000 died resulting in the nickname of Death Railway. Imperial Japan moved 60,000 prisoners of war from Changi Prison in Singapore and other Southeast Asian prison camps to worksites, recruited/coerced Southeast Asian civilian laborers called romusha, and employed Japanese soldiers to serve as project supervisors. There were very harsh conditions during construction, with workers dying of malnutrition, starvation, and illnesses including cholera and malaria. The death rate among romusha laborers was extremely high, estimating to 50 percent during construction. Life in the POW camps was particularly disturbing, with human hair often used as brushes and blood used as paint.
The construction of the Burma Railway is seen as a war crime committed by Japan and led to the sentencing of 111 Japanese and Korean soldiers after WWII, including 32 death sentences. Various books and films have been created by past prisoners about their experience on the railway, including the Oscar-winning film The Bridge on the River Kwai (1952), and the award-winning novel by Eric Lomax The Railway Man.
One of the most famous bridges on the railway is the Kwai Bridge over the Mar Klong River. The bridge was originally made of wood in 1942, and a steel version was built next to it in 1943 but was bombed just two years later. The steel bridge was repaired next to the original wood-made bridge to honor those who sacrificed their lives to build it. Though the restored steel bridge no longer permits train traffic, it is open to foot traffic and stands as a famous landmark in Kanchanaburi Province. Also, in Kanchanaburi sits the Thai-Burma Railway Center, the JEATH Museum, and the “Don Rak” War Cemetery. The JEATH Museum is the oldest death railway-related museum, and its name is an abbreviation of the countries involved in the construction of the railway—Japan, England, America/Australia, Thailand, and Holland.
Another significant experience to be found along the railway is Hellfire Pass. The Pass was especially hard to build because it required the removal of a large rock that blocked the railway’s path. The Pass earned its name because the image of laborers working by torchlight was said to resemble Hell. Prisoners of war and laborers were ordered to work for more than 18 hours a day, and 69 men were beaten to death during the six weeks of construction. Today, Hellfire Pass is no longer open to trains and has been converted into the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum. Though the museum is not accessible by train, it is an important part of the railway’s history and can be accessed by daily buses from Kanchanaburi.
A complete experience of this historic railway usually consists of the JEATH and Hellfire museums, the bridge, and the train ride. To this day, many walk over the bridge and reflect on the extreme conditions the men suffered to build the railway. The most popular train route that includes both the River Kwai Bridge and Kanchanaburi is Kanchanaburi—Nam Tok, which is approximately two hours long. There are three daily trains that travel along this route.
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The Death Railway
October 31, 2020
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he Burma Railway, better known as the Death Railway, connects Ban Pong, Thailand to Thanbyuzayat, Burma. Stretching 415 kilometers, the railway consists of 111 kilometers in Burma and another 304 kilometers in Thailand. The Burma Railway is scenic, but it is mainly known for its historical significance. As train rides provide a unique way to experience any local culture, it is one of the best ways to immerse oneself in the railway’s history and the natural beauty of Thailand and Burma.
The train ride includes the scenic Wang Pho Viaduct, which crosses an original wood trestle bridge called Tham Krasae along the Kwai Noi River, clinging to the cliffside. Past Kanchanaburi, passengers start witnessing the valley and a breathtaking riverside landscape. The trains slow down when passing important and scenic parts of the trip to allow passengers to get a better view, with the ability to open carriage doors throughout the trip.
After invading and conquering Burma, the Japanese Empire ordered the construction of the Burma Railway in 1942 to transport weapons and supplies for the Burma Campaign of World War II. Construction began separately in Burma and Thailand and met in the middle when completed in 1943. Critics often attribute the speedy completion of the railway to the large number of workers involved in the construction. Of the 330,000 workers, over 100,000 died resulting in the nickname of Death Railway. Imperial Japan moved 60,000 prisoners of war from Changi Prison in Singapore and other Southeast Asian prison camps to worksites, recruited/coerced Southeast Asian civilian laborers called romusha, and employed Japanese soldiers to serve as project supervisors. There were very harsh conditions during construction, with workers dying of malnutrition, starvation, and illnesses including cholera and malaria. The death rate among romusha laborers was extremely high, estimating to 50 percent during construction. Life in the POW camps was particularly disturbing, with human hair often used as brushes and blood used as paint.
The construction of the Burma Railway is seen as a war crime committed by Japan and led to the sentencing of 111 Japanese and Korean soldiers after WWII, including 32 death sentences. Various books and films have been created by past prisoners about their experience on the railway, including the Oscar-winning film The Bridge on the River Kwai (1952), and the award-winning novel by Eric Lomax The Railway Man.
One of the most famous bridges on the railway is the Kwai Bridge over the Mar Klong River. The bridge was originally made of wood in 1942, and a steel version was built next to it in 1943 but was bombed just two years later. The steel bridge was repaired next to the original wood-made bridge to honor those who sacrificed their lives to build it. Though the restored steel bridge no longer permits train traffic, it is open to foot traffic and stands as a famous landmark in Kanchanaburi Province. Also, in Kanchanaburi sits the Thai-Burma Railway Center, the JEATH Museum, and the “Don Rak” War Cemetery. The JEATH Museum is the oldest death railway-related museum, and its name is an abbreviation of the countries involved in the construction of the railway—Japan, England, America/Australia, Thailand, and Holland.
Another significant experience to be found along the railway is Hellfire Pass. The Pass was especially hard to build because it required the removal of a large rock that blocked the railway’s path. The Pass earned its name because the image of laborers working by torchlight was said to resemble Hell. Prisoners of war and laborers were ordered to work for more than 18 hours a day, and 69 men were beaten to death during the six weeks of construction. Today, Hellfire Pass is no longer open to trains and has been converted into the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum. Though the museum is not accessible by train, it is an important part of the railway’s history and can be accessed by daily buses from Kanchanaburi.
A complete experience of this historic railway usually consists of the JEATH and Hellfire museums, the bridge, and the train ride. To this day, many walk over the bridge and reflect on the extreme conditions the men suffered to build the railway. The most popular train route that includes both the River Kwai Bridge and Kanchanaburi is Kanchanaburi—Nam Tok, which is approximately two hours long. There are three daily trains that travel along this route.
