Thonburi rail yard is one of the more interesting places for rail fans in Bangkok. This rail yard and workshop has quite a lot of history to it. It is home to the SRT heritage steam engine fleet. The Thonburi rail yard is the only currently operating steam locomotive maintenance and repair workshop in Bangkok. A small number of diesel locomotives are maintained at the Thonburi workshop along side the steam locomotives.
Today all the rail operations to and from Thonburi station and its yard is passenger related. No cargo trains operate from Thonburi station. The yard is now a minor repair a fueling point for SRT’s diesel locomotive fleet. A few years ago the passenger platforms where relocated from a nicer historical station next to the Chao Phaya River. This was done to make way for extensions to the Royal Siriraj Hospital.
This relocation has made the Thonburi yard and its railway station less attractive to SRTs passengers as the new rather temporary looking station is not easy to get to or well connected to other areas of Bangkok or Thonburi. The yard’s long term future doesn’t look great as there are no future projects to include the Thonburi rail yard and this part of the Thonburi commuter line into Bangkok’s modern mass transport system.
If you do come to visit the rail yard at Thonburi the people are very friendly and welcoming to rail fans. But please be careful of moving trains and other equipment when in the rail yard. Also be friendly to the staff and don’t take or damage any of the equipment or metal parts or trains. The rail yard staff do speak a little English and will show you around the yard and trains if you ask them nicely.
1. This is an image of Steam loco number 953 and GE loco number 4034. Taken looking towards the workshop from the eastern rail entrance to the Thonburi rail yard. Note: Steam Loco Number 953 is still in working order and is used on tourist trains a few times a year.
2. This is an image of a similar steam loco to number 953 on a rail tour to Ayutthaya. Taken as steam loco number 824 approached Bang Sue station.
3. This is a general view of the carriage sidings next to Thonburi rail yard. Note the old cargo vans, signal control wires and the 3rd class passenger carriages.
4. This is a general view of the Thonburi rail yard looking east taken from the western end of the yard. This section of the yard appears to deal with carriage repairs.
5. This is a view of a 3rd class passenger carriage undergoing repair in the yard. Note all the different metal parts lying around the yard.
6. This is a shot of the spare train wheels for carriages. Like all SRT rail yards there are lot of theses wheels laying about the place with lots of unidentified metal parts and scrap.
7. This is a shot of the rail yard's security guard. They don’t make any hassles to visitors. This guard could understand a little English and was quite helpful.
8. This is a picture of a locomotive engine cover. They are lifted off with a small crane and placed on trolleys and stored outside in the yard. In the background is an old GE loco. SRT loco number 4025.
9. This is a shot of the diesel locomotive repair section of the workshop. They had 2 locos in for repair. This workshop section is the only one with a large under train inspection pit. Which is always very oily and dirty.
10. This is another angle of the loco engine cover and SRT loco 4025. Note the crane for removing the covers in the foreground. Taken from inside the workshop looking out.
11. This is a shot of a loco undergoing some very major repairs to its engine. It doesn’t look like it will be going anywhere soon for a long time.
12. This is an image of steam engine 713/C 5615. This part of the workshop houses the steam engines. This steam engine is not in working order.
13. This is another angle on steam engine 713/C 5615. For some unknown reason they store the steam engines with the boiler hatch open.
14. This is a front on shot of steam engine 715. This is a similar type to 713/C 5615. Unfortunately this steam engine is not in working condition either.
15. This is a shot of steam engine 850. It is not known if it was in working condition.
16. This is a shot of an older GE loco undergoing repairs in the workshop. SRT unit number 4011.
17. This is a picture of GE loco number 4034 waiting outside the workshop.
18. This is an image of a display of the tools used to repair the locomotives. It seems a rather odd thing to have inside the rail yard. In front of it are new brake blocks and fire extinguishers.
19. This is an image of steam loco number 824. This is the same steam engine seen on a tourist train early in the post. This steam loco is in full working order.
20. This is a tender first shot of steam loco number 953. These steam locos are powered by some kind of bunker oil. All the steam locos had a lot of general yard items stored near them making clear shots very hard.
21. This is an inside shot of the driver and fireman’s cab of steam loco 824. Note the gauges and levers.
22. This is a shot of the fireman’s seat and the firebox of steam loco 824. This must be very hot when it’s operating. Remembering that it’s about 37C outside at the time the picture was taken. It must be like a sauna when the steam engine is fired up.
23. This is a shot of the drivers seat on steam loco 824. Visibility for the driver is rather limited on these steam locos when compared to the diesel locos.
24. This is a shot of steam loco number 950. This steam loco appears to no longer be in working order. It is of the same style as 824 and 953.
25. This is an image of the eastern end of the Thonburi rail yard. All locos must shunt and reverse here to access the yard or platforms at Thonburi station.
26. This is a shot of the signal box in the rail yard at Thonburi. This signal box is controlled by using mechanical levers and not by small electric motors on the points as is the case on the main system.
27. This is a shot showing steam loco 824 and GE loco 4034. This is one of these great steam and diesel images.
28. This is an inside image of the drivers cab on an older style GE loco. It is rather simple and hot inside the cab.
29. This is an inside shot of one of loco number 4204. There is a lot more space in this cab for the driver. The small wheel looks rather unusual. I suspect it has something to do with the brakes.
30. This is a shot of loco number 4204 undergoing repairs to its engine this locos engine seems to be in better condition as most of it is still in place.
31. This is a close up shot of GE loco number 4025. This loco is stored in its own covered section of the yard behind the main workshop.
32. This is a shot of a rail crane used that used to be used for track work and other heavy lifting. It would have been attached to a works trains and taken to the work site by rail.
33. This is a shot of the Thonburi yard shunter. Taken from the carriage yard next to the platform roads. SRT unit number 79. Every rail yard in Thailand seems to have at least one shunter.
34. This is another angle on shunter number 79. This shunter is waiting to move the passenger carriages to the platform road for the next train.
35. This is a shot of loco number 4120 running light engine to the workshop at Thonburi. Taken as it ran though the platform road at Thonburi station.
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.
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