Bridge over the River Kwai/Kwae

[John Ashworth]

Photos an dtext by Nathan Berelowitz, September 2007

1. The most famous railway bridge of the second world is the river Kwai. The vast number of tourists visiting the town of Katchanaburi to view the site has seen the introduction of a shuttle service over the bridge. Seen here approaching the Bangkok end, is the diesel powere set, being overlooked by re created Japanese watchtowers.

2. Tourista and train on the Bridge over the River Kwaai. The approach to the bridge where tourist and train alike vie for right of way. The centre walkway gets very heavy pedestrian tourist traffic, and the one has to tread warily or else end up in the Kwai river below.

3. Tourist diesel powered train approaches the Bangkok end of the bridge over the river Kwai at Kanchanaburri in Thailand. This famous bridge on the death railway, was not the one made famous in the Hollywood production. The reason for the difference in the girder spans, is that the two centre ones were bombed by the Allied forces on 24th June 1945.This was in fact the second successful attack on the bridge following a previous one in February 1945.

4. Japanese army rail truck preserved at the station of Kanchanaburi in Thailand, near the bridge on the river Kwae. (actual spelling)