Tham Krasae Railway Viaduct

The Wang Pho viaduct at Tham Krasae is a curved wooden trestle several hundred metres long, carrying the railway on a ledge cut into the cliff directly above the Khwae Noi river. It is part of the Burma Railway, built between 1942 and 1943 by Allied prisoners of war and by a far larger number of conscripted Asian labourers - Malayans, Burmese, Tamils, Javanese - under the Japanese army. Around twelve thousand prisoners and a substantially higher number of Asian labourers died during construction, from disease, starvation and violence. This section, cut into rock above the river, was among the hardest. Trains still run over it on the surviving Kanchanaburi to Nam Tok line at walking pace, and passengers lean out for the view. A cave shrine sits at one end. Walking the trestle between trains is common and there is no barrier; the drop to the river is substantial.

What to look for

• The wooden trestle - carrying the line along a ledge above the river.
• The working railway - trains still crossing at walking pace.
• The cave shrine - Tham Krasae at the end of the viaduct.
• The construction history - built in 1942 and 1943 at enormous human cost.

When to go

November to February. Train times from Kanchanaburi are limited - check the schedule. Walking the trestle is done between services.

Things to know

There is no barrier on the trestle and the drop to the river is significant - people walk the sleepers with trains due. This is a site where tens of thousands died in construction and is treated seriously locally. Limited train services.

Nearby

Hellfire Pass is further up the line; Kanchanaburi and the bridge over the Khwae are south-east.