Train Trip to Sunflower Field and Pasak Cholasit Dam

[Richard Barrow]

The State Railway of Thailand have organized their annual weekend trips to the Sunflower Fields of Lopburi. This commences on Saturday 22nd November 2008. The train departs Hualamphong Station in Bangkok at 6.40 a.m. and returns about 11 hours later. During the trip you will visit the sunflowers fields and also the famous "Floating Train on the waters of Pasak Cholasit Dam". Though, to be precise, the train doesn't actually float on the water. There is a long railway bridge that goes across a section of the reservoir. The picture of the train on this bridge are stunning and come under the category "Unseen Thailand". Though obviously if you are in the train you won't see that view!

Tickets can be bought in advance at the station.

3rd class 255
2nd class 465 baht
1st class 675 baht

No meals are included. Adults and children are the same price.

There is no English information available so far. I have attached the schedule in Thai. I am planning on going to the Monkey Festival at the end of this month and will probably aim to do a diversion to this dam to see if I can get a picture of a train on this famous bridge.

We have more information about this dam and Lopburi over at www.ThailandGuidebook.com.

* The name of the dam is also spelled Pa Sak Jolasid.

[Richard Barrow]

I didn't realize how much of the railway line is over the water. On my road map, the railway line barely touches the edge of the reservoir at one point. No roads marked at all on Western side. But, after looking at Google Earth, I can see it is over the water for a good period of time. The abovce picture is about 20 kms from north to south.

The picture below is a closer view of the reservoir. Now I need to work out where the Unseen Thailand picture was taken as there is more than one location. I will post the picture of the train on the bridge as soon as I find one on the Internet. At the moment I can only find it in my Unseen Thailand book.



I am actually looking forward to this trip. Maybe even doing a train ride as well.

[Betti]

is this on the northern line or the northeastern line? I don't remember this bridge. is it dry in the dry season, and the dam is only filled up this time of the year?

[Richard Barrow]

is this on the northern line or the northeastern line? I don't remember this bridge. is it dry in the dry season, and the dam is only filled up this time of the year?

It is on the Northeastern line (though not the one heading towards Nakhon Ratachasima (Khorat)). The Northern line splits from this line between Ayutthaya and Saraburi.

[SimonP]

Great minds think alike - I was thinking of doing the same, the monkey feast and sunflower fields. If we can find out what time the train will be going over the dam that would be excellent.

[Richard Barrow]

On that schedule that I attached at the top, it says the tourist train arrives at the dam at 10.40 a.m. They then disembark to insepct the dam between 10.50 a.m. - 11.20 a.m.

Difficult to work out train times. But from the Thai timetable I have this:

Train number 75:
Kaeng Sua Ten Station: depart 11.03 a.m.
Khok Salung Station: depart 11.17 a.m.
Lamnarai Station: arrive 11.46 a.m.

Train number 439:
Kaeng Sua Ten Station: depart 12.25 p.m.
Sura Narai Station: arrive 12.46 p.m.

Going back:

Train number 76:
Lamnarai Station: depart 1.20 p.m.
Kaeng Sua Ten Station: arrive 2.07 p.m.

Kaeng Sua Ten Station is at the southernmost point of the reservoir. I guess this is the best place to get on the train. Then, the bridge is finished by Sura Narai Station. Not sure of the frequency of the trains or how easy to come back.

I will post a map shortly.

---------------------------------------------

Plan your trip in Thailand at our free online guidebook at www.ThailandGuidebook.com

[Richard Barrow]

Here is a map scan from ThinkNet MapMagic Thailand 2006.

(1) Kaeng Sua Ten Station
(2) Khok Salung Station
(3) Sura Narai Station
(4) Lamnarai Station
(5) Highway 3017 that passes through the sunflower fields on the way to Lop Buri city.

This is obviously a bad map showing the lake. According to the google pictures I posted above, it should be running across the water for quite a way.

I think I will drive to Kaeng Sua Ten Station to check on times. I am a bit worried about catching a train if I cannot come back. For this trip I might just drive around this area on Saturday morning until lunchtime or so. Then drive to Lop Buri city in the afternoon via the sunflower fields. Spend the night in the city for the Monkey Festival the next day. Then Sunday afternoon come back on Highway 1 stopping briefly at the Buddha's footprint at Wat Phra Phutthabat.

-------------------------------

Latest Festivals in Thailand at www.ThaiFestivalBlogs.com

[SimonP]

Just had another look at my Unseen Thailand book and it looks like the photo of the train there is taken from an elevated position. Having time to survey the area before the train arrived would be a good idea.

At a guess I think that shot could have been taken from the far northern end if the train was moving in that direction. At any rate somewhere where you can capture an extreme bend in the tracks would be ideal.

[eebrak]

why do the train make so many small stops before reaching the dam? is it to pick up people from the various stops? does that mean we dont have to board at hua lampong itself?

[eebrak]

sorrry.. and is 5 dec considered a public holiday? so this tourist train will run too?