02/09/2026
The Death Railway: Built in 1942 by the Japanese Imperial Army, this bridge was a crucial link in the strategic railway connecting Thailand to Burma during WWII.
Spot the Difference:
While paddling directly underneath, have your guests look up at the steel spans. The "curved" or semi-circular spans are the original structures built by POWs. The "rectangular" spans were added after the war to replace the center sections destroyed by Allied bombing raids in 1945.
The Two Bridges:
Originally, Allied POWs were forced to build a temporary wooden bridge first. Shortly after, this permanent steel and concrete bridge was constructed right next to it.
The Human Cost:
The railway was built using the forced labor of Allied prisoners of war and Asian laborers under brutal conditions. It is tragically said that
"one life was lost for every sleeper laid on the track."