Remembering the Tragic Train Accident in Kaeng Luang in 2006

Eighteen years ago, on August 31, 2006, a tragic train accident occurred in Phrae Province that remains one of the most severe railway incidents in Thailand’s history. The accident involved Express Train No. 52, which was running from Chiang Mai to Bangkok during the height of the monsoon season. As the train approached the Kaeng Luang area, notorious for its steep cliffs and sharp curves along the Yom River, disaster struck.

A landslide, triggered by days of heavy rainfall, sent a mass of soil and rocks tumbling down the cliffside, obstructing the tracks. The train, unable to stop in time, collided with the debris. The force of the collision caused the diesel-electric locomotive, Alsthom No. 4218, to derail and plunge into the swollen Yom River. The locomotive was thrown off the tracks and submerged in the fast-flowing waters, dragging with it the lives of two dedicated railway employees.

The engineer, Mr. Saithit Iam-sua, 41, was found lifeless at his post, still seated at the controls, indicating he likely died upon impact. His colleague, Mr. Anucha Anurak, 33, was swept away by the river’s powerful current. For over a year, his whereabouts remained a mystery. Then, on March 23, 2008, partial human remains were discovered on a sandy riverbank, approximately 80 meters from the crash site. The remains, identified by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) uniform and personal items found on the body, were confirmed to be those of Mr. Anucha. His body had been trapped among riverbank vegetation, gradually dislodged and buried by the river over time.

The accident, which took place at approximately 8:45 PM, resulted in significant challenges for the rescue and recovery teams. The combination of the difficult terrain, the curve of the tracks, and the strong currents in the Yom River made the recovery of the locomotive and the bodies an arduous task. Rescue teams from Bang Sue and Uttaradit were deployed, but the operation was hindered when two steel cables used to lift the locomotive snapped under the strain of the river’s current. It took several days before the locomotive could be retrieved from the river.

Remarkably, no passengers or other crew members were injured or killed in the accident, which highlights the extent of the tragedy that befell the train’s crew. The deaths of Mr. Saithit and Mr. Anucha are remembered as a sobering reminder of the dangers that railway workers face, particularly in the challenging conditions of Thailand’s monsoon season.

To this day, the Kaeng Luang area remains a scenic yet haunting stretch of railway, where the beauty of the surrounding forest and river belies the hidden dangers that once claimed the lives of two men. The memory of that fateful night continues to resonate with those who pass through, serving as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring impact of natural disasters. Today, a small white wooden shrine marks the spot where the locomotive derailed and plunged into the river, standing as a quiet memorial to the tragedy and those who lost their lives.