Death Railway Museum & Research Centre

Kanchanaburi - It has been established to provide an unbiased, rounded and accurate account of the story of the Thailand to Burma Railway built in 1942/43 by Prisoners of War of the Imperial Japanese Army and by both forced and willing Asian laborers. Although not specifically a memorial, it facto is one. The object is to provide a center in Kanchanaburi that is part museum and part information and research facility, but devoted entirely to the Thailand-Burma Railway.

Located just opposite of the Kanchanaburi war cemetery. Entrance fee is B150 per person plus free coffee or tea,

Entrance to Death Railway Museum

The two-story building includes an air-conditioned museum, coffee shop, toilet, and a small souvenir shop.

The railway was built to provide supplies to Japan’s troops during WWII, and was constructed using forced labour – by both Allied POWs and local civilians. As a feat of engineering it was an astounding accomplishment, with 415 kilometres of track and over 600 bridges thrown together with minimal time, tools, or supplies and in extremely harsh conditions. The human cost was devastating around 100,000 lives were lost due to maltreatment and horrendous working conditions, lending the route to be called 'The Death Railway'.

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Travelogue around Asia Pacific Part II

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