The only thing I remember about arriving at Don Muang was getting slapped in the face by the heat as I walked out of the plane. Caught a Taxi as it was 11:00pm, probably got ripped off, even though it wasn't my first time overseas I felt like I was in another world. I wish I was in my 20's again. Loved the old photos and the night shots of the train stations, there's something special about these places at night.

Ah, the good old days. I remember taking the train from DM Airport rail station to our vacation spot at Ayutthaya, an hour-long dusty ride for just 11 bahts per person. Far more interesting than any 1000 baht taxi ride can ever offer. On the return trip, one family was taking their pet cat for a ride and she quietly on the seat throughout the entire ride without misbehaving!

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

It is indeed a dusty ride on that line, not much better on the elevated part!

Long Train Runnin’ , Ticket to Ride , This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore, Runaway Train. I see what DJ Pat did there. 😀

I spent an hour at Lak Si last year ,waiting to join the steam train on its way back from Ayutthya- I will Never forget the sight/ sounds of that hissing ,screeching growling one eye monster ( it was near dusk and it had massive center light ) pulling into the station - Kudos to whomever keeps this bit of Thai history on the tracks - And the noise it made on the way back to HL -was glorious ( and I didn’t even have to pay )

In 1993 I worked for ITD opposite Don Muang just after Laksi --that was a 'hell on earth junction' especially when the train went through! Hopewell was plagued with 'corruption issues' and investment spokesman Gordon Wu had some terrible late project changes made to the ambitions of seeing this enterprise through! Interesting days with no mobile phones and hours to get anywhere on the motorway system! I was happy to leave that 7 month assignment !Good vlog again Pat.

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, those were not always the good old days.....

You're creating a great historical archive. cheers

Always love seeing the real Bangkok and you never disappoint. Thanks!

Really nice to see the old bangkok and discover the history. Very educational. Again a great video from you! I enjoy learning this things

We took the overnight train to Chiang Mai last October 2022 from there, glad we had the chance to do it one more time before it closed. xx

Thx BKK Pat 🇹🇭🇭🇲🤙🇭🇲🇹🇭😎

Go carefully Pat, just because its abandoned does not mean its not used 😉 Maybe freight trains? Nice job m8, thanks.

Lak si that 's near my home area.

Awwww…loved this journey

Thanks Pat enjoyed this one. Wasn’t aware they had closed Don Muang railway station down completely 😔

Commenting for that algorithm.

Nothing illustrates Bangkok's relentless march forward like what it leaves behind. Generations of old stations, communities and the ruins of the Hopewell project form abandoned monuments of what's past in the shadows of the new SRT and monorail lines. As per usual your stunning combination of photography and music capture this perfectly Pat. Nice cameo from May there in the end BTW (at least I think it was her)

Good Old Memories. I walked in the past many times on the Sky Walk to the Amari Hotel when I Arrived and Departed from Don Muang Airport. Long time not see this Sky Walk and the Train Station. Thanks Pat for this Information. 🙏

Hugely entertaining Pat. When you’re doing things in person, in the moment, you don’t always get to see things from the perspective your vlogs offer…and even then, you go wow. Brilliant. Cheers. 🙏

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Thanks very much Mark, glad you enjoyed that!

Your. first vid I'm watching in the country it's filmed in! .... lol I like the end shot with May putting in a brief appearance as well.......

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear you're starting to settle in mate, the end shot I just left as it was, wondering how many would actually watch until the end!!!

well done Pat, I am a train buff in canada, also was a passenger/freight engineer

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Kelly, glad you enjoyed it, I love documenting these places that'll soon be all gone around this city!

Great views on the elevated tracks now Pat . Shame the original station has closed . I still have fond memories of the Don Muang bring the 1st place that open the door to Thailand for me 👌👌

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

It's improved view for sure Jimmy, but the tracks at ground level had to go eventually as the high speed rail and airporr link will be built.

Very interesting. Thank you. I wondered where the signage to the train at Don Meuang went 😅

Thank you very much for another masterpiece with so much background info and a lot of very cool music !!! Greetings from Germany

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Thanks 😇

I’m pleased to be back watching just came back from Thailand a few weeks ago and left KZread a lone ,,,great content as always Pat

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Cheers Geoff,😎

A very rare Bangkok video with no scenes of cats 🐈

Great episode! Ruins from the 1997 economic crash in the form of the unfinished pillars/columns of the first attempt of a skytrain are an eerie reminder of that economic disaster.

Nostalgia ❤️

I remember taking the train to Don Muang from Hualamphong in 1986. I don't remember the convenient sky bridge across the traffic to the airport though.

ANother video from our Bangkok-Train-Expert. Well made Pat. I hope they finish a better connection between Bangkok-Central and Don Mueang someday. Till now it's still a little hustle.

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Cheers Frank. Don Muang new Red Line station is a very long walk to the airport, so no there is still no simple connection from train to airport!

@frankoseven

Жыл бұрын

@Bangkok Pat yes. I remember when I pick up my wife there when she arrives from Indonesia. The only comfortable way to go there and to drive back to my apartment was a Taxi. Somehow sad. It would be great when the citylink drives from airport to airport through the city.

Another excellent video, Pat! Especially love the historic photos and older vid footage. The old Hopewell, ironic name, however much they “hoped” it didn’t go well; in the end leaving behind a Stoner Henge of ugliness. Sad, in a way to see the old stations going, I guess on the ground level, they’ve gotten Lak Si intolerant. Keep up the good work, Pat. btw, I was suspecting that might be May’s arm out the window at 10:04, and was pleased to see her at the end. Mahalos & Aloha 🤙🏾

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

That was definitely May's arm! I had to keep the camera in position for about 30mins doing that one long take, the train was going very slowly, which is why the traffic is going so fast! Thanks for the kind words!!

as usual great content and presentation

LOVE IT ,,Pat do not change the way you do your videos great job

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

They won't change but elements will be added to make them more appealing.

Thank you so much for this vid. I remember last time I was in BKK (April 2019) I caught the blue bus (number 10 IIRC?) to DMK and noticed the old structures above the railway tracks and wondered what they were all about. I assumed they were part of an abandoned project but so interesting to hear confirmation and a bit more information about that. I wonder, now that the red line has opened to DMK, can you still catch the bus there? I guess there will still be a need for the bus, probably cheaper and slightly different route... Funny also you mentioned catching the train made you a cheapskate. I'm also someone keen to save a coin where I can and generally prefer catching a train over a bus but I think the trains ran really infrequently so you'd either have to be lucky if be really keen to save money or catch a train to save 11 baht on the 30 for the bus (which I'm pretty certain was how much I paid)! 🤣

i took a train out of here to isaan last week. had no idea… cool history lesson, thank you!

Enjoyed that one Pat. Looking forward to my visit to Bangkok and doing one of your suggested canal or rail walks.

AFTERNOON PAT :)

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Evening lvor 😎

👍

Enjoyed that, cheers Pat

I used to take the train from Don Muang (when it was the main BKK International Airport !) in the 1990s to Hualhamphong. The fare was 5 Baht !!!! I knew I had arrived in Bangkok when I passed Laksi Plaza on the train. Happy Days !

As usual , lovely content , BP !

Maybe it is just me, but I prefer the views from the lower tracks at street level rather than the elevated tracks.

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

That train l filmed from was going very slow that's why the cars were going so fast!

Nice work Pat!

Pat you can mourn about the old train days but Bangkoks increased population and traffic brought on the old trains demise. Another thing that is disappearing is Thailands countryside as it seems all of the rice farms have disappeared between Bangkok and Pattaya. I just got back from Thailand and it appears both Bangkoks airports are at high capacity. So I suppose they need to get that rail project to utapo sped up so they can use that airport more.

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Rail project to UTapao is still about a decade away

@vgshwk

Жыл бұрын

@@BangkokPat I have a feeling they are going to have to divert flights there by then whether it be passenger or cargo or both.

@TheMadaccountant

Жыл бұрын

@@vgshwk there is still room for expansion at Suvarnabhumi.

Great video Pat. I particularly enjoyed the speeded up footage of the new elevated line at the end. Reminded me of the video of The Cure's single 'Jumping Someone Else's Train' - I'm sure you remember that one 😜

quality vlog BP got a picture of me stood on that very platform at Don Mueng airport train station

Another great video Pat. Keep these coming. Thanks.

Interesting and informative!!!

Great video very intresting 😎👍

Nice video sir 🙏👍 good to see you and May, and trains 😉

Interesting video.. I did wonder about that line and station when I done my rail link video.. I got a cool shot of the train rolling through on that old line

Pat another fascinating video, thanks. I used to travel from Don Muang into thd city several times a year, but never used the train. It's great to see another excellent video about the changes going on here in Thailand.

11:08 is this the first time May has used a suitcase Pat ??? HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH

@jurimay6579

Жыл бұрын

Hehe 😋 @Bill Simpson ^^

Thanks m8

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Cheers Greg!

Pat, thanks for the upload. I have stayed in the Amari by Don Muang Airport twice. I was kinda disappointed it was ageing but it was very convenient for me to walk from DM airport to the hotel . Kinda regret I never get to take those trains. I love your vlogs on those trains.

Pat, another great video. It seems that Thailand is building a more robust infrastructure. I lived in JP for 20+ years so lots of trains and subways, but watching the last few minutes of your video, in a few years will people say, wow, Thailand has a great pubic transport system. It is very good now. But are we about to go next level?

Great video, as always. Maybe someday some of the Hopewell structures can be used to created an elevated public park along the lines of the Hi-Line in Manhattan.

@sfalpha

Жыл бұрын

It will get demolish in no time, The high speed train project will start construction on this section (actually, first start to tear down all hopewell pillars) later this year. And yes after completed, under the viaduct, the park and cycling path may emerge after that.

@dhgemein2

Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear it,@@sfalpha. The pillars are an eyesore in their current state.

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Those Hopewell structures won't hold much after all these years, and from what @sfalpha says it won't be too long

Another great video Pat… Hang-On. That’s all I ever write. Maybe I’ll add a bit more this time. It might helps your statistics. I’ve never used Don Mueang Airport. My iPhone put an ‘e’ in it. I’ve traveled from Hua Lamphong to LopBuri a couple of times though. That’s a nice relaxing ride.

@JoeyClacton

Жыл бұрын

And that’s a brilliant ending to the video!

Where were the cats Pat? 😃Great vlog. Yes, I used to make the exact same journey from the old airport. I remember one local saying 15yrs ago, that it didn't exist, as they had long ago abandoned the painfully slow journey, for a bus instead. More recently, I would get off, at the old Bang Sue station, and transfer to the MRT, feeling smug that I was the only farang who knew this route lol. What has the journey time come down to, from Don Muang to Bang Sue? Had the Red Line & Bang Sue station been completed yrs before, there would have been no need for the new airport, but then the PM's wife would not have made all that money from the land. I look forward to going on the new Pink line, with my first trip hopefully, since 2018. Nice cameo from the Miss's at the end - maybe she could do some Hitchcockian cameos in disguise, in the future?

Nice video Pat. Can you do any video on the Rangsit area?

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

I briefly did Rangsit Red Line station area but I will at some point do a whole video. You are definitely not the first to request that!

^___^ Like from one of your fan.

First like and first comment!

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Legend! 😎

Definitely a ghost town down there now, and that is a shame but progress marches on regardless. Nice to see May even if she seemed drunk and unable to stand up..... :) When I get to Bangkok I will have to look you up to do some railway and canal walking tours, could take quite a while as there is so much I want to see. All the best , great video as always, never stayed in Bangkok but through you, I feel I know it quite well.

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! We had just returned from our last trip to Saraburi, May was sleepy so her balance wasn't perfect!!

Yes Thailand certainly has a past and current history of building white elephant railroad projects...what's up with that?

We can, literally, see the mosquitos flying above your head - yikes!

This is an amazing channel about Bangkokl but no wonder that so many Thai women living in Pattaya,Phuket have a sick buffalo at home......running around in the Bangkok air pollution at Don Muang ain't doing them any good.....I once took the train to Lak Si....still a decent walk from Lak Si immigration but a wonderful and cheap ride from Hua Mak and very fast when comparing with a bus or taxi ride.....the only complaint....at night (after 19h00) it is hard to know what station the train is stopping as none of the train stations signs had any lighting.....

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Not sure what sick buffaloes have to do with the train but yeah, you had to really keep an eye out for station signs!

@rudolfdesadeleer7995

Жыл бұрын

@@BangkokPat the picture of 1942 (2 min 16 sec).......buffaloes on the line at Don Muang......again love your channel.....

Thank you. Pat, question... there was a Lumpini Refugee Transit Camp in 1979; I read it's 300 meters from the US Embassy. I would like to know where it is because we stayed there for about a week before coming to the USA.

Its not technically abandoned, The only passenger train still running is the steam train and freight trains

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

The stations are closed and it's no longer in use as a passenger line, which was the intentional meaning. I understand if it wasn't abandoned enough for your liking because there's nothing more satisfying than walking the route of an old trackbed. t will be completely abandoned in the next 2-3yrs to make way for the Airport Rail Link extenstion from Phaya Thai to Don Muang.

@TanVasinTrains

Жыл бұрын

@@BangkokPat what I mean is the Line that runs through

My goodness.. talk about timely. I'll be visiting Bangkok early March, and will (never done this before) be staying near Don Mueang at least the first 2-3 days. I wanted to know about the new elevated tracks I'd been observing being built over the past few years. I guess it's just the new tracks for the old trains... and I wonder how often the trains run - I guess the trains won't be pausing at the crossings any more. I think I'll be using it to get into town for at least 3-4 days. Also wondering how easy it is to get from the Airport (with a suitcase) down to the trains.

I do wonder about how things develop. I want to give Thais every chance to show how well they manage things, but I too often end up very disappointed. I think this is an example of how they became fixated on shiny toys (Suvarnabhumi) to the cost of what was seen as the old (Don Mueang) airport. DM was seen as finished, nobody gave a crap. However I think you said pretty much that anyway 🙂 I read that you may be collaborating a little with Owen, he could learn a lot from you 555

Great video as always. January 10th we traveled from Ayutthaya to Bang Sue on that line. B14! A fellow passenger continued on to Hualamphong. So is all that line closed now? And what is the alternative for such a trip?

do you have a vid on the Hopewell project?

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Story of the Skytrain video has it

This means you have to do a video on the Hopewell Project. Why haven't the structures been torn is a question I have.

@TheBodiesInTheWaterBeckons

Жыл бұрын

They will be torn down soon enough as the construction of the Isan HSR is creeping ever closer to the Bangkok vicinity. They're quite busy within the Ayutthaya province right now.

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Story of the Skytrain video has the Hopewell project

Hi Pat. Hope you are well. Was it you walking into s&p at Central plaza ladprao around 8PM today. I would like to say hello but was occupied with my family. Hope chatting with you soon. Cheers!

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Yes that was me, and they had closed the kitchen. I wanted a red curry, but was fast running out of options, eventually went to Eat Am Are in Union Mall! Why didn't you shout at me!!

@PBS9877

Жыл бұрын

@@BangkokPat hi Pat. Yes, i should have done that. I will do that next time. Cheers, Pat 👍

I have one question about the new Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal: When watching videos of this station, I can see that the usual thai diesel trains enter inside the station and I see that the platforms where these trains stop have a ceiling. Is there sufficient ventilation to suck out the exhaust fumes of these diesel trains?

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Not that much from what l can see. That's why passengers are only allowed to the platform a few minutes before departure

@iks77

Жыл бұрын

There is ventilation but there were already complaints because of the fumes. Some older locos in Thailand belch out thick black clouds...

Hi Pat. Quick question. Maybe already covered but ............ how does the proposed high speed trains fit into the scheme of things in regard to Don Meung Airport? I understood the airport will be linked with others all the way down the Eastern Seaboard to Utapao near Sattahip. Or have I got that wrong? Kind regards. Marc NZ.

Cmon Pat.. Not one cat?

Ghost station that is a dead network... Over head network dominates !!!

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

High speed rail line will be built there eventually...

This station still operating?

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Why not watch the video and listen to what I said!

Did you actually try to buy that ticket?

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Of course l did and he directed me to the nearby Red Line, l told him l preferred freight train so he said the next one was 10pm!

is this train closed in april last year ? i dont see any information of the link when i arrive at don mueng on 27 april last year

@BangkokPat

Жыл бұрын

Still open that time, the signposts are at International arrivals hall only.

Was this elevated to connect to the BTS line? Rode on that old line over 10 years ago.