In Samut Songkhram, there is a market which takes place literally on the train tracks. I first went there about four years ago. I have been back a few times since. Today was the first time for a whole. I was surprised to see so many foreigners there. I never saw any on my previous trips. I guess word has got out now.
The first time I went to the market I went by train. That was an adventure in itself. You can read about that day trip here. However, to really appreciate what happens, it is best to be actually in the market when the train arrives. As you can see from this picture, for most of the time, there is no room for a train to pass.
However, as soon as the market vendors hear the signal for the train, they start to push back their stalls, which are on wheels, and also pull back the canopy. It takes less than a minute.
Here comes the train now. See how much room they have to make for it to pass safely.
The train here is passing one of the stalls that are on special wheels.
Seconds after the train had passed everyone started to push back the stalls and carried on trading as if nothing had happened. If I remember right, there are only about four trains passing through here per day. The terminal station is at the far end of this picture. These are pictures of the train arriving in the afternoon at 2.30 p.m. It then left for the return journey for the last time at 3.30 p.m.
- Posted from my iPhone
Catherine Wentworth
22/06/2010 at 9:29 pm
Great photos Richard. I went to the RR months back and I’ll go again. I wasn’t quite sure how to take photos of the lighting (bright skies with dark shadows) so I’ll need to take extra time when I’m there next.
Ruth
28/06/2010 at 2:39 am
fascinating account of a most unusual train journey, video good to see the market returning to business but it seemed amazingly long.