Meeting of the Railway

Near Konkuita

1941

December

Japanese attack Malaya and Hong Kong

1942

February

Japanese occupation of Singapore

May

First POW to Burma

June

Japanese occupation of Burma

June

Survey of line route

June

First POW to Thailand

August

Start Tamarkan Bridge construction

October

Start line construction

1943

January

Major General Shimoda, commander of railway construction and Major Irie, killed in plane crash west of Nikhe, whilst inspecting railway trace from air.

February

Major General Takasaki from Manchuria, new 2 Railway Control commander.

Complete Tamarkan wooden bridge

May

Complete Tamarkan steel bridge

September

Hintok - Konyu section completed

October

Rails joined near Konkuita, Thailand

1945

February

Steel and timber bridges bombed, RAF 684 Sqn

April

Timber bridge severely damaged, US raid

June

Three spans of steel bridge destroyed, RAF raid

June

End of effective use of railway

1946

Steel bridge at Kanchanaburi repaired

by Japanese Company

1947

Line dismantled

1957

Line relaid to 130km mark