Tim:
Was 6 weeks in Cambodia working out of the US Embassy in Phnom Penh. Went up to Battambang in September 1996. Nice depot and railyard overgrown with tall grass. Couldn't even see the meter gauge rails unless you were standing on them. The first train in years pulled in. One diesel and a string of wooden box cars with a few people travelling n them. Got some great photographs. No caboose. The concrete 2 stall engine house had 2 well preserved Belgium-French built 2-6-0 wood burners with tenders. Out side were assorted well stripped 2-8-2s surely of U.S. construction with large Thai numbers on their tenders. "Wonder how they came to rest in northern Khmer republic?" I got some great photos, unfortunately I did not photograph the 2-6-0s because it was too dark in the shed. My captain did but would share with me. The engines probably still there awaiting the opportunity to steam again. The Mikes are too far gone. There could be more equipment but so much was overgrown and muddy that I didn't venture back into the perimeter without our "warlords" armed escorts. In Phnom Penh I felt it was too dangerous to go looking into the many well constructed large RR buildings as I might not come out alive. We were forbidden by the ambassador to arm myself, there were no US Marine Embassy guards, and my pocket knife would not be a match for some hungry guys that had gone thru the killing fields. More recent reports, happy to see, see tourist steam operating and maybe the line to Battambang may be safe and fully operational and hopefully the line to Thailand will be operating someday soon.
If you go be sure to go to Wat Angur.
regards
Pat in Phoenix.
