Battambang, Cambodia Bamboo Train (Norry): Choo Choo!
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
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Riding Cambodias bamboo train (called norry by locals) was one of only a few specific activities I had in mind when starting my travels in June. Today I did it! I found out about these trains while researching cool things to do in Cambodia. It turns out the Lonely Planet Cambodia travel book has a small blurb of information on these trains as well. None of the information Ive found online or in the travel guides seems especially detailed. Hopefully, the Google map Ive included will help anyone else trying to find the trains for free.
Cambodia has one rail line. It is not well built, not maintained, and generally unsafe. For that reason, Cambodia no longer operates heavy trains. The people, however, have created an inexpensive and lightweight system to travel safely on the rails. These bamboo trains are pushed by small gasoline engines, and roll on two axles. They can be removed from the railroad or assembled in about a minute flat. Locals are charged about $0.25 (1,000 Riel) for a lift, but foreigners (me) get a huge markup. Despite what sounds like a $1 negotiation in the video, I ended up paying $5. That is the low end of what I was expecting to pay for a private ride. Fortunately, I got my moneys worth, learning how to operate the things. For the typical train ride from Ou Dambong to Ou Sra Lav, foreigners can expect to pay $8.
You can see in the video how the train is controlled. A foot pedal provides friction to the rollers, slowing the traincar. The stick held by the driver is pulled back to increase fan belt tension between the rear axle and engine, speeding up the traincar.
I was unsure exactly where to go or how to set up a train ride. I had no idea if the trains even existed anymore, since nearly all of the available information talks about their impending extinction. Like many of the things Ive done while traveling, I enjoy figuring it out for myself, without the help of a tourguide, taxi driver, or anyone but regular locals. This keeps things more adventurous and a can be a little chaotic, in that I might not have an accurate read on a dynamic situation.
Yesterday, I went searching for the trains without a map, knowing only that I needed to follow the dirt road running along the Stung Sangker river, South of Battambang. I found the point where the railroad tracks cross the river, but no trains were there, nobody in the area spoke English, I was unsure if perhaps there were other rails, and the tracks werent easy to walk. I crossed the bridge on foot and then wandered back South on the tracks to see if I could find any clues. There was nothing. With the sun beating down on me, I gave up for the day, but resolved to find it the next day no matter what.
With a little more research, and the help of Google Earth, I figured out that I might need to walk the poorly maintained railroad all the way to Ou Dambong. Ou Dambang has a train station and seems to be the Northern bamboo train hub. Well today, I went back, taking the same path along the Stung Sangker to where the rails meet the river. I was all set to walk the tracks to Ou Dambang, but lo and behold, there is a bamboo train with two guys ready to work. They were at the exact spot I had visited yesterday! I guess its all about timing.
To make a long story short, I jumped on the train and rode to Ou Dambang, but didnt want to pay $10 extra requested by another railroad engineer to reach the normal destination of Ou Sra Lav. My ride ended up being an hour long, and covered a good amount of territory, including the river crossing at the end. Best of all, I figured out how these things work, and successfully assembled, disassembled, started, and operated one. I believe this video is the most detailed of any Bamboo Train material youll find on the internet. Watch it and let me know what you think!
I've seen Cambodians do amazing things with those motors. They treat em like a general use tool over there. One guy made this crazy powerful irrigation pump with the same motor on this train cart. He even had an axle and a belt when he set it all up to the hoses. It made this whole contraption portable like this train cart
So free of all the stress we experience in a 1st world country. I LOVE IT!!
Lol, and full of the stress of 3rd world poverty 😂 🤷♂️
@@michaels3757 Not to mention the Khmer Rouge murdering about 1/6 of the entire population - back in the mid-late '70's.
☮
@@michaels3757 Please, do you see how happy and content the poeple there are? Poverty doesn't really mean misery, since they lack new technology, they are happy making do with whatever they have, and there are no complaints
@@raedon2407 until your newborn sons die 5 times in a row
Did you not see how they had to take the heavy thing off the tracks every time?
Thanks for posting and sharing this video clip. It is admiringly to see what you have done. Encourage you to go back and revisit this place again and again. Thanks again.
These little bamboo trains are awesome!!
The beauty of it. I love the makeshift, the imperfect, the human touch.
Really cool video never heard of the bamboo train but would search it out now. Great experience
Simple and cost effective, what else do you need, shows how simple life can be made no restrictions
It is incredible what people can do with some thought, and a lack of bureaucracy.
endsOFearthDOTCOM muito bom
BRASIL
Loved this
I'd like to return, too. There's not enough time to see everything on this planet!
Very cool. My home/birth town of Battambong. The driver was saying he doesn't understand English but he could understand/speak Thai. But hand motion and sign will work if you're trying to negotiate. A good thing is these nory drivers won't try to rip you off even if you're caucasian looking. You don't have to speak Khmer to tour Cambodia.. Even small towns like Battambong you'll find people who'll understand you just enough to know what you want or what you're looking for.
I'd love to go here. I'm not a seasoned adventurer I've been to the UK and Ireland, Asia is my dream destination, especially Japan but I'd love to see Cambodia, Vietnam and some of the lesser traveled places, here's to hoping this awful virus hasn't ruined travel for good, if we're permitted I'm seriously considering a trip to Asia this fall but I fear it's just a dream for 2021. Thanks for sharing, this was amazing.
looked like fun to me and glad you where able to learn a little about things across the area. I think although the language barrier is strong but you all had a great time. (not all that wounder are lost!!) safe travels to you and be safe.
Nice old Kawasaki L-head engine; quite indestructible those things are.
Like your attitude toward local ppl, helping and sharing life experience, money is not every things
Friendship and smiles are good life + money
very simple and basic machinery economic and cheap easy . Loved it see how basic needs of these people and still they are satisfied and happy.
One man train ? Green Signal always, No Red Signal at all. Magnificent, Wonderful and Creative.
Now I want to visit Cambodia 😍😍
Very cool!
the stick is a clutch/aclerator..need less gas let it slip..need more tighten her up..
Beautiful I wanna take a ride on it
I'm happy others are enjoying it! Hopefully there will be some more great adventures
looks like fun .....
Absolutely ingenious.
Amazing wow
*Wow! Thank you. I like it. I m Vietnam railway*
Very creative 👍
Best Job I've ever seen. I'd happily do that for the rest of my days.
I was in Cambodia 5 years ago but only for a few days in Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) - I thought the people there were amazing and looking forward to returning one day for a longer stay (and a ride on the bamboo train).
This should be done at everywhere there are tracks which are currently not used. Developed or underdeveloped country.. . cheap and effective way to use resources... especially Africa where no frequent trains on existing tracks..
I bet you have some interesting stories. Cambodia has an incredible history and I was lucky to see some of your country
The bridge gave me anxiety but this is the coolest thing I have ever seen.
That looks like a lot of fun!
this make me miss Cambodia so much thanks
They let you drive! That's so cool I want to go there!
A little confused as to what holds the two axles in place under the frame. Wish you would have filmed the bottom. Nice video. How long have those rails been in place?
Good question and I do wish I had a picture of the underbelly. At exactly 4:24 of the video, you can see the side of the wood frame's under-structure that rests on the axle. Nothing actually "holds" the axles or the frame and they are all unconnected. The weight of the frame and its cargo hold it in place on the axles, and the axles remain inside the frame's "grooves." The rails have been there a long time (several decades perhaps), but were poorly placed, which has given rise to this alternative transportation system.
H Max, Upside down U brackets sit on those bearings. I'm guessing.
Thank you, glad you like!
Cool vid thanks for sharing
So. Very nice in bamboo train😍😍😍😍😍😍👍
Cambodian bumper train is interesting, isn't it? It's a big deal to run with a body made of bamboo, small wheels and a simple engine. You can't imitate it in Japan.
Parabéns pelo vídeo e saudações de Sergipe no Brasil e abraços do professor Franqueta
Ou Dambang is my hometown and Ou Sra Lay is where I used to go during Khmer Rouge.
That's the way one should do when you travel in Asia. I will do that some day.
Love the way they talk and the men are beautiful! 👨👀
Great video! What was the large stick for? I imagine it applies tension on the pully so the belt engages, but that's just a wild guess.
it is
it may be simple but it works
Man every time I visit Cambodia it's always loud even in the small villages someone is basting music out or some message never got what the deal was.
Cool...looks fun!
Awesome
Outstanding video.
Lol imagine putting this on and start riding it on the railroad here in USA 🤔 wonder what’s gonna happen
Looks like fun! 👍
I'm inspired to make mine and unleashe it to the railway. Be using it to go to town and back
I am involved with a charity in Uganda, the roads out there are terrible and the railway is disused. What are the dimensions? An old motorbike engine? A wooden chassis? Fabricated axles?
falcons1988 they have another video of Columbia where they use a motorbike to the side of a make shift rail car
Not a motorbike engine. It's just a regular industrial engine.
amazing !!!!!!!!!!!!
so cool, amazing idea
2:27 Cute!
It's quite long!
Yes, definitely bamboo trains, like in the video!
I like the way your long floppy shoelace got close to the fan belt. Yikes!
Yes the woods
Funny, I saw the exact same cows in a different bambooo railway video
they were not making fun of you. They said you want to ride it and they were happy to ride it too.
Wow
Wow that was fun....
Good
I like this.
I'd like to see something like this on disused rr tracks in the USA
Me, too. It will never happen due to too much liability in our litigious country.
so true. But these folks have nothing so they can lose nothing
Bob - Not disused railroads. You meant abandoned railroads. Not that many abandoned railroads out there. Most of abandoned railroads would not go that far.
Maybe you can find bunch of them at this site - www.abandonedrails.com/
Bob Ordewald These folks may not have what you have but that doesn't mean they have nothing.
David Schwartz Thanks for your response. You are correct, I know that life was better when I had almost nothing compared to today. I just like the idea of these impromptu rail cars and the etiquette that has developed. We could learn something from these folks. We won't but we could..
Like it..
Wow. Fantastic adventure. How can I find this place?
Battambang and Kompot province
im with you on that one 3 hots and a cot...and my bamboo train :)
Hmm, I don't know! I'm not really a hotel research expert. Just roam around town and look in a couple hotels, then pick one! I always check rooms to see that the shower puts out strong pressure hot water, that they have WiFi, and that they smell and look clean. $10/night should get you a decent room in Battambang. Good luck, and post another comment after you take the train so I know how it went!
the thing is super cool.
simpler things are fun to the heart
No one ever starves in a jungle. The folks all seem so happy.
nice
That chicken ain't a pet. 🍗
Night train driving Very scary
Hey --- whatever works, right? It may be as simple as is mechanically possible, but it still gets you from Point A to Point B, so who needs more than that??? :D
Here is suggestion: they can build a tent over the platform to shield them from rain and sun.
I'll let them know. If they like that idea, maybe the next step is to install chairs
its got be a lot of work to remove those trains of the track each time there is another train in the way O.O Good thing only the engineer and conductor has to move it and not the passengers. lol i doubt people would pay a fee to get on a train they have to move themselves anyways...lol
They can take it off the track in probably one minute, and reassemble on the track in about a minute. There are only a few pieces and they aren't too heavy. I paid a few, probably too much considering all the work I did while riding!
Shhhh
Your comment was probably the most United States Citizen thing I ever read on youtube
disgusting
@@danielribas1109 Yea,because I'm sure you are doing some extremely labor intensive work yourself.....😒
@@stormgirl09 that's not what I'm talking about
this asshole sense of "if I pay for a service ppl should do anything I want cuz... well... I'm paying" is a mostly USA ppl thing. I think if I was there in a vacation travel and those guys ask me to help assembling the machine it would enrich the travel experience for me. Just because I see people like equals and I don't think when I'm paying I'm in a power situation. Plus, the guy paid 1 dollar for the travel.
Am afraid the original train came crossing while running... I also wanna know whether the track in unused track or the government is constructing for this purpose?
a cold engine starts on the first pull. NOT a Briggs and Stratton!
Exactly what i thought!
A good simple Chinese engine, with CDI made for peasants. The Chinese make at least half a million each year for any use from river boats to grinding corn mills.
what a stupid thing to say !!!!! Are you complimenting Briggs and Stratton? Or criticising them?
you know that the engine they used is not Chinese, it is actually a Kawasaki fg 230 made in Thailand by a Japanese company. it is definiteley not Chinese
whatdoidonext the most popular engines are HONDA because they are more reliable and easy to maintain. Kawasaki, Briggs and Chinese Engines are not in our daily practices because of the above reasons.
Wonder how that thing would perform with a 350 Chevy motor on it ? Yeah, I would love to go riding with those guys...Any restaurants along the way ?
I`ll wait until they build one in Vegas.
hashas ... Rapid train in developed countries can't make people happy like this
Video Cambodia love
These look like a mix between something from Just Cause and Fallout
I would love to buy those wheels, I wish I knew a place in USA to buy it so I could build my own.
I found some materials online. Send pictures if you build one. Google RRT-TS-12 to get started. They sell 5" railwheels.
Aahhh! Thanks. Ive been watching how some people put back in use some small regional railways in France. Some rehab the steam engines, other build rail karts, there are also ugly 4-seat pedal carts for tourists, others still (in the US) adapt bikes to rail tracks and it works. But nothing beats the bamboo train and I won't die until I make one for meself.
5:18 sounds like a Zhuang language of Chinese, no kidding. :D
You're right, it's way faster than walking!
Клево, железка на халяву, а вот пррикинь сколько труда стоило проложить.
These are really popular for foreigners to ride.
cool!
This is pretty interesting...... how long it is the entire railroad?
+Oggi Zul I think the rails go across the country, but the bamboo train section is quite short, only 4-5 miles.
train tracks are unique?
Glad you like!
Does the train have restrooms?
welcome!
8:30 Looking at this shot, did you just cross over the infamous "Bridge Over the River Kwai" ?
That's in a different country. I don't know the river's name.
amazing :D
I guess that if something works, that’s exactly what it does!
i like norry
@tnaktnom Thanks for doing some interpretation! I'll tell you what he did understand---A dollar sign with a number scratched in the dirt!