Train from Udon Thani to Nakhon Ratchasima

This morning was a Saturday so we did our own parkrun around the lovely Iake that was near to our hotel. It wasn't too hot, and I got round quite easily, which is good as we are in training for a real parkrun next Saturday.

In the afternoon we caught a tuk tuk to the station for our journey towards Bangkok. 

The station only has five trains stopping there each day, but it has a surprising number of staff, and lots of people waiting around. 

As expected, our train was late, but it eventually arrived and we all piled on board. 

The guard waved his green flag and blew his whistle, the driver waved his flag in response, and off we went. The engine was very noisy, the train shook and rattled loudly, but then this was called the slow train. 

It was a single track line, so we sometimes had to wait for trains to pass in the opposite direction before we could continue. Occasionally we changed onto a side line and the points looked like the ones you used to see on a child's train set. The stations were all beautifully maintained and looked as if they came from the 1950's.

It was slow going, but lots of people walked up and the aisles selling drinks, roast chicken on sticks, cooked quails eggs and lots of things that I couldn't identify. 

Seven hours Iater, and after 37 stops we eventually arrived at our destination. It was quite a relief to be on quiet and solid ground.