Michael Brown, a Canadian/American expat now is enjoying early retirement in Hua Hin, Thailand.

After a career in software engineering, solar power and applied technology he started doing small technical projects to pass the time: Android apps, home automation, circuit boards and embedded software. He has an electric scooter which he constantly upgrades, 3D modelling and printing, cryptocurrencies and the like.

He launched a YouTube channel to document some of the above projects and offer his assistance to other people with their ideas and technology implementation.

His condo apartment is near to the existing single track train line that runs through Hua Hin from Bangkok all the way south to the border with Malaysia. It makes a hell of a noise and seems to be running noisy, smelly diesel engines from the early 70s.

He had read about the the Kunming–Singapore railway, increasingly called the Pan-Asia railway network – a network of railways, being planned or under construction, that would connect China, Singapore and all the countries of mainland SE Asia. The concept originated with British and French imperialists, who sought to link the railways they had built in southwest China, Indochina and Malaya, but international conflicts in the 20th century kept regional railways fragmented. The idea was formally revived in October 2006 when 18 Asian and Eurasian countries signed the Trans-Asian railway Network Agreement, which incorporated the Kunming–Singapore railway into the Trans-Asian railway network.

The proposed network consists of three main routes from Kunming, China to Bangkok, Thailand: the Eastern route via Vietnam and Cambodia; the Central route via Laos, and the Western route via Myanmar. The southern half of the network from Bangkok to Singapore has been operational since 1918. The central route is projected to be operational by the end of 2021, with the opening of the Yuxi–Mohan railway and Boten–Vientiane railway linking with the other operational segments of the route. This will formally connect Kunming and Singapore directly by rail. There have been plans for high speed railway constructions, though only one line (between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima) has since entered the construction phase. New high speed rail link connecting Thailand to China in the north and Malaysia and Singapore in the south and realised the importance of the project for commerce, tourism and linking SE Asia.

The Thai government have now scaled down the project to a dual track, mid speed system.

It will obviously cut travel time to from Bangkok, Thailand’s capital city where Bang Sue Station, the 21st century new train station that replaced Hua Lamphong in the city in half. Besides that it will have many other benefits. Thailand has a long and tragic history of railway crossing accidents and most of these will be eliminated, at least in and near the major towns.

Mike was curious how the various parts of the construction project were being done: the second track, the bridges, improved safety at level crossings, raised sections, new stations and it became the catalyst to buy one of the new amazing technology DJI drones to fly the train line and see the construction progress progressing.

His first train line flight video was in April 2021, and he has released a new video each month, focusing on different construction aspects and seeing the project unfold.

As he became more proficient with his drone he branched out to make videos of the beautiful scenic locations around Hua Hin and the surrounding areas.