Before going on my first ever visit to Hua Hin last week, my only image of the town was of the railway station. Not the town’s famous beaches nor its renowned gold courses, but the railway station.
Realistically, of course, the beaches and the golf courses are the reason why most locals and visitors head there, but I was much more interested in seeing the old railway station.
And it did not disappoint.
The original station building was constructed in 1910 and subsequently rebuilt in 1925 in its current style.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the station is “famous for its distinct Victorian-Thai architecture and red wooden design. It was crucial in developing Hua Hin into a luxury seaside resort, featuring a unique Royal Waiting Room.”
Sadly in late 2023 this gorgeous confection ceased operations, since a brand new station has been built, but it is still much visited, much photographed, and I am sure, used in photo shoots galore.
We had our own photo shoot moment when a group of middle-aged Thai women, all beautifully chic and all speaking good English, asked me to take their photo, which obviously I did.
They reciprocated by insisting they then take lots of us, including one with our arms around each other, followed up by a cheerful yelled out “Come on, now a kiss!”
Our guide told us that there are plans to make it into a rail museum. Hope so, because the station is too gorgeous a space not to be used and enjoyed.
I was secretly surprised that there wasn’t already a café and a shop there. Thailand is a country where people eat all day long, so it does seem a puzzling omission!
There was an old locomotive, just waiting to be photographed, so we obliged:
Nice old fashioned signs:
It really is so pretty.
Forgive the cheesy pose (below) but our guide was very persistent!
If you’re in Hua Hin, you definitely shouldn’t miss this lovely gem.
Free.
And, delightfully, like everything in this amazing country, it is spotlessly clean