Tha Chomphu White Bridge

It is a Western-style reinforced-concrete arch bridge painted white, about 87 m long according to the Lampang–Lamphun tourism office, standing out against the fields and hills as an emblem of Lamphun. Two construction dates circulate: Lamphun province and most sources give 1918–1920, while the tourism office, Kapook and an article citing railway history say work began in 1919. The number of spans has not been found.

It was built in concrete — unusual for Thai railway bridges of the time, which were mostly steel trusses — because construction fell during the First World War, when imported steel, much of it from Germany, was scarce and costly. Silpa Watthanatham notes the war cut off German steel, and some bridges on the line had to use teak instead.

Construction was overseen by Prince Purachatra Jayakara (Krom Phra Kamphaengphet Akkharayothin), director of the Royal State Railways, while the Northern Line was boring the Khun Tan tunnel (1907–1918) and pushing on to Chiang Mai, which it reached on 1 January 1922.

No official reason has been found for the white paint. Local lore says villagers painted it black in the Second World War to hide it from bombers, helping it survive; this remains an unverified account.

The nearest documented air attack is at the Ban San Khayom railway bridge, about 7 km southeast of Lamphun, which still bears marks of Allied strafing between March 1944 and August 1945. No record has been found of an attack on the Tha Chomphu bridge itself.

In June 2013 the bridge was cleaned and repaired for about 780,000 baht. A rumour spread that it would be painted pink to match the name "Tha Chomphu" (literally "paint pink"), but the station said it would stay white (from a Pantip forum post).

The bridge still carries Northern Line trains. It is single-track with no walkway, so don't walk onto the bridge or the track; photograph it from the riverbank or road. Thaitrainguide advises sitting on the right side of trains heading to Chiang Mai.

Every 14 February couples register their marriages on the bridge. Officials called 2025 the 9th consecutive year, so it probably began around 2017; both 2024 and 2025 drew more than 50 couples. The bridge turned 100 around 2020, though no centenary event has been found.

Kapook's directions: from Mae Tha town head toward Hang Chat for about 1.5 km, turn right to Ban Tha Chomphu past Ban Si Sai Mun school to Wat Tha Chomphu, park by the villagers' stalls and walk about 300 m beside the track. By train, alight at Tha Chomphu, a third-class station where some rapid and local trains stop; check times with the SRT on 1690.

The bridge is open at all times and free, with no toilets or shade. Morning and evening light show it best, and timing a passing train makes the shot. The Khun Tan tunnel and Doi Khun Tan National Park are about 6 km away.