Hellfire Pass or Konyu cutting was a particularly difficult section of the line to build, not only because it was the largest rock cutting on the railway, but also because of its remoteness and the lack of proper construction tools during building.
The Australian, British, Dutch and other allied Prisoners of War were required to work 18 hours a day to complete the cutting.It was estimated that 68 men were beaten to death by the Japanese guards in the six weeks it took to complete, although many more died from cholera, dysentery, starvation, and exhaustion. However, the majority of deaths occurred amongst labourers whom the Japanese enticed help build the line with promises of good jobs. These labourers, mostly Malayans, suffered the same as the POWs.
The railway was never built to a level of lasting permanence and was frequently bombed by the Royal Air Force during the Burma Campaign. After the war, all but the present section was closed and there are no longer any trains running on this stretch of the line. There is a museum co-sponsored by the Thai and Australian governments at the site to commemorate the suffering of those involved in the construction of the railway. An audio tour including recorded memories of surviving Prisoners of War is available at the Museum.As a part of the museum experience, it is possible to walk down into Konyu Cutting itself and along a section of the former railway track bed.
The Australian Army has recently completed a new walkway down into the cutting which has made things a lot easier. You can say a quiet word of thanks to them on the way down. However, you'll still need decent shoes because the rail bed is stony and the rocks are hard on your feet.
From Konyu Cutting, the walking trail follows the alignment of the original Burma-Thailand railway for approximately four kilometres from Hellfire Pass to beyond Compressor Cutting. Small shelters and interpretative panels have been provided at various locations and toilets are available at the Hintok Road stop.Those undertaking the walk should wear strong shoes or boots and protective clothing and take drinking water with them. Only those who are fit and well prepared should attempt this walk.