The Green Corridor walk along Bukit Timah

Coming 1 July 2011, the old Tanjong Pagar railway station together with its railway track that runs from North to South of Singapore will move on to become part of Singapore's history.

The Tanjong pagar railway mall had been around since 1932, serving passengers coming into and out of Singapore.

The Nature Society Singapore (NSS) had proposed to keep the railway land as a continuous green corridor. Today, 19/6/11 supporters on this proposal organised a Green Corridor Walk along Bt Timah to share with more people about this piece of land and service that is moving on into history very soon.

For the following 2 weekends before 1/7/11, there will still be walks covering other parts of the green corridor.

I woke up early on a Sunday morning with my camera, heading to the meeting point, a bus stop along ulu Pandan rd. There were already alot of people when i reached. Shortly after a short intro and briefing, we started walking towards the tracks.

We enter the vegetation by a small slip road

See the no. of people following behind? There are more infront.

Suddenly people infront were screaming for us to get off the track, "TRAIN IS COMING, GET OFF THE TRACK NOW!!!"

The train zoom pass in a few seconds time, it's gone before my eyes. A small group of people crowd around a portion of the track, curious, i went up to see what happened.

Someone actually placed a SGD$1 gold coin on the track and when the track ramp passed, it left an impression on the railway and the coin is flatten. Amazing at what people can think of.

Short trek ahead, we reached the Bt Timah Station. It is no long open for passenger and freight but the train still pass by here. The old key token system is still being used here. Coming 1/7/11, this system will also be part of Singapore's history.

I remember when i was in Taipei Country, Pingxi railway line, they are also still using this old key token system. This system is to ensure that at one time only 1 train in whichever direction is on the track. Only with the key token, the train can pass through the track. This will ensure there is no collision. 

Signaling Rm

Station Master, Encik Atan, showing a picture of the old fashion key token system given to him as a gift

This young boy is explaining how the key token system works, i guess he is Encik Atan (Station Master) son or grandson?

Old Safe from thr 1800s

Station Master's records of train timing

Not far from the station is a Truss bridge. We cross the truss bridge and walk up to the entrance to Bt Timah hill when the Girder bridge is, which we were told that it will confirmed be remove from 1/7/2011.

The walk today is a very special experience, walking along places i had never and would never get to go to and also be able to see the sight that will soon be gone in Singapore.


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