Ignite my passion and beyond part 4 : The Last Railway in Singapore

The railway’s beginnings can be traced back to the Singapore-Kranji Railway which started service in 1903 providing a link from the north down to the terminal station in Tank Road. A ferry service was introduced which provided rail passengers with a link to the Johor Railway across the Straits of Johor which was replaced by the rail link across the Causeway when that was built. It was a railway deviation in 1932 that diverted the railway to its current terminal at Tanjong Pagar, cutting a path through from Bukit Timah deviating from its original route over towards Ulu Pandan, Buona Vista, Tanglin Halt, towards the new grand terminal built to provide Singapore with a station that was befitting of its economic importance. Beside the grand old station, it was this deviation that possibly provided us with the many structures that give the areas through which the railway passes through a unique flavour as well as helping preserving parts of old Singapore: the two distinctive black truss bridges across Bukit Timah Road; the girder bridges across at the road entrance to Bukit Timah Hill and at the entrance to Hillview Avenue; the quaint old station at Bukit Timah and the wonderful green corridor that has been maintained along much of the railway land.

Here are the last moments that Singapore once stood by with trains running along the concrete jungle. Many bloggers, photographers, video enthusiasts and the media, stand it's final week on witnessing the very few last departure that made traveling up to Malaysia an approach to tourist from the heart of the city. 

My compilations that made me teared up while making this. It was a very short fulfilling journey of my hobby here. But it seems that traveling up elsewhere or overseas is my best solution to continue my passion elsewhere. 

An eye to eye. Catchy feeling

One of my rarest and the only photo I manage to capture at this favorable curve.

 Zoom at it's focal end

Station master standing bravely while handing the token

Reaching to one of it's siding before another train passes

Cleared to process onto the mainline

 It's a slow incline slope towards the station. Which makes some chugging out lot's of thick black smoke especially on this model; YDM4

Frankly, this is the last I seen throughout my days

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Ignite my passion and beyond Part 3 : Trainspotting in Singapore

In this vast City jungle pack of Singapore, there's not may found about true wonders of trainspotting. But what does "trainspotting" really means? The definition of it simply complies of observing trains and logging the numbers. Generally involves standing around in any weather, watching the tracks.

Shot more than 4 years ago, ranging places of Sungei Kadut, Stagmont Ring, Ten Mile Junction and a few other places in Singapore, they are attracted among Singaporeans here by their roaring sounds of locomotive. Well it was great back then before everything taken away because of urbanization. What's left are just fond memories of my video capture.

Ten mile junction use to be railway crossing

Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. YDM4 runs parallel along two side service tracks while ending it's journey from the Malay Peninsula

 Sungei Kadut Railway Crossing. Any moments from here use to be a clean capture of the train bending on it's corners

A rare gem to see nowadays. Seen here train moving along up and down the tracks on the left using a shared system on a daily basis. Middle and right are use for yard and shunting. 

Being a trainspotter means safety is adhere at all times. Standing at a safe distance away. Armed with our standard or telephoto zoom lense, we're able to capture the train presence when it passes by. 

"Blue Tiger" class 26 awaiting at Bukit Timah railway station for crossing in the morning with a Northbound train.

How about something blue perhaps? Class 29 from Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Company. Primarily these loco is being tasked for freight trains but now it's being mixed with shuttle and express services when they being called up for duty

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Ignite my passion and beyond Part 2: Bukit Timah Railway Station

There's nothing much satisfying during my days as a young teenager to roam around at King Albert Park area. Especially that place calls the one that I'm looking forward to. Bukit Timah Railway Station was own by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) and was use mainly for the purpose of doing train crossings when before it was use to share around Jurong Line as a freight interchange during 1965 to 1990s. Now from 30th June 2011 onwards, it's become a sole heritage purpose towards Singapore community to keepsake it's origins till further amendments takes place. Here are some videos and pics to share around during my days.

Cornering into the bends into likely what it use to be

Entering into the station

Tokens, as in during the British Era of communications in trains safety, are still being use during the days

The station master will handover another token to let pass this train to reach it's another destination.

Train leaves in a safe manner 

Token passing from an indian made locomotive called YDM4

An awesome catch by the driver

As I mentioned earlier, train crossings are the grand prize to any trainspotter's in Singapore. Well in particular if the locomotive may not turn out differently.

Tokens are being pass down first before exchanging another one after the train has passed by.

Taken my once in awhile visit. Much to it, didn't know it becomes my fave place to visit

While the fun had been a blast, it all comes to an end when the line makes it's unexpected closure when the agreements between the borders of Malaysia and Singapore were made to close the line and give the land back to Singapore. It was given a 1 year final run and oh boy it gotten to a lot people's attention that the place had been bombarded with random people from all ages and the best from other countries. 

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Ignite my passion and beyond Part 1: Hobby

My everyday passion has been interesting on what may have been a playful or somehow a hobby that seems to be an exaggerating fun that compile the togetherness. That hobby of mine is trains. During my childhood years that's funny of me to write this post up while laughing through my days of being a kid and simply just appreciate it. While this post may be fun to read about, but sadly photos of me during my kid days are just being photograph in a treasured book that I can't simply take it out. Well somehow, let's begin :)

A few of my daredevil stunts to record and take pics of moving trains. Safety it's the upmost

and I take care of my consideration when approach by the person on duty to stop me from

taking anymore if they find me too dangerous to do.

My hangover use to be place that has been my favorite in Singapore.

Train passing by at night is the best feeling to admire. 

In good cases, train crossing are the grand prize when spotting trains at Bukit Timah Railway Station.

These are some of the pics taken by me at Bukit Timah Railway Station except the first one which is taken in Kempas Bahru, Malaysia. 

Bukit Timah Railway Station has met a fateful cause that made the station to cease operations alongside with Tanjong Pagar Terminal on 30th June 2011. The shocking story will be reveal on the next post I'm posting on. 

Get creative and start shooting - Saifultrains

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About Saifultrains Productions

Well the awkwardness begins to escalate quickly as I'm typing this post about what I have been throughout my wonders of filmography. It's touché of me but it's worth recalling.

The logo. Very first of my simply childish logo that was circling my imaginary mind that's just mind blowing to me. I can't recall the application but mostly was some free software such as Corel Draw.

As productions of my free thinking mind keep going I decided, hey not why recreate another one that can last me throughout my whole productions. That idea has been redrawn soon after.

One simply curious, what is "Saifultrains"? Well simply, let's put in simple ways. "Saiful" it's my middle name and "trains" it's my long life passion and hobby that begins way back during my childhood days. Awesome right?

Moreover, I will be talking more about my hobby and passion towards trains and how it brought up to the idea that it's so contagious it reckons my mind to create a vast video productions that is amateurish but at the same time improving time and again. Till then, get creative and start shooting :)

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Sizzle the fire

This video is the start of one of the few videos that ignite my passion to continue filmography. Looking back at how this channel started off, was the question that still lingers my mind to now. As of it's very addictive that keep me going on to explore more.

Fun facts in the video : This is one of the sight and sound of Malaysian ones own in Singapore. Called Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.

- To be updated soon -

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