Railway Tracks Exploration Part 3 – Bukit Timah to Ten Mile Junction

By Jinghui, 24 Apr 2011.

In the continuation of my old and active railway tracks exploration, completing Part 1 and Part 2 that forms the Old Abandoned Railway Tracks, it was now Part 3 and I joined an organised outing by Ivan, hiking from Bukit Timah Railway Station to Ten Mile Junction Railway Track road crossing. Meeting at King Albert Park McDonald with Daphne, Jingwen, Wilfred and Ivan, we had our breakfast before starting off on the Bukit Timah Railway Track Bridge and starting our wonderful “science class” trek up North.

The weather was great, hot and sunny, however, it’s the best for trekking and taking photographs. This is part of the Green Corridor, a long stretch of wildlife, flora and fauna and rainforest, that has been recently getting more attention with the “relocation” and eventual of the active railway tracks and train stations. This is part of our adventure, to document, share and spread the awareness of the importance, relevance and significance of preserving (instead of demolishing) and protecting our greenery, wildlife, forests, history and heritage. It’s like our own mini Red Dragonflies movie too!

Trekking up the railway track, passing through the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve segment, even though it cuts through private housing estate and main arterial roads at their sides, the forests and surroundings are still very well preserved and along the railway tracks, we saw a foot path leading into some parts of the rainforest, found bits and pieces of history of Bukit Timah, we found an old well, with lots of algae, this shows the history and heritage of the early days in Bukit Timah area.

Hiking past the foot of Bukit Timah Hill and Nature Reserve, we spotted monkeys (A Word of Caution : Do Not Feed the Monkeys!*) , dead animals and reptiles in the form of bones and semi-decomposed. This shows the natural processes, natural selection and natural laws of our environment, therefore, we shouldn’t be interfering too much into them, destroying Nature is the same as destroying our Home. We had a great time taking photographs, CSI style, with Ivan leading the “class” in Science and Nature field lessons to Daphne, Jingwen and Wilfred.

Continuing up North, reaching another Railway Bridge along Upper Bukit Timah Road, just beside Rail Mall, we all made a pit stop and refuel before continuing up North along the railway tracks. During our hiking journey, we encountered train services traveling North and South on the railway tracks, Word of Caution : Please be very careful and watch out for the trains! The segment from the Rail Mall onwards, is closer to the urban environment and there were less signs of wildlife and we spotted rubbish and dumping, something that is very disappointing.

Finally reaching our Part 3 end point, near to Ten Mile Junction, near to cross junction of Choa Chu Kang Road and Upper Bukit Timah Road, it’s the railway road crossing. Do check out Daphne’s post on her take of Railway Tracks Part 3!

This is an integral part of our history, let’s all spread the awareness and messages across, to preserve the heritage and history, to protect and preserve our Green Corridor.

More photos

Source credit: Photojournalist

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