Tanjong Pagar Railway Station
By CK Ng, 26 Jun 2011.
This weekend marks the last weekend of the train operations along the old railway system in Singapore. During the last few weekends, I’ve been photographing around the Bukit Timah Railway Station several times as I am attracted to the quaint little building and also wanted to capture the old practice of exchanging key tokens.
Today, after bringing Clarence, Jimmy and their friend Lawrence to the station to shoot, we made our way to the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. The sky was starting to get dark and rain was imminent.
Front view of the Tanjong Pagar Railway StationÂ
Being the last weekend of operations, there was a big crowd when we got there. The majority of them are queuing up to buy train tickets out of Singapore.
A large crowd queues to get the remaining tickets for the last train rides from Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.
The long queue to get the remaining tickets for the last train rides out of Tanjong Pagar.
A sign indicating that the day’s tickets have been sold out.
The main hall of the station features a rounded ceiling and a kampong-style hut which is Malaysia Tourism Board to advertise their Home Stay packages.
Main Hall
On both sides, there are groups of murals depicting the life in early Singapore. Because shooting upwards produces quite a bit of keystone distortion, I’ve corrected them in LightRoom 3.
Murals depicting the life in early Malaysia.
Another set of murals depicting the life in early Malaysia.
There’s also a crowd eating at the various food stalls in the station before they move out. Many of them eat at the outdoor seating area by the arrival platform.
Visitors having a meal at the outdoor seating area at the arrival platform.
Visitors having a meal at the outdoor seating area at the arrival platform.
The various stall owners are having a field day serving the influx of customers. This will probably be their busiest weekend before they close for good or move their shops elsewhere.
Chapati maker at the M. Hasan 2 Railway Food Station
The stall owner is all smiles as he serves the gravy to the customer.
On the other side of the food court, there’s a lady making the patties for the very popular Ramly Burgers. Another lady put the patties into the buns to make the final burgers. Somehow it didn’t occur to me to shoot her…
A lady makes the patties for the very popular Ramly Burger.
Next door, a man is busy making teh tarik and other hot drinks. There’s also a long queue for this.
Making teh tarik
Making more teh tarik.
On the platform, many people are taking photographs of the track, buildings and the platform itself as a form of remembrance after the station closes on 1 Jul 2011. The appear to be undampened by the rain which came shortly after we arrived.
Visitors trying to get a shot of the train at the departure platform of the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.
Rain pours down onto the tracks at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.
A father takes a photo of his child with the train in the background.
Photographers taking a shot of the departure platform through the grille gates.
Departure Platform
Inspired by a photograph in a post at A Journey Till the End, I decided to go find the house which was featured in it. Walking along Keppel Road, I eventually found it. Unfortunately there are no trains passing by and I don’t have the time to wait for the next one which is an hour away.
2 visitors exploring the old signalling house by the railway tracks.
I wanted to get closer, so I went back to the station to get to the other side.
A closer look at the old signalling house
Nearby is this interesting locked door in a brick compartment covered with overgrown plants.
Leaving the station, I found that the light is now better, so I took another shot of it.Tanjong Pagar Railway Station
More photos of the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station can be found on my Flickr Photoset.
Source credit: CK Photography
