A Walk Down the Tracks Part 2
August 1, 2011 by admin
Filed under Heritage, Nature, Recreation, Stories
By David Teo, 18 Jul 2011.
In the previous post, I talked about my walk along the tracks from Bukit Timah railway station to Ghim Moh Estate. CK and I took a well deserved breakfast break together with the rest of the group. For many of them, this is their final stop for the day while CK and I decided to press on towards Queensway, hoping to catch more of the sights along the way, especially the graffiti said to line the tunnels which we would be passing through.
A man reads the newspaper in the morning light at the quiet and serene Ghim Moh Estate.
As we were finding a place to sit down in the market, I passed by this group of ladies sitting on the bench and took a photo of them.
Group of ladies at Ghim Moh estate
Two of them started to chat with me, and soon, the conversation turned to the railway tracks. They were happy that the young people (that’s us! ha! 
) of today are taking an interest in the KTM railway. The two of them said they have been walking along the tracks more than 20 years ago, when they were working as coolies carrying heavy loads. They would walk along the tracks while being wary of incoming trains traversing the tracks. It was indeed fortuitous to have met them and learnt of their story of the KTM tracks.
Elderly ladies who had walked the tracks in the past. (The two ladies wearing the same shirt were the ones we spoke with)
After a hearty breakfast, we proceeded to a pedestrian overhead bridge from which we could overlook the tracks. This elderly uncle surprised me when he suddenly whipped out a small camera and started to take pictures of the tracks – a few minutes ago he was carrying a plastic bag and walking slowly in front of me with no indication that he had any camera gear!
Elderly man with camera
The second half of our walk thus begun with this shot of the KTM railway, with a couple holding hands walking into a sunlit spot of the tracks.
Couple along the tracks
The canopy formed by trees framing a HDB block and part of the KTM track.
For this section, we were able to walk along the side of the main road alongside the tracks to give our feet some much needed respite.
A man jogs along the tracks leading to Buona Vista, with HDB flats in the background
Walking along the road, we soon reached Buona Vista MRT, from where we can get an elevated view of the tracks, with the tracks of the newer Mass Rapid Transit trains running overhead.
KTM tracks with MRT tracks running overhead
We found no way back down to the tracks from the MRT station, so we had to track back to the Holland village carpark area, from where we found a dirt path leading down back to the tracks.
Overlooking the tracks from the Buona Vista junction
Very soon, we hit the first graffiti laden wall. The artwork is excellent and I really enjoyed looking at them. These areas, together with the tracks, should be preserved as a kind of an open gallery where photos, drawings and other creations can be openly displayed and showcased!
Choot Choot
Who is the unknown artist / artists responsible for these great drawings? Filled with debris and litter, the area under the tunnel is dirty but the walls are adorned with colorful drawings that boggles the mind.
Graffiti near the KTM railway tracks near Buona Vista MRT
Here’s another view of the walls on the other side of the tunnel.
View of tunnel under Buona Vista MRT
I found this abandoned pair of heels along the tracks. I wonder what happened to the owner?
Abandoned heels along KTM tracks
Another view of the graffiti along the tracks
As we came out of the tunnel, a MRT train whizzed past on the tracks above the old KTM tracks, a case of the new superseding the old.
A MRT train rumbles above the old KTM tracks
Continuing along the road, we have now the new Biopolis building on our right, the MRT tracks behind us, and greenery on the left. We are now walking in the heat of the mid afternoon sun without any shade. It was tough, but there were still a few surprises along the way!
Moving along the Green Corridor at the Buona Vista area
There’s still time to check out the beauty of nature amidst the heat of the day.
At times, the tracks seemed endless…..
Endless tracks
We discovered an old abandoned house which used to serve as quarters for KTM workers along the tracks, which we suspected to be part of a former railway station along this segment of the KTM tracks. We discovered evidence of an old railway platform along the building.
Interior of an abandoned house – only along KTM land will one find something like this in Singapore.
A shaft of light waffles through an opening in the ceiling of the bedroom of the old abandoned house.
Two abandoned chairs, one inside and one outside the house.
This is what the exterior of the KTM quarters looked like.
Abandoned KTM quarters along the KTM track near Buona Vista
Additional graffiti outside the abandoned KTM quarters
As we walked further towards the Commonwealth area, we saw a tall coconut tree which turns out to serve as a strategic marker for a shortcut that runs from the Commonwealth flats, across the tracks to a slope that will bring the user up to the Biopolis buildings.
Approaching the Commonwealth flats along the KTM railway tracks
Here’s another view of the strategic shortcut, which was very well used, even during the short time we were there!
Shortcut to Commonwealth flats
A well used short cut – this is one popular well known route the local residents use.
A little further up the tracks… with more interesting sights….
Fallen log by the KTM railway tracks
There was a path on our right which led to some colonial style houses offering what seems to be very tranquil and serene living. We walked about the estate a bit – this is very different from the usual Singapore style HDB living quarters, with plenty of space all around!
Colonial houses along the tracks
Plenty of space and greenery all around
After a short break at a coffeeshop along the Commonwealth flats, we pressed on further towards the Portsdown area. We are now quite near our final destination, and passed under another bridge.
Walking into the light
We found another abandoned old kampong style house along the tracks. You don’t see things like this in Singapore anymore – unless of course you are on previously Malaysia-owned KTM land.
Abandoned Kampong style house along the tracks
It was here when I took one of my favorite images from the walk. I made a print of it and it’s now hanging on my wall.
Double Canopy – one of my favorite images from the walk
Very soon, we finally reached our destination – the mosque at Jalan Hang Jebat. We went in for a quick toilet break and that was when we noticed that the schedule of trains has been updated to reflect the fact that trains no longer run along these tracks.
The mosque at Jalan Hang Jebat
Updated KTM train schedule
It has been a long and tough walk. But at the end of the day, it was worth it, and it’s something that can never be repeated again. As of today, this whole path we walked would have been sealed up, and the tracks would be returned to Malaysia.
A view of Masjid Hang Jebat along the KTM tracks
It has been a long and tough walk. But at the end of the day, it was worth it, and it’s something that can never be repeated again. As of today, this whole path we walked would have been sealed up, and the tracks would be returned to Malaysia.
In the next post, I will finish up Part 5 of The Last Train, a 5 part series documenting the closure of the KTM railway station, where I will take a last look at Tanjong Pagar station. Hope you have enjoyed reaching about the walk and do feel free to leave your feedback below!
Source credit: David Teo
