![Last weekend goodbye to the KTM train at Upper Bukit Timah Road Last weekend goodbye to the KTM train at Upper Bukit Timah Road](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5265/5873403830_bed96f7d2b_z.jpg)
Last Sunday (26 June), Rachel, my parents and I took a walk along the KTM Railway at Upper Bukit Timah Road together with a group of Singaporeans.
The walk is organised by environmental consultant Eugene Tay and conducted by naval architect Jerome Lim. Jerome is also the author of popular blog, The Long and Winding Road and a personal friend. It is through him that I got to know about this walk.
Rachel filed a story on this in my paper on Monday. Check out her story below, with photos I took during the walk:
Crowds come out for KTM line’s final days
Less than a week before the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) trains cease operations from Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, Singaporeans are turning out in droves to visit the Malayan Railway lands here.
Passengers have been packing the trains from Singapore to Johor Baru, while foodies have thronged the food stalls in Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.
And yesterday, more than 100 people embarked on one last weekend stroll along the railway tracks in Upper Bukit Timah Road. The group started the 3km walk from the truss bridge in Upper Bukit Timah Road at 8am, moving on to highlights such as the girder bridge in Hillview Avenue, the gated level crossing and KTM staff huts in Gombak Drive, before ending at the level crossing in Choa Chu Kang Road.
![Jerome briefing everyone at the assembly point Jerome briefing everyone at the assembly point](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5318/5873414804_a6dc3b9443_z.jpg)
![Walking in the forested area Walking in the forested area](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3274/5873421230_c3e44756ed_z.jpg)
Armed with cameras, participants snapped pictures and waved with gusto every time a train rattled past. Train drivers and passengers alike waved cheerfully back.
![Waiting to catch a glimpse of the passing KTM train Waiting to catch a glimpse of the passing KTM train](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/5873423506_f278830338_z.jpg)
![The long, rusty railway track The long, rusty railway track](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5156/5872859363_6aa8fc93d0_z.jpg)
![Me sitting on the railway track like a hobo Me sitting on the railway track like a hobo](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6049/5873406890_dd309d69d9_z.jpg)
![Front view of the KTM train as it approaches Front view of the KTM train as it approaches](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3008/5873406218_50ec68392d_z.jpg)
![KTM train rushing pass KTM train rushing pass](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/5873404948_6d0d4df5f0_z.jpg)
![Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap!](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5274/5873409870_327bf3a8bb_z.jpg)
![Walking along the pebbles track Walking along the pebbles track](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5235/5873409388_89c3a73636_z.jpg)
Organised by environmental consultant Eugene Tay and conducted by naval architect Jerome Lim, a history buff, the walk was to raise awareness for the Nature Society of Singapore’s (NSS’) proposal to conserve the railway lands as a continuous strip of recreational space.
Mr Tay, 34, and Mr Lim, 46, are independent volunteers and not part of the society. Altogether, 600 people have gone on Mr Tay’s monthly walks since he started them last November.
![Rachel interviewing Jerome Lim Rachel interviewing Jerome Lim](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5152/5873416238_541ccc6e3d_z.jpg)
![Rachel outside the first KTM gate house we came across Rachel outside the first KTM gate house we came across](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/5872856785_78f34d83b9_z.jpg)
![The gate house The gate house](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/5873413228_eb9738e844_z.jpg)
![Posing with the gate lever Posing with the gate lever](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5872856169_6473d1301e_z.jpg)
![One of the KTM gate operator at work One of the KTM gate operator at work](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/5873418636_ed2e814082_z.jpg)
There are two reasons he supports NSS’ proposal for a “green corridor”.
“I want to help preserve shared memories. Buildings like the old National Library have disappeared in a fast-developing city. We need more of these things to remind us that this is Singapore,” he said.
Secondly, he believes in creating a shared vision. He said: “A green corridor is not only for nature lovers, but also for history buffs and photographers.”
TV personality Denise Keller, 29, who resides near The Rail Mall in Upper Bukit Timah Road, was among those who joined the walk. She said: “I hope that (the Government) will keep the railway, or save some of these tracks for the green corridor, because it’s history.”
![Rare railway signboard in Singapore Rare railway signboard in Singapore](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5078/5872853033_01e8e828d4_z.jpg)
![Denise Keller in green Denise Keller in green](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5230/5873420394_e91ce99b05_z.jpg)
![Rachel interviewing Denise Keller as she shares with us her memories of the KTM Rachel interviewing Denise Keller as she shares with us her memories of the KTM](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5031/5873406668_eb07b4df15_z.jpg)
![The Assumption English school - where Denise Keller's mom taught at The Assumption English school - where Denise Keller's mom taught at](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/5873419882_bf88f5fc00_z.jpg)
![Rachel and I with Denise Keller Rachel and I with Denise Keller](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5115/5872845803_81cc9ed78a_z.jpg)
![Dialpidated KTM staff quarter Dialpidated KTM staff quarter](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/5872861673_af847df4c8_z.jpg)
![There's still someone living in this unit There's still someone living in this unit](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/5872858357_ce0d258c9a_z.jpg)
![Railway land Railway land](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5320/5873411542_8a8ec6ec6c_z.jpg)
![Resting by a LRT track Resting by a LRT track](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5199/5872864819_3bcb0131cb_z.jpg)
![We passed by this Indian temple We passed by this Indian temple](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5187/5873421716_4d05385fac_z.jpg)
![Rachel interviewing my friend, Vivien and family Rachel interviewing my friend, Vivien and family](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/5872864999_519dd44b9d_z.jpg)
![At the end point At the end point](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/5872853409_92abe8e1e8_z.jpg)
The producer-host for Discovery Channel said that she used to take the train at least once every month as it is a “cheap, cheerful and really scenic” way of getting to the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
For retiree Sally Tan, 56, the sight of the truss bridge near The Rail Mall brought back memories of the nearby squatter hut that her late grandmother used to live in. “We didn’t need a clock to tell the time we went by the trains. I recall there was one that passed her house every day at 5pm,” she said. The last of the squatters was resettled in the 1990s.
As for gate operator M. Manikavasam, 48, the railway has been his livelihood for the past 27 years. The Malaysian from Tampin, Negeri Sembilan, joined KTM as a repair man. He worked at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station for 13 years before becoming a gate operator.
![Entering Mr Manikavasam's little world/ solitary office Entering Mr Manikavasam's little world/ solitary office](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5183/5873422852_fbc916b1e5_z.jpg)
![Mr Manikavasam's flags for work Mr Manikavasam's flags for work](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5147/5873423188_67ceec4fe8_z.jpg)
![A hand-cranked phone with no dials A hand-cranked phone with no dials](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3150/5873418394_a4010b4341_z.jpg)
![Complex switches and such Complex switches and such](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5301/5873411926_469eb505a9_z.jpg)
![Items belonging to KTM Railway are tagged with this yellow label as they clear out the gate houses Items belonging to KTM Railway are tagged with this yellow label as they clear out the gate houses](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5199/5872857941_af20c585c2_z.jpg)
![Rachel interviewing Mr Manikavasam Rachel interviewing Mr Manikavasam](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5119/5873423868_1000817888_z.jpg)
![Rachel and I with Mr Manikavasam Rachel and I with Mr Manikavasam](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5273/5872859109_8fee4ce9a5_z.jpg)
![Happy to have a go at the KTM gate control panel Happy to have a go at the KTM gate control panel](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5308/5872865699_1cc73717b4_z.jpg)
![Close-up of the control panel Close-up of the control panel](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5267/5872849731_9a3e03390d_z.jpg)
![Mr Manikavasam teaching Rachel how to operate the control panel Mr Manikavasam teaching Rachel how to operate the control panel](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/5872863137_8afcf09a82_z.jpg)
![Waiting for the big moment Waiting for the big moment](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5031/5873414602_36c0f72e9e_z.jpg)
![And..... press! And..... press!](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5196/5872847965_930734eb29_z.jpg)
![Mr Manikavasam at work with his flag Mr Manikavasam at work with his flag](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5303/5873416006_ee3b81e1c9_z.jpg)
![It was a small trolley train that was coming, not the KTM train It was a small trolley train that was coming, not the KTM train](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/5873407482_1b5d5b1ee1_z.jpg)
![The final step - filling in the log book The final step - filling in the log book](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5228/5872860573_e9db75f22e_z.jpg)
![Thanking the very friendly Mr Manikavasam and saying goodbye Thanking the very friendly Mr Manikavasam and saying goodbye](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/5872860845_470d72e8ca_z.jpg)
![Rachel posing on the railway track Rachel posing on the railway track](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5261/5873424098_e22e21b350_z.jpg)
![Spotted cyclists riding along the railway track Spotted cyclists riding along the railway track](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/5873408510_431f8da991_z.jpg)
![Nice little garden outside the gate house Nice little garden outside the gate house](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5873413698_c15f0ea692_z.jpg)
Mr Manikavasam controls the traffic signals and railway barrier gates at Singapore’s widest level crossing in Choa Chu Kang Road.
His kampung-like workplace is surrounded by flowering shrubs and fruit trees, and the jovial man obligingly allows visitors inside his little hut and demonstrates how he does his work.
“I love Singapore. I have been working here all my life, how can I not love (it here)? I am sad, very sad. But what to do?” he said. After Thursday the last day KTM trains will ply the tracks from Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands he will be transferred to work in Kluang, Malaysia, and his salary will be halved, he added.
He will bid audieu to the last train when it passes his work station at 10.45pm on Thursday, driven by the Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor.
Over at the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station last Saturday afternoon, throngs of people easily hundreds voraciously snapped photos for posterity and wolfed down goreng pisang by the wok.
The building has been gazetted as a national monument and the Bukit Timah railway station further north will also be conserved. The railway lands, spanning 173.7ha, belong to KTM but will be returned to Singapore on Friday.
Minister of State for National Development and Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin said in a recent Facebook post that the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the National Parks Board have been in talks with NSS over the “green corridor” proposal.
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