The Railway Station
A train station is called a little differently depending where you are from or what kind of heritage you have. In Singapore, we call it the railway station (British heritage) while people from the USA may know it as a railroad station. Whatever it is called, it serves the same purpose - it is a facility for trains to stop regularly to unload and load passengers and goods, a connection between two points, two countries and an efficient and cheaper mode of transport. The world's oldest railway station still in use can be found in Liverpool. It was built in 1930 and is on the Liverpool to Manchester line.
A terminal or terminus is a station at the end of a rail line. Trains have to end their journey there or reverse out of the station. Hence the railway station. Once when I was in Brussels, in attempting to travel to Brugge, I took a train from the airport to Brussels City centre to connect onto another train but got totally lost in transit as I emerged from the train onto the platform all I could see were signs to so many different countries and were all in their local language. I tried to ask around but all the folks there were from different countries and seemed only to know how and where they were going. Meanwhile, a historic moment shall occur on the night of 30 June, we will see the last train coming into Singapore from Malaysia by 10pm after some 80 years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9d0AOlREZU (Oh I love Jeff Lyne and ELO or the Electric Light Orchestra) ... "it was nine twenty nine, nine twenty nine, back street big city. The sun was going down there was music all around. It felt so right!"
Tanjong Pagar Railway Station
The Tanjong Pagar Railway Station will ceased operation after the last train in by 10pm 30 June closing the curtains to 80 years of service. It has many fond memories for me and I have to pay a visit but as there isn't much time left, even a rainy day is of no deterrent.
KTM
It is owned by KTM (Keretapi Tanah Melayu) and where immigration was cleared at Woodlands disembarkation was at Tanjong Pagar. A very strange arrangement but in future (from 1 July 2011) the only stop will be at Woodlands.
There are actually four pillars with white marble statues from the front of the main entrance representing Agriculture, Industry, Commerce and Transport.
Information panel giving directions.
This is the kind of timeless architecture only found in the olden days.
The murals on the high walls were adorn with Malaysian scenes of shipping, rubber tapping, tin mining, copra growing among others.
There was also bullock cart transport and rice planting.
The ticketing counter. It was as if I could hear Dennis De Young singing: "Is this the train to Desert Moon was all she said." - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cFOLFtw2Ic.
There was a stall selling souvenirs. I do not need them as I have vivid memories of my time spent there or around there which are much more valuable.
The popular food stalls there have just left recently.
The Arrival platform where many over a long period of time have stepped and walked on.
The rails and the first platforms one would go on during embarkation and disembarkation. I can imagine countless number of people thinking of home with the happiness in their hearts when returning to Malaysia from work or for and from holidays. Singaporeans too when visiting relatives and homecoming. I am also sure this was a scene where lovers were left forlorn when they were supposed to meet at the station but missed one another as you will find in the movies and find themselves permanently separated or to be fatefully reunited.
An unused yellow carriage perhaps for maintenance crew.
The station canteen where I have sometimes in the past had nasi bryani, nasi lemak and teh tarik has already been dismantled. No sentiments left.
A banana tree at the end of the railroad marking the end of a "Green Corridor" throughout the rail tracks. Even Pontianak has to look for a new place to haunt so to speak.
Cars and taxis will be waiting for you on your arrival.
Arch corridors with details of flowers.
There will be trains that will come in at 9.15pm, 10pm and then the Sultan of Johor will be at the wheels when he brings in the last train. Listen to Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses live with "Night Train": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gu3gDhESRY but unfortunately I won't be seeing it tonight - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XotgfLpL0aQ (I Won't See You Tonight Part 1 by Avenged Sevenfold).
We humans are like trains. Troubles, errors, etc. can cause us to derail and crash. Let "Soul Asylum" tell you more about "Runaway Train", a song dedicated to our youths:
Life is really about people, places, events. After this date, the buzz at the Railway Station would be forever gone. Those who have fond memories of their working or growing up days or love stories will keep them in their hearts but they too will slowly fade away. I was a young man starting out in life eking out a living and learning a trade. I would often worked late into the wee hours and the bus stop to catch a bus or taxi home is just across the street and near the railway station. I was at the time a most eligible bachelor. No space for love story now, perhaps another time. I remember most vividly the Hainanese curry rice that once operated at the back of the railway station in a push cart (they are now at Pasir Panjang) and the nasi bryani and teh tarik. Everybody and everything has to move on. Time and tide waits for no man.
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