Farewell MyQueenstown #7 - Farewell KTM Tracks

Much has been written about KTM Tracks lately. A simple search on Google and Yahoo will bring you to numerous websites such as this and this. After all, this cantankerous relic was Singapore's brave new world in the early 20th century. 


I have always been a believer of my secondary school's motto, "Rooted in Tradition, Equipped for the Future." We must track our past to find out about our roots and our purpose for everything we do. Then will we be able to set our goals and directions clearly. 

Riding on the train for one last time

The Tanglin district used to extend itself into the backyard of Queenstown at Margaret Drive as the meandering road which led to Orchard would end off somewhere in Alexandra. The Keretapi Tanah Melayu trains, which commenced operations in 1903, would stop at several points in Queenstown, including Archipelago Brewery Company, hereby the name Tanglin Halt. It must be difficult to explain this to our future generations when the trains cease operations tonight and the tracks are removed. History and heritage have always been a second fiddle to the aspirations and dreams of the youths in their pursue of development and material. 

Queenstown starts from 3:40

The KTM tracks along Tanglin Halt have always been a part and parcel of Queenstown residents. Some would walk across the tracks from Wessex to Tanglin Halt for a meal at the hawker centre or as short card to the Commonwealth Station. Some would play along the tracks by placing stones on the rusty metal to be crushed by the zooming trains. Some used the chooing of the first train at 5.30am as their daily alarm clock. Some were merely gossiping about the latest suicide death at the track. 

So many stories, so many memories. The trains and the tracks have added colour and diversity to our estate and everyone has their own story to tell. All good things come to an end. 

In Living Memory of the KTM Trains chooing along Queenstown =)

Archived Stories about KTM Tracks in Queenstown:

Finding Our Roots... Tanglin Halt

When the story about the removal of KTM tracks first broke

Ghost Trail Along KTM Tracks

The Block next to KTM Tracks!

We play at the KTM Tracks

From Muniady Shrine to Sri Muneeswaran Temple