Malaysian Railway

When we returned to Singapore to retire in 1997, we lived at Hillview Park and everyday we could hear the rumbles of trains as they passed by. In fact, some days I used to take a short cut crossing the railway track! Rather risky, but I was extra careful hence I am alive to tell the tale. When Praisehaven was built we vacated the flat at Hillview Park and moved to the present location, still not too far from the railway line.

June 30 2011 marked the end of an era. Tanjong Pagar railway station, was the railway terminus owned by the KTM (Keretapi Tanah Melayu) It was completed on 3rd May 1932 (almost a month older than I) and officially opened by Sir Cecil Clementi. Tanjong Pagar Station is the same age as yours truly. I was more fortunate, rather blessed to enjoy fourteen years of retirement, Tanjong Pagar Station continued in service for a total of 79 years!

Many people are not aware that The House of Tan Yeok Nee at 207 Clemenceau Ave before the war it was 207 Tank Road) was at one time the quarters for the Station Master of Malayan Railway. The Chinese mansion which looks like a Chinese Temple was built by a Teochew merchant Tan Yeok Nee for himself and his large family.

Tan lived in this mansion for most of his life; he died in China at age 75. He outlived his sons and the house was left to his eight grandsons.

At the turn of the 20th century, when the Singapore-Johor Railway was being built, the house was acquired for use by the Tank Road Station master. Within a decade, the government granted Tan's house to the Anglican Church, which established St Mary's Home and School for Eurasian Girls in 1912.

When the Home closed, the Anglican church rented this place to The Salvation Army. Later the Church sold it to The Salvation Army for $50,000. International Headquarters provided $25,000 and The Government of Singapore loaned the Army $25,000.00!

On 28 May 1938, the Salvation Army established their headquarters and Central Corps here. The house remained the Salvation Army's centre of operations for over 50 years, with the exception of the war years, during which the Japanese controlled it.

After the war, it was found shattered and torn to pieces by repeated bombing and looting. A lot of money was spent on repairs and rebuilding over the next few years.

In July 1951, it was officially reopened by Governor Sir Franklin Gimson.I was there for the official opening.

In 1991, the Salvation Army's headquarters was relocated to Bishan the present Headquarters and the house was sold to the Cockpit Hotel. The House of Tan Yeok Nee has since been purchased by the Wing Tai Group, which invested S$1.2 million for its restoration. The building is now occupied by The Uiversity of Chicago Booth School of Business as its Asian campus. (No relation to William Booth the Founder of The Salvation Army)

From January 1970 to 1974 we lived in this building, upstairs just behind the main hall. Then we moved to the quarters in a three-storeyed building built by The Salvation Army in the compound till end of 1982.

Well the closure of KTM or the Malaysian railway brought back memories of the Army's connection.

I travelled on the Malaysian Railway for the first time on 7th June 1958, on the night of our wedding! We did not have a wedding dinner, so missed the 'ang pows' (red packets with money enclosed!) We had only a reception after the wedding so no 'ang pows' except all kinds of gifts like like tea set, glasses, electric iron, book, album, photo frames etc.

The second time was when we, just the two of us, moved from Balestier Corps to Penang Corps on November 1959. We embarked at Tanjong Pagar Station at 10.00 p.m, arrived at Kuala Lumpur next morning, changed to the Day train then journeyed to Penang! O it was exciting to see Penang for the first time. We loved Penang.

In 1962, we travelled with two children - a two year old and a six months' old baby from Penang to K.L, then from KL to Singapore where we boarded the cargo boat "Bentong" to go to Kuching where we spent three wonderful years! Enjoyed every moment of it.

We farewelled from Kuching 1965 to go back to Penang this time to manage the Boys' Home, again travelled by boat and train. I travelled several times by train to Kuala Lumpur to scout for a place to start the Army in Kuala Lumpur. We finally left Malaysia by train to our appointment in Singapore.

Memories of those train journeys - up and down many many times doing Army business. Rather nostalgic.