The Old Jurong KTM Railway Line stretched from Jurong Industrial Estate to Teban Gardens, connecting to Faber Drive, then Clementi/Sunset Way via the iconic railway bridge across Sungei Ulu Pandan, into Maju Forest, followed by the railway tunnel below Clementi Road, connecting across to Clementi Forest and eventually connecting with the Old KTM Railway Line near Old Bukit Timah KTM Railway Station that travels from Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands via Bukit Timah.

While the Old Jurong KTM Railway Line has less publicity and limelight since this route was a train freight transport route and not a passenger transport route, this sector stopped its train services in the late 80s, this area had been quiet since then, till the Old KTM Railway Line land area was returned back to Singapore in 2011 and they returned back into the limelight.

Jurong Town Hall Road Park Connector

A new Jurong Town Hall Road Park Connector Network (PCN) would connect Jurong Lake Gardens to Old Jurong Line Nature Trail along Jurong Town Hall Road. Based on the map provided by NParks in the CNA and ST news article, Jurong Town Hall Road PCN connects to the start point of the Old Jurong Line Nature Trail at the junction of Jurong Town Hall Road and Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), part of the original Old KTM Jurong Railway Line route. 

Old Jurong Line Nature Trail

This segment is probably one of my earliest photography documentation that I started on green spaces, history, heritage and old places in Singapore. With the Canon EOS R7 that I was reviewing, I continued on photographing and documenting with this new Canon APS-C mirrorless camera, bringing it out for my exploration projects.

From the railway bridge at Sungei Ulu Pandan along AYE, the former Old KTM Jurong Railway line travels along Faber Drive towards Clementi Avenue 6 and Clementi Avenue 4, connecting to the Old Jurong Line railway bridge towards Sunset Way, continuing on towards the Maju Forest via another small old railway bridge, followed by the Old KTM Jurong Railway Line Train Tunnel below Clementi Road, connecting across to Clementi Forest and eventually connecting to the Rail Corridor.

I would be very interested to see how this Old Jurong Line Nature Trail would eventually turns out when it’s completed. Based on the map provided by NParks in the CNA and ST news article, the route follows along the original former Old KTM Jurong Line that runs through private and public housing estates. 

The Sungei Ulu Pandan PCN runs parallel along the Old Jurong Line Nature Trail, they would fit in nicely together with the upcoming Old Jurong Line Nature Trail. I would continue to document and provide updates whenever I am able to.

Clementi Forest Nature Trail / Dover Forest 

The Clementi Forest is part of the Green Corridor sector, the Dover Forest sector is closely connected to the Green Corridor due to its location and connectivity. They were also in the news together with the Old Jurong Line Nature Trail announcement by NParks in years 2021 and 2022. The Clementi Forest Stream was also in the media limelight recently with nature surveys being conducted.

The Dover Forest sector that forms part of the Clementi Forest Nature Trail via the Ulu Pandan Park Connector, linking up with the new nature park in Ulu Pandan West. Also in the news, a segment of the Dover Forest would be used for public housing project. This sector has also generated significant interest in recent years. 

I would be writing more about the Clementi Forest Nature Trail and Dover Forest sectors in another article that I documented and photographed using the Canon EOS R7 camera.

Photography Collection

Over the years of photographing the Green Corridor/Rail Corridor and Old KTM Jurong Line, I have a collection of photo albums on Flickr, titled “The Green Corridor”. I have also decided to reorganise my previous, recent and upcoming documentation photos into a new consolidated photo album titled, “Old Jurong Line Nature Trail”

Continuing My Ongoing Documentation

I would still be continuing my ongoing documentation of the upcoming Old Jurong Line Nature Trail, Clementi Forest Nature Trail and the Green Corridor. Do keep a lookout for my articles and photographs that I would be sharing down the road, updates, developments and changes as the Old Jurong Line Nature Trail and Clementi Forest Nature Trail undergo changes to become a part of Singapore’s park extensive PCN.

Singapore’s park connector networks (PCN) is a hugely underrated project by our Singapore Government, connecting our various nature parks, rivers, parks, green areas in a network that can be easily accessible by walking, cycling, running and public transport. The PCN network would be on my list of travel, landscapes, nature and wildlife photography and sharing in my future articles. 

 A TGH Photography x Canon EOS R7 Explorer Series Production

Official news sources: 

July 2021 – NParks announces the Old Jurong Line Nature Trail as part of the 18km green recreational network within the new Clementi Nature Corridor

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nparks-corporate/news/2021/7/nparks-announces-the-old-jurong-line-nature-trail-as-part-of-the-18-km-green-recreational-network-within-the-new-clementi-nature-corridor 

August 2022 – Clementi Forest Nature Trail to be enhanced, public helps with nature survey  

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/clementi-forest-nature-trail-to-be-enhanced-public-helps-with-nature-survey

The post Exploration of Old Jurong Line Nature Trail with Canon EOS R7 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Just like this Rainbow illumiNation by Very Small Exhibition celebrating one year of Very Momentary Exhibition at Paya Lebar Quarter. Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel, the rainbow arch waiting for us as we move towards it?

It was comforting and encouraging, I reckon many of us shed tears of joy as we can start to embark on the next steps to further opening up Singapore. You can read on ChannelNewsAsia, in full: PM Lee’s address on Singapore’s new phase towards living with COVID-19. At an appropriate time, I might just reflect and recollect my personal, emotional, mental, struggles in both personal and business, and along with my visual story telling together in another article, over this past 2+ years of living, struggling, surviving, learning and growing from this global pandemic. 

We can finally start to see some light at the end of the tunnel, it’s a huge step even, we are not totally out of the woods yet. Many of us would be looking forward to travel out out of Singapore for a break in other countries, we have been cooped up too long on our small island country. 

I don’t wish to make any travel plans or commitments at this stage, I am coming up with some travel plans in mind, maybe a short trip (3D2N or 4D3N) in Q2 or Q3 2022, a long (1-2 weeks) trip during Q3 or Q4 2022.

Would I be able to get my travel photography and writing commissioned works? Or travel media trips? I am keeping my fingers crossed. 

I am just like this Grey Heron perched on the Old Jurong Railway Bridge, eagerly looking up and getting ready to fly away, traveling and exploring in other parts of the world again. 

* A TGH Photography x Canon EOS R3 Explorer Series Production *

The post 24th March 2022 – Start to see light at the end of the tunnel appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Time to finish up my photography zine  

I started working on my second photography zine some months back around June/July 2021. That was a work-in-progress, there were delays, distractions on my part, facing writer’s block and no creative breakthrough. 

As I was reorganising and replanning my works for my run-in during the final month of the year 2021, I told myself, it’s time to finish up my second photography zine and getting it ready for the zine/book launch in January 2022. My theme for my second zine revolves around nature therapy, great outdoors and photography therapy, thus I am returning to nature and great outdoors.

Return to Nature and Great Outdoors

Most recently, I went on two treks to the Old Jurong Line / Sungei Ulu Pandan Park Connector, I brought 2 different groups of friends there. Time to work on my Old Jurong Park Connector article. Not only have I rekindled my passion for trekking, enjoying and relaxing, I am also chasing sunsets, they can be pretty dramatic and epic at this time of the year.

What I want to do and where I want to explore/trek in December 2021

• Bring like-minded friends on treks, returning back to the days when I used to lead photo walks previously
• Go with like minded trekkers to explore more nature and outdoors 
• Bird photography at Sungei Buloh 
• Old Jurong Line / Clementi Forest / Dover Forest exploration and documentation for my article 
• Jenal Jetty / Rower’s Bay / Yishun Dam / Seletar district 
• Mt Faber and Labrador Park (history documentation)
• Chestnut Nature Park (continue my nature exploration)
• More places to be added at a later time

Some of those destinations would most likely have extended trekking adventures in order for me to have a more extensive photography documentation and exploration. 

How should I go forward with writing and sharing my trekking adventure stories?

Although I have been writing regularly on my trekking adventure stories, I am considering different approaches on how to go about doing it, how much information and photos to share. 

Should I consider the following points below:

• Go on travel/trekking writing approach from point A to Point B with route map added, directions etc? 
• Consolidate and update my previous trekking/exploration adventures e.g. The Green Corridor, Old Jurong KTM Railway Line?
• Input more history behind my trekking adventures whereby there is a bit of history behind those places?
• Should I do a coverage on Singapore’s many Park Connector Networks (PCN) routes?

It’s a food for thought, any new approaches to my trekking adventure stories would probably start in Q1 2022. Stay tuned!

Keep on trekking, keep on exploring

As the Chinese saying goes, “千里之行, 始于足下“, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I want and I have to keep on trekking, keep on exploring, not just in my photography (both business and personal), my travels, my other business developments and also in my personal life too.

Sometimes, I have to walk alone. 

Sometimes, You’ll Never Walk Alone.

The post December 2021 – Return to Nature and Great Outdoors appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

This was my 2nd trek along this particular stretch, check out my 1st trekking adventure here! As we started walking along the defunct track from Teban Gardens, there were no more railway tracks, with only the evidence of the small valley on the sides of the ridge lines, that indicates where the tracks were passing through previously. The community farming along those tracks still remain strong and healthy and I hope that this will stay for as long as it can!

After walking through the tunnel, the group did not bash through the thick vegetation, whereby the old railway tracks continued towards Sunset Way. We hiked along the expressway and walked towards Sungei Ulu Pandan Park Connector, reaching the old metal railway bridge across the river. Along the expressway, we can see construction going on in the vegetation and it’s disappointing to see beautiful wildland destroyed for commercialisation.

The old metal bridge was sealed up on both ends  and I sincerely hope that it will be open back to the public soon, just like before,, to its original beauty, aura and heritage. Continuing towards Faber Heights, more evidence of the old railway tracks being removed and only bits and pieces of the Old Jurong Line remains today, the rusty metal plates, hooks, bolts and nuts, along with their thick wooden blocks. This stretch of the Old Jurong Line is being transformed into something else, building a new access road for the Faber Heights estate (Faber Walk) to Commonwealth Avenue West, in anticipation of the increase in traffic demand arising from new developments around the areas nearby.

While we can still spot the old railway tracks hidden away in the lush greenery, we are blocked away by construction that is beginning to seal up the fate of the old railway tracks. Begun the loss of the Old Jurong Line Railway Tracks it has ! It’s just like a knife slicing through the heart and soul of the greenery, history and heritage.

Continuing our walk towards Clementi, whereby the beauty of the Old Railway tracks remained untouched in its original state, living hand in hand, in harmony with the community  farming, temples and green space. Due to the closure of the Sunset Way Railway Bridge, the group stopped their walk at the Clementi Avenue 4 and 6 woodlands area. Check out more photos here ! Do drop by my Green Corridor Collection on my Flickr!

We call can make a difference to the history and heritage of Singapore. Let’s all come together to share our stories and thoughts, contribute our ideas and inspirations, to make Singapore a better home for our future generations!

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

The post Old Jurong Line Update 1 – Teban Gardens to Sunset Way appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

View KTM Malayan Railway Lines in Singapore in a larger map

With the recent changes to the future of the railway tracks and Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, agreements between the governments of Singapore and Malaysia is leading towards a new era for the railway lines in Singapore, what will happen to them? Will they survive the thirst of land scarce Singapore? Can the railway lines, there are or going to be no longer in use, be turned into Green Corridors?

Armed with the strong interest inside me, I read, followed and researched on various other blogs, photographs and details on a segment of the railway lines in Singapore. Thereafter, I decided to do the Teban Gardens to Sunset Way (Abandoned) Railway Track Photo Walkabout with Sue and Amanda. Using the KTM Malaysian Railway Line Track (on Google Maps) as a reference, we started at Block 9, Teban Garden Road, recognising the landmarks from friends photographs, we hiked under the bridge, into a tunnel and came out on the diagonal side of Ayer Rajah Expressway and Jurong Town Hall Road.

There were strong evidence of the abandoned railway track (coming out from the tunnel) and onto a small ridge line, the next stretch was pretty challenging with tall grass, thick bushes and streams. Observing from our route of advance, it was like 2 mini valleys and the valley on the left side was a stream, while the right side was still quite alright for hiking/bashing through, this route is not easy and can be quite tiring, on top of being careful on where you are hiking/bashing through. During this stretch, there weren’t any more evidence of the railway track until the side of Sungei Ulu Pandan, whereby we spotted the first railway track bridge and it’s closed by the authorities currently.

We had quite a bit of rest there, on the park connector side of Sungei Ulu Pandan, to dry our socks and shoes, before taking photographs of the railway bridge, crossing over along the expressway bridge to Faber Heights estate. At this area, we were able to find more distinct features of the former railway track lines, the railway track beams, bolts, wooden blocks and granite rocks. We had quite a good time with photography of historical railway tracks here, took a rest too before I made a decision to amend my route of advance.

Due to changing weather (potentially rain coming), I decided against walking through Faber Heights and decided to “cut through” Faber Heights private housing area, managed to get a drinks refill break at a provision store, moving out to Jalan Lempeng and walking across the road to Clementi Avenue 6 housing blocks. I am very familiar with this part of the area since my former primary school (Clementi North Primary School) is just around the corner and I was able to lead and “take shortcut” towards the Sunset Way side.

Reaching Clementi Avenue 4 housing blocks, being a local neighbourhood boy, I found my dirt track entry point and from this stretch onwards, it’s one of the better preserved railway track lines. Along this stretch, I was very happy, kind of getting back to my primary school days, of fun, play and no pressures. Small farms, temple, beautiful greenery before reaching the pinnacle of this photography walkabout, the Sunset Way Railway Bridge. Check out my flickr for the photos !

Looking back at this abandoned railway track lines, will it stand the test of Singapore’s history and future developments ?

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

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