Built in 1932 and relatively unchanged since, the Tanjong Pagar Railway Stationn on Keppel Road is one of the island's last heritage buildings still serving it's original purpose - but it won't be for long. The station is due to close at the end of the month so this weekend, Victoria, Craig and I paid a visit so we could see the station in all it's glory before it shuts for good.
The distinctive architectural style of the station hails from an era when European railway travel was at its height, as it is said to have been influenced by the architect behind Finland’s Helsinki Station. Up until now the Malaysia government has resisted the many attempts by the Singapore government to persuade it to redevelop the railway land and the land on which the station stands. The station features four large statues on the four pillars at its entrance, each symbolising one of the then Malaya’s four economic pillars. The top of each of the pillars also bears one of the letters in the initials, FMSR, which stand for the Federated Malay States Railway, as it was known then. It's a great building and I'm really pleased that I got to visit this weekend before it shuts at the end of next week. Who knows what's in store for the station...hopefully not just another shopping mall!
The distinctive architectural style of the station hails from an era when European railway travel was at its height, as it is said to have been influenced by the architect behind Finland’s Helsinki Station. Up until now the Malaysia government has resisted the many attempts by the Singapore government to persuade it to redevelop the railway land and the land on which the station stands. The station features four large statues on the four pillars at its entrance, each symbolising one of the then Malaya’s four economic pillars. The top of each of the pillars also bears one of the letters in the initials, FMSR, which stand for the Federated Malay States Railway, as it was known then. It's a great building and I'm really pleased that I got to visit this weekend before it shuts at the end of next week. Who knows what's in store for the station...hopefully not just another shopping mall!
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