30 JULY 2008
All Aboard!! The First Train In Malaysia Had Departed Here...
Salam And Greeting.
Imagine you are in the year 1885, being part of Malaysia's history. Scents of the burning woods and fresh hot steams were all around. The hissing and puffing sound of high pressured steam being released in the background. Rows of British VIPs and local gentlemen in their best Victorian outfits. And suddenly from afar the Station Master yelled...
"ALL ABOARD!!! This train is departing now..."
What an amazing feat it was.
Well, maybe that was the scenario when the first train service between Taiping to Port Weld (Kuala Sepetang) opened to public on a Monday, June 1st 1885. This was 60 years after the world's first permanent steam locomotive hauled public between Stockton and Darlington in England.
This first railway line in Malaysia began its construction in 1882. The work force who built the track came from two division of Pioneer Corps that were brought in from Ceylon and settled here later. When it was completed, the then acting Governor Sir Cecil Clementi Smithand acting British Resident Frank Swettenham rode the maiden journey on February 12th 1885 before it was opened for public.
For a short track of 12.8 kilometres between Taiping to Port Weld, surprisingly there was three stations along the line which were at the King Edward VII (1) Primary School, Simpang Station and Port Weld Station. However, only one remains as a school while the other two are not there anymore.
Well, maybe this was due when they move to the existing building at Station Road in 1900 and later when the line was closed in 1970s. But still, the existing station will surprise any visitors with its antique settings, water pumps and instruments that are still usable till today.
We may not experience what being described earlier since it happened more than a century ago. But believe us, when you are at the Taiping Railway Station, your mind and thoughts will some how accidentally goes back through time and from afar you will hear the Station Master's famous word...
"ALL ABOOOOOARD!!!"
Imagine you are in the year 1885, being part of Malaysia's history. Scents of the burning woods and fresh hot steams were all around. The hissing and puffing sound of high pressured steam being released in the background. Rows of British VIPs and local gentlemen in their best Victorian outfits. And suddenly from afar the Station Master yelled...
"ALL ABOARD!!! This train is departing now..."
What an amazing feat it was.
Well, maybe that was the scenario when the first train service between Taiping to Port Weld (Kuala Sepetang) opened to public on a Monday, June 1st 1885. This was 60 years after the world's first permanent steam locomotive hauled public between Stockton and Darlington in England.
This first railway line in Malaysia began its construction in 1882. The work force who built the track came from two division of Pioneer Corps that were brought in from Ceylon and settled here later. When it was completed, the then acting Governor Sir Cecil Clementi Smithand acting British Resident Frank Swettenham rode the maiden journey on February 12th 1885 before it was opened for public.
For a short track of 12.8 kilometres between Taiping to Port Weld, surprisingly there was three stations along the line which were at the King Edward VII (1) Primary School, Simpang Station and Port Weld Station. However, only one remains as a school while the other two are not there anymore.
Well, maybe this was due when they move to the existing building at Station Road in 1900 and later when the line was closed in 1970s. But still, the existing station will surprise any visitors with its antique settings, water pumps and instruments that are still usable till today.
We may not experience what being described earlier since it happened more than a century ago. But believe us, when you are at the Taiping Railway Station, your mind and thoughts will some how accidentally goes back through time and from afar you will hear the Station Master's famous word...
"ALL ABOOOOOARD!!!"
13 COMMENTS:
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We are still looking for the record on that particular person. Will let you know if we've found it..
cheers
An article on Sept. 24, 1902, says that HO Corteling is taking over duties of station master in Taiping from F.G. Ware, who has proceeded to Teluk Anson in the same capacity.
If the Taiping station is not completed in March 1902 and in Sept of the same year we have Frederick George Ware being moved from his position of station master in Taiping, what is the likelihood that he is Taiping's first station master? Does anyone want to take bets?
I'll keep digging and if I find information about the first Taiping station master, I will post it with the supporting evidence.
Edwin Ernest Ware was Frederick George Ware's son. He was a train driver until his retirement in 1950.
According to what I have read ... Edwin Ernest Ware was captured by the Japanese and was tortured by them. He did work on the infamous Burma-Thailand Railroad ... the construction of which cost the lives of more than 700 Allied POWs. In spite of everything he went through, he survived to return to his family.
Thanks for the feedback and your great findings. Appreciate them to be shared out for the knowledge of other visitors.
Pity the records were not kept properly or maybe it is still somewhere in the closet of some archive yet to be discovered.