Kallang Airport

Transport

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One of the reasons the Japanese made such fast progress down the Malay peninsula was because of the fine road and railway infrastructure provided by the British. To be fair the British did blow up roads and bridges, however the Japanese repaired the structures fast enough and cleverly used bicycles to "motor" down the peninsula. In the end all three forms of travel: land, sea and air were used by the army and the civilians to retreat onto Singapore Island, then a final try to escape Singapore before, and in some cases after, it fell.

Sea - Clifford Pier

Rail - Keppel Railway Station

photo courtesy of the Singapore National Archives

Keppel Station looks much the same today.

Inside the station are wonderful tile murals

The murals extol the agriculture and industry of the Malay peninsula.

(click on the murals for a better view)

Pacific Class engine "Termerloh" is typical of prewar motive power used on the FMSR -Federated Malay States Railway. The first engines of this class were built in 1938. This is one of possibly two engines that still operate. 564.36 was still running in the late 1990's. This engine was built in 1946. These engines used three cylinders, and while tried on other British engineered railways, were only successful on the FMSR.
	Left 564.36 is waiting for a green signal at Tampin, heading for Gemas. Above and below, Gemas was and still is an important railway junction where the east/west railway lines meet. It was of strategic importance to both the British and the Japanese.
Gemas, looking south, torwards Singapore.

Air - Kallang Airport

photo courtesy of the Singapore National Archives

Seaplanes, such as this Pan American Airways China Clipper - Boeing made Flying Boat - made the trip to Singapore in the late 1930's..

photo courtesy of the Singapore National Archives

Overhead view from a bi-plane
photo courtesy of the Singapore National Archives

Quite a bit of Kallang Airport survives today.

Hanger A is intact and used as a used car repair garage.
All that remains of hanger B is the front office fascade.
The main terminal building C survives as the People's Association building. The entry drive and street lighting also survives
The jetty D and the seaplane ramp E are still in active use by the Singapore Coast Guard.
The grass landing field is taken up by the National Stadium.

photo courtesy of the Singapore National Archives

Kallang Airport today as the People's Association building.

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