Tren Khas 3661dn Blue Train Demonstrator for Malayan Tiger Train (MTT)

On 13 May 2010, a team of KTM Berhad crew ran Tren Khas 3661dn Blue Train Demonstrator from old Gemas Railway Station to Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. This was to test the loading gauge clearance of the then-future donated coaches from JR West (JR西日本) and JR Kyushu (JR九州) of 14 coaches of BSC, BDNS and BDNF throughout the line from old Gemas Railway Station all the way down to Tanjong Pagar Railway Station in Singapore.

Spotting Tren Khas 3661dn Blue Train Demonstrator at Bukit Timah Railway Station

I was running late to spot the arrival of Tren Khas 3661dn Blue Train Demonstrator. Thankfully, being a test train to check the loading gauge clearance of structures throughout the line, Tren Khas 3661dn Blue Train Demonstrator was slightly held up at Bridge 1871, and I was able to run alongside it on approach to Bukit Timah Railway Station.

The Tren Khas 3661dn Blue Train Demonstrator again stopped short of Bukit Timah Railway Station, just before the test coach entered the platform.

Staff on board Tren Khas 3661dn Blue Train Demonstrator check the loading gauge clearance of the mockup coach against the platform of Bukit Timah Railway Station.

Noticed the higher position on the southern end of this mockup coach? That represents the higher roof and air-conditioning pod of the BDNS and BDNF.

Each concerning point is clearly marked out on the mockup coach. The southern end of the mockup coach is more likely representative of the lower height of the BSC.

As the Tren Khas 3661dn Blue Train Demonstrator required more time to travel down to Tanjong Pagar Railway Station due to the consistent start-stop testing, it was ordered to enter the loop line of Bukit Timah Railway Station for 5dn Ekspres Sinaran Pagi to overtake it.

24112 Hang Nadim leads the Tren Khas 3661dn Blue Train Demonstrator from old Gemas Railway Station to Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.

Parcel Van PV4452 as Mock-Up Coach

Being in the loop line offered better pictures of the Mock-Up Coach overall.

Parcel Van PV4452 operated as the Blue Train Mock-Up Coach from old Gemas Railway Station to Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.

5dn Ekspres Sinaran Pagi Overtakes

5dn Ekspres Sinaran Pagi with YDM6648 at the helm overtakes Tren Khas 3661dn Blue Train Demonstrator at Bukit Timah Railway Station.

Departure of Tren Khas 3661dn Blue Train Demonstrator

Following the passing of 5dn Ekspres Sinaran Pagi at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station signal cabin, the token was issued for Tren Khas 3661dn Blue Train Demonstrator for the final stretch from Bukit Timah Railway Station to Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.

However, testing here on was almost useless as there was zero loading gauge clearance for the Mock-Up Coach at both Bridge 1861 and Bridge 1871, the 2 key truss bridges along the railway line. Since the Blue Train coaches can’t pass through these 2 bridges, this pretty much marks the end of any hope of the Blue Train coaches coming in to Singapore (Tanjong Pagar Railway Station).

The wooden frames were then dismantled in Kampong Bahru Yard and Parcel Van PV4452 operated as a regular Parcel Van again.

The Malayan Tiger Train (MTT) formed of donated coaches from JR West (JR西日本) and JR Kyushu (JR九州) launched on 19 December 2011 between Johor Bahru Sentral Railway Station (JB Sentral) and Tumpat Railway Station only, without entering Woodlands Train Checkpoint (Woodlands CIQ) to serve Singapore.