Paddleducks

Paddler Information => Research => Topic started by: Roderick Smith on November 01, 2008, 08:22:44 AM

Title: Malaysia
Post by: Roderick Smith on November 01, 2008, 08:22:44 AM
I have done very little work on Malaysia.  I suspect that rivers were not sufficiently long for river navigation; they may also have been too steep and rocky.  I assume that boats on rivers and lakes were at sampan level, for local fishing.  There are estuarine ports.
The ferry operations which I have found are for offshore islands, and I haven't found steam ferries or photos of steam ferries.
The two discoveries:
* Johor Bahru - Woodlands (Singapore).  The causeway was built in the early 1920s.  It replaced a train-ferry operation.  I enclose a photo of a train ferry photo (steam, but not paddle) which is on display in the railway museum inside the former main station in Kuala Lumpur.
* Prai - Penang.  Prai was the original railway terminus, and connected by ferry to Georgetown.  The current Butterworth station, linking to a shorter ferry crossing, was opened in 1967.  I suspect that the swing bridge linking Prai to Butterworth dates from then too.  I enclose a photo of a steam ferry photo (not paddle) on display in Butterworth station.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor