Source: National Archives of the UK.

Long before railways crisscrossed Malaysia, Maharaja Abu Bakar envisioned a line of wooden tracks stretching from his palace in Johor Bahru to the foot of Gunung Pulai. It was an ambitious idea, ahead of its time. Though the line never reached completion, a few dignitaries were treated to early trial runs, catching glimpses of what could have been Malaysia’s first railway journey. Eventually, the project was shelved, but the dream of rail travel had taken root.

Not long after, in the quiet town of Muar, that dream was brought back to life. The Muar State Railway began as a modest connection between Muar and Parit Jawa, carrying goods, crops, and people through Johor’s heartlands. There were bold plans to expand the line all the way to Batu Pahat and Johor Bahru. For nearly four decades, the railway served as a vital artery of movement and trade. But as cars and roads grew in popularity, passenger numbers dwindled. In 1929, the tracks fell silent, marking the end of a pioneering chapter in Johor’s railway history.