JUST returned from travelling on the North Borneo Railway, one of the remotest railways in the world. It was a wonderful trip from Kota Kinabalu into the jungle along the South China Sea. Built by the British to transport tobacco, it is astonishing it is still running.
There are even two splendid steam locomotives, built in Lancashire by the Vulcan Foundry, although these were out of service on the day of my visit. There are two return services a day, plus a once-a-week “heritage train”, with vintage teak-lined carriages.
I was lucky enough to catch one of the heritage trains with my family (pictured), where we enjoyed a delicious breakfast and lunch served at our seats. The whole ambience is pure Somerset Maugham. Sadly, few outside Borneo seem to know about this railway. (Travel agents told me it “was no longer running” and there were only four other passengers.)
If you are ever in that part of SE Asia, do check it out. It would be terrible if it were to close.
