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Malaysia: A steam engine travelling through the jungle in North Borneo, late 19th century

Malaysia: A steam engine travelling through the jungle in North Borneo, late 19th century

Construction of the North Borneo Railway began in 1896 under the command of engineer Arthur J. West with his assistant Gounon, a Murutman from Keningau.

The line was originally intended primarily for the transport of tobacco from the interior to the coast for export. The first line built was a 32 km track from Bukau River, north to Beaufort, and south to the port of Weston.

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