Sentul has lived many lives. Its evolution began in the early 1900s, when it was home to many a lively engineering workshop, employing over 5,000 workers in its heyday. During World War II, Sentul was one of the last towns in the country to be bombed by the Allied Forces. It was later partially rebuilt but never recaptured its former glory, and the area began going into a decline. The workshops continued to be used by KTM (Keretapi Tanah Melayu) before eventually settling down as a shelter for decommissioned locomotives.

The vibrant township that stands in its place today barely betrays its storied past. Nestled in a rare splash of lush greenery in metropolitan Kuala Lumpur, the iconic Sentul Depot is a breath of fresh air. A stroll down memory lane will reveal its quintessentially colonial roots in an assembly of rustic, brick-built structures. 

In line with our masterplan to regenerate this piece of history, we have embarked on a bold endeavour: preserving the heart and soul of Sentul by reviving the depot as a modern cultural lifestyle destination.


A 24 Class locomotive from a fleet named after Malaysian icons. This unit was also known as Hang Tuah.

Workshop 2 housing decomissioned locomotives in the mid-90s.

A commemorative stamp featuring a 20 Class diesel locomotive celebrating the 100th anniversary of Malayan Railway.

Indera Gajah being lifted by a 40-tonne crane in 1990.

A New Straits Times clipping from 1989 on the Sentul-Kuala Lumpur-Port Klang railbus service.

Malayan Railway promoting travel to tourist destinations.

The namesake of Jalan Strachan, John Strachan who was the GM of the Federated Malay States Railways.

A Bogie cattle wagon that was used to send racehorses to Bukit Timah, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, and Penang. In the 1970s, modified units were tasked to import buffaloes from Thailand.

A wagon transporting timber from Pahang in the early 1980s.

Indera Gajah from the 24 Class fleet being serviced in 1992.

A little known fact: There was once a train station called Perhentian Jalan Ipoh.

A tank wagon built by hand and used by Dunlop to transport latex.

A Class C steam locomotive, also known as Gunong Berambun.

Planet, an early steam locomotive, next to Sentul Depot.

18 Class coaches pulled from the Kuala Lumpur station to Sentul Depot for maintenance in the mid-1980s.

A 23 Class, Hitachi-built unit dubbed 'Cekap' at Sentul Depot in 2008.

Workshop 2, used for the maintenance and servicing of locomotives, in early 2006.

In the mid-1980s, Sentul Works caught fire.

A scene just outside Sentul Depot in 1984.

A news clipping of one of the workshops, destroyed during World War II.

An aerial view of Sentul Depot in early 1906.

A locomotive in a Sentul Depot workshop in 1906.

A locomotive being repaired in Workshop 2.

A scene of railway staff singing the Malaysian national anthem outside the depot on 30th July 1987.

An early 1920s view of sheds in Sentul Depot used to erect carriages.

Photos of railbuses at Sentul Depot in 1984 being maintained at Sentul Depot.

24105, or Rentap, beside the drop yard area.