7-02

Looking Back

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7-02

Something to consider on the day of Baroness Thatcher’s funeral. Margaret Thatcher, who died on 8th April, age 87 was well known for her dislike of public transport, but here we see her together with Chris Patten, the last Governor, during a visit to Hong Kong in 1993. She is on board tram 128 at Shau Kei Wan Road adjacent to Hoi An Street (where trams leave from Sai Wan Ho Depot today) on 14th May, possibly the only time she travelled by tram in the street after she became Britain’s first and so far only female Prime Minister. Baroness Thatcher signed the agreement in 1984 which covered the return of the colony to the Chinese in 1997, but incorporated the “One Country, Two Systems” principle which allows the capitalist system, including companies like the tramway, to continue to do business unchanged for 50 years. Still in service today, tour car 128 was rebuilt and renumbered in 1987 from car 59 of 1954, thus making it the oldest tram in service in the current fleet. (Photo courtesy Hong Kong GIS)

John Prentice
Chairman, Tramway & Light Railway Society

Special Signs for HK trams

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There are a few special signs designated for Hong Kong trams.  Some are still exist today.  Take a shot when you notice them.

The left one is “Go” (“去”in Chinese), generally can be seen at the termini. The pictured one is at North Point. What amazing is the right one, “Stop” (“停”in Chinese), which depends on the traffic condition.go-stop

 

This one was temporary used during the tracks re-alignment at Shek Tong Tsui, where the former coastline encircled by the barges nearby.

trams-only

In some spots trams follow the “T” traffic lights (pictured on the left), probably indicates the short-term of “Tram”.  Here we see tram 300 transporting a truck which mainly can be seen in the depot.

T-light

Story of tram 201

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An amazing comparison view showing two 201″s” – the left one specially produced for the Ocean Park – Old Hong Kong (香港老大街) since mid-March 2012. As to the right “201″, it’s a temporary works car renumbered from car 100 in autumn 1989 and generously supplied by T.V. Runnacles.

Despite the mistakes such as the glazed upper deck-end hopper vents (should be panelled) and a painted out window in front of the staircase (should be blank panel) on the replica 201, it generally reveals a typical two classes tram with a single front staircase in the 1950s.

201