Sheung Shui KCR station, 1974 | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Sheung Shui KCR station, 1974

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Sheung Shui KCR station, 1974
Submitted by Susan B-K

My grandfather took this photo of my grandma at the Sheung Shui station in 1974. The train that took them out there was still the old steam engine, or at least something that looked like a steam engine. In 1974, did you need a special permit to go to Lo Wu?

Date picture taken (may be approximate): 
Tuesday, January 1, 1974
Connections: 
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Comments

Submitted by tngan on Sun, 2011-03-06 17:32.

Hi there,

Back in 1974, KCR should have been using Diesel Locomotives like these instead.  The #51 shown was the smallest among the fleet, I think.  Passengers really have to climb up a few steps in order to go into the cabins. 

Best Regards,

T

 

Submitted by sf (not verified) on Tue, 2011-03-08 06:50.

As a youngster, I would never forget the bathroom on KCR train from the 60-70's era during my odd outings to NT. It's simply a tiny cubical with cut hole on the floor. When you relieved yourself, everything went straight onto the track below. Primitive and definitely environmental unfriendly but it did the job nevertheless.

Another unforgettable memory was that every time a livestock train passed by the station, the stanch was so overpowering you thought you were standing right in the middle of a livestock slaughter house or the old wet market in Central.

Submitted by Susan BK (not verified) on Tue, 2011-03-08 12:08.

Thanks for your replies and memories of the old KCR. It does sound primitive! I can still muster up the feeling I got every time I stood at a KCR station in the 90s and a hog train passed by. It was just like you described and left people gagging for minutes after the train had passed by. Does anyone know when the diesel engines were replaced with the modern trains?

Submitted by tngan on Tue, 2011-03-08 12:26.

Hi there,

According to KRC's own History page the diesel engines ceased for domestic passenger services in 1983.  They had since been reserved for freight.  The #51, Sir Alexander as mentioned earier, are now placed in the Railroad Museum in Taipo, which was also the original Tai Po Station.

Best Regards,

T

Submitted by Susan B-K on Tue, 2011-03-08 12:36.

Thanks! I've been to that Tai Po museum, but it was 15 years ago. 

Submitted by moddsey on Tue, 2011-03-08 18:20.

1950s Sheung Shui Railway Station

Submitted by Susan B-K on Thu, 2011-03-10 13:40.

Wow, it's both fascinating and frightening how much that station changed over a decade--or less. Or maybe the black and white provides more a contrast than was really the case back then. In any case, I love this photo. Thank you for posting!

Submitted by philk on Wed, 2011-06-01 20:36.

The hillside in the background is Tai Shek Mo, the top of which marks the start of the closed boundary area.