110 years of Hong Kong Trams in photos

Dear David,

It is really an interesting and lovely article in one of your gwulo.com topics.  Thank you very much.

regards/Edmond

David,  I have a copy of a book called "Hong Kong Trams".  It is one of a series of similar books - the others are "The Great Wall", "Dragons and Silk" and "The Terracotta Army".  The book was published in 1998 by Pacific Century Publishers Ltd. in Hong Kong.  ISBN 962-217-619-4.  The publishers are the same as Airphoto International Ltd who do/did the "Over Hong Kong" books and aslo initially the Camerman Postcards.  Many of the photos in this book are by Keith MacGregor (Camerman himself).  I believe the copany is still in business in Hong Kong.  You should be able to get a copy from them or the internet.  Some of the postcard photos in the book are very similar to yours.  Hope this helps.  Ron.

Hi David,

Generally there is no specific/official “generation” categories on tramcars. As many of the cars in one generation were in fact just modifications of the previous, such as open top cars fitted with canvas roofs and then wooden roofs. This is not a clear classification to tram types.

Owing to lack of documental records specifically you can never be sure what was left in the works, so there is difficulty in deciding when the old trams were withdrawn. For example, the trucks on the old "Pre-war" trams were all transferred to the new "Post-war" bodies so it is hard to imagine that they lasted too long as new bodies were ready that had to wait for trucks.

Hence, I use below classifications to categorise tram types.

By using years and tram styles, trams can be caegorised by below six types:
1. Single-deck: 1904
2. Double-deck (open-top): 1912
3. Double-deck fully enclosed (Pre-war): 1925
4. 1950 series (Post-war)
5. 1987 series
6. 2011 Signature

The wordings “pre-war” and “post-war” are Chinese translations to distinguish the period they built. 120 was the first prototype of Post-war style in 1949.

Taken tram 12 as example and below thumbnail:

1. Single-deck: 1904 (3rd-class)
2. Double-deck (open-top): N/A ^
3. Double-deck fully enclosed (Pre-war): 1925
4. Post-war: 1952
5. 1987 series *
6. 2011 Signature: 2016

^ The first batch open-top trams were 37-46 by 1912 and they later fitted with canvas roofs from 1913 to 1924 and progressively fitted with wooden roofs from 1923. 12 was modified as wooden-roof style as shown in the middle view of the thumbnail.

* I5 trams were rebuilt using original underframes and first appeared with roof resistor boxes in 1986, and they were eventually replaced by new bodies by end-1991, i.e. 1987 series. 12 was the 1st tram of 1987 series (scrapped in 2002)

12.jpg, by Joseph

I believe the above is able to categorise all the trams. However, it’s difficult in researching precedent tram numbers from old photos due to rare clear views.

Besides, trailer 12 run together with post-war 12 during 1965-1982. What “generation” it belong to? Obviously, it’s an incomplete term without dates.

As to the Millennium trams built in year 2000, it’s not applicable to categorize as “generation” as only four were built and not in place of the entire fleet.

Regards,

Joseph

Hi David,

Thanks for your compliment.

You are correct on the grouping method, which is same as in my book "Amazing Ding Ding".

It is difficult to know whether the original old trams were scrapped or later converted, as both were still running during the transition. So the "out of service dates" on your "A, B, C and D" types might be unidentified.

I can only fill in the gap for 5th generation and 6th generation, i.e. [1950-c.1991] and [1987-2011]

For the 5th generation, it is impossible for two trams in same numbers exist at the same time. The fleet are replaced during 1987 to 1991. No.120 and those rebuilt in 1986 were lastly replaced at the same time in end-1991. My photo aims to distinguish their outlook differences as there has been misled that 120 was "originally" preserved since 1949.

For the 6th generation, you are right they are first appeared with roof resistor boxes. I attach another compared view showing the slight difference between the rebuild 41 and the new-built 12 - the height and lack of lifeguards.

I also took a rare view as interest showing two trams "1":

The green new one has nearly finished whilst the right old body pends to scrap. I have been photo recording the scrapping.

Regards, Joseph

A few points:

Same as "F", old 120 run during 1949 to 1991. A new 120 was replaced by 1991. That year also the "H1" being replaced, i.e my photo of 41 (H1) was scrapped and replaced by new 41 (H2).

H2 still running now, the 1st scrapped body was in 2011. 

Best wishes, Joseph

The following two photos show the curious crowd are watching the Hong Kong tramcar test-run in Central on 31 July 1904.   Full service began on 13 August 1904 (Saturday) as reported by the Hong Kong Daily Press.

Edmond

Ohh really valuable! I wonder if that news is still available.

Joseph

Thanks David!

H.1 consists of fifteen trams, they are replaced by H2 in end-1991.

As for single deckers, I guess the last date might be around 1925 onwards since the double deckers were introduced. Having seen a couple of monochromes and it's hard to find any single decker while the canvas-top/wooden-top existed.

Regards,

Joseph 

For Type "F" only two bodies were "originally" preserved. In 1985 tram 12 was shipped for display and now preserves in a railway museum in the USA. In mid-1990s tram 50 was donated to the HK Museum of History.

Found a news in c.1950. There's a single decker tram whilst most were double deckers.

G. Single-decker trailer [1965-1982]

The first trailer in service was in 6 Aug 1964, whilst 1965 is the year for the mass production.

Regards, Joseph

Dated back 110 years ago today (2 July 1904), the first tram tested running from the depot to Happy Valley.

Hi Edmond,

I believe the test-run was on 30 July, i.e. the official anniversary date. As far as I know there are extra test runs. The service date on press will be an important proof indeed.

Best wishes, Joseph

To be honest I believe the official website (and media) has been following an inappropriate classifications on tramcar types by using the term 'generation'. I remain the point that classifying the tramcar types by year of built/service, i.e.

a) 1904 fleet;

b) 1925 fleet;

c) 1950 fleet;

d) 1987 fleet; and

e) 2011 fleet

For the trailers of 1964 and Millennium trams of 2000 I doubt what 'generation' should be used, so I categorise separately.on the 1904 fleet to pre-1949 batch.

Regards, Joseph

I have just published a new HK tram book collaborating with John Prentice, TLRS Chairman. The original 1970 version by Atkinson and Williams is highly regarded as the definitive history of the tramway, our new edition is doubled of the 1970 version, as a continuity of updating this unique tramway system in the world.

Book review from UK. http://www.orientalmodelbuses.co.uk/Books/HKT-3.htm

Regards, Joseph  

On Flickr from the National Archives UK:

Hong Kong Electric Tramway Car (1st class), by The National Archives UK

Hong Kong Electric Tramway Car (3rd class), by The National Archives UK

Found this digitized book "The Street railway journal" from February 4th, 1905. On page 211, an article "Electric Tramways in Hong Kong, China" is published. It gives a lot of technical details on equipment and has some photos including a car shed with a capacity to keep 35 cars.

​The article also states: 

There are twenty-six single deck motor cars, ten of being the combination type, with an enclosed portion in the center and an open platform provided with seats at either end. The remaining sixteen cars are of the open cross-bench type.

…….The combination car has a seating capacity for thirty-two passengers, and the cross-bench cars for forty-eight passengers.

Here's a photo of the first tram depot with trams inside:

Russell Street Tram Depot, by Internet Archive Book Images