Hong Kong Tramways – Depots timeline

HF: I have compiled a timeline about Hong Kong Tramways Depots using the sources given below. It is admittedly a rather rough framework. As further information comes in I will refine it.

I would like to especially thank Joseph Tse who has considerable knowledge of HK Trams (and also the Peak Tram and Tuen Mun Light Rail) as can be seen by the links below.

This article is twinned with Hong Kong Tramways – Depots images, the first Indhhk article linked below.

1904 2nd July tramcar No.16 left the Russell Street Depot for its first test run. The depot was located near the generating station at Bowrington Canal) which provided easy access for electricity (1)

Russell Street was the only depot in the early days – able to house the entire fleet of 120 cars
It was extended and renamed Sharp Street (5)

1932 The King’s Road Depot, at North Point, was temporarily used to park trams, and was closed after the Sharp Street Depot was extended (1)
With the upsurge in the number of trams, the original depot at Russell Street  became overcrowded by 1932, prompting Hong Kong Tramways to secure the King’s Road Depot site for tram parking purposes (storage for 30 cars). (5)

[Since 1950 HK Tramways have built their own trams. Where?]

1951 King’s Road depot closed (5)

1951 With the expansion of the fleet the Russell Street Depot in Causeway Bay was extended and renamed Sharp Street Depot (1)

1954 King’s Road Depot closed and Russell Street Depot expanded and renamed Sharp Street Depot (5)

c1977 “An aerial view of Russell Street market place and the tram depot’ Black and white photo (4)

c1980 “Russell Street Market Place and the tram depot (Times Square today).” (4)

1986 July The Executive Council approved HK Tramways’ plan to relocate “its depots” to Sai Wan Ho and Sai Ying Pun. (1)

1989  Sai Wan Ho (East Depot) (officially opened on 28th Apri)l and Whitty Street (West Depot) were in use and Sharp Street Depot closed  on 20th March. (1)

Whitty Street (West depot) – officially opened on 27th May 1989 (2)

1989 Sharp Street depot was closed in March and redeveloped into the Times Square office/shopping complex, Causeway Bay (1)
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1. Joseph Tse’s – Main website  www.facebook.com/amazingdingding
2. Joseph Tse’s – The Old/Russell Street Tram Depot http://hkgtrams.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/old-depot/
3. Joseph Tse’s – Whitty Street Tram Depot http://hkgtrams.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/whitty-street-depot/

Sources:

1. Joseph Tse
2. http://www.hktramways.com/en/copinfo/milestones.html
3. Hong Kong Trams: A close-up guide, B. Arenz, Pacific Century Publishers, 1988
4. Early Hong Kong Transport, Cheng Po Hung, HKU, 2009
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Tramways#Current_depot

Related Indhhk articles:

1. Hong Kong Tramways – Depots images
2. HK Tramways- Date of First Service
3. Trams, HK, linking 1881 and 2014 by way of 30th July 1904
4. Trams, Kowloon – the when, the where but not the why not…and proposed cross harbour tram bridge!
5. Tramways, Hong Kong, 1904 Proposal for Kowloon trams extending to China
6. The Hongkong Electric Tramway –  c1908 report and images
7. Tramways, Hong Kong, 1984 Report
8. Tramways, Hong Kong – Bowrington Canal generating station
9. Tramways, Hong Kong, Dick, Kerr and Company, Preston, UK, makers of first cars 1904-1905
10. Tramways, Hong Kong, date if first full service
11. Alfred Dickinson, Consulting Engineer HK Tramways
12. Dick, Kerr and Company, Preston UK – makers of first HK Tramways cars 1904-1905