The Peak Tram
IDJ/Hugh Farmer: The Peak Tram was opened for public service on 28 May 1888.
Peak Tramway soon after completion c1890
HK Museum of History/Provisional Urban Council
Peak Tram upper station
c1905
Peak Tram upper station showing smoke emitting from steam engine boilers
1890-1895
Initially a static steam engine was used to power the haulage cable. [can anyone tell us who manufactured the original engine and any other details about the Tram’s early mechanical operation?]
Peak Tram upper station
c1920
In 1926 an electric motor replaced the original engine. This was manufactured along with other electrical gear by Metropolitan-Vickers, Trafford Park, Manchester, UK.
At the same time the winding gear was supplied by Bever, Dorling and Co, Bowling Ironworks, Bradford, UK.
Bever, Dorling winding gear for the Peak Tram
HF: I don’t know when this article was first posted.
See:
- Tram P F Leeds (1984) pages 9-12 & 36-37 1984 information about both the Peak Tram and Tramways
- As it prepares to close for up to three months for renovations, a look at the history of Hong Kong’s iconic Peak Tram SCMP 13th April 2019
- Hong Kong’s Peak Tram expects surge in visitors after HK$684 million revamp to shorten queuing times and increase capacity of iconic ride SCMP 15th April 2019
Sources:
- http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Metropolitan-Vickers
- http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Bever,_Dorling_and_Co
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_Tram
This article was first posted on 9th February 2014.
Related Indhhk articles:
- Peak Tram, 1926 details of new engine and winding gear
- Peak Tram – Abt Passing Loop
- Peak Tram – additional information
- Peak Tramways – additional locations and alterations
- Peak Tram – Michael Rogge film 1962 plus Peak views, Repulse Bay, Central scenes
- Peak Tram, Proposed second, Catholic Church objections
- Peak Tram, Proposed second- 1908 – the route
- Peak Tram, the Ward Leonard System Installed 1926
I traveled by the Peak Tram frequently during the 60s when I was living at Severn Road. First class was 60 cent and 3rd class at the rear was half fare. The 3rd class was semi-opened and one enters the terminal by a rear entrance reserved for workmen and servants. With monthly tickets, I preferred to use the rear entrance on Sundays & Public Holidays when there would inevitably be a long queue for the First Class. The conductors in their white uniform, who appeared to have been working on the tram all their lives, were mostly friendly and funny characters. They liked to walk down the aisle at an angle at the steepest spot which was the May Road station, creating a scene. Halfway up, the Tram would stop at one scenic spot (while waiting for the downward tram to stop at May Road station); the tourist guide would assure the tourists that they were just ‘winding up the rubber band’. The old building of the lower terminal which was adorned with a huge clock was dismantled circa 1966; replaced by the present tall building (St. John’s?). The older structure gave a distinctly antiquated experience, as if one was traveling in time to a unique place inhabited almost exclusively by the Expat community.
The construction of the Upper Terminal that happened a few years later gave us a place for yumcha in our neighbourhood. Before that, there was only The Peak Cafe, the food was not particularly impressive then. The Chinese restaurant, Lo Fung, was operated by Tsui Tim, the Chinese Manager of The Peninsula Hotel. It opened around the same time as the Hung Hom Cross Harbour Tunnel. For weeks, people were driving across the tunnel from Kowloon and up The Peak as if it was a pilgrimage; jamming The Peak Road in the evenings.
There used to be a 7-pax minibus CMB No.30 operating a circuit route from the Upper Peak Tram Terminal to & from Plantation Road and Matilda Hospital at Mt. Kellett. Coming home late meant one had to walk through the quiet dark winding roads often thick with fog; it was a bit eerie I must confess.