Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 25,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 9 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

New 171, being re-used the same number of the air-conditioned car, launched by 28 November 2011. It featured similar to 168, except a breakthrough on electricity fed back by AC motor.
The current wooden tramcars, as scheduled, will vanish in turn. The cost saving in using aluminium structure lead to vanishing of our heritage! Take your time to capture their last stage…

我十分欣賞John花了不少心血鑽研電車類模型和場景製作，尤以重現昔日的香港街景的功夫更是一絕。
 

This model was built in 00 scale (1:76 – 4mm to 1ft) by John Prentice, modifying a Tramalan white metal kit of a 1950s style tram with scratch built parts. It is of tram 163, the real tram being built in 1979. It is painted in the advertising livery of the Wing On department store as carried in 1981. 

Built by John Prentice, this diorama in 00 scale is an impression of what Johnston Road in Hong Kong looked like around 1990. The “Wing On” car 163 and Lung Moon Chinese Restaurant, both have gone in 1991 and 2009. To the left of the scene, in the road next to the taxi, are two tram photographers who represent the model maker and a friend.

這架Tramalan的1:76白金屬電車模型經John巧妙地改裝後，變成和163號一模一樣的造型。163號於1979年建成，1981年加上永安百貨的車身廣告。

而同樣按oo比例製作的情景，勾畫出九十年代的灣仔莊士頓道。163號的永安廣告電車和龍門大酒樓，已分別在1991年和2009年消失。有趣的是，的士旁邊站著拍攝的兩人，正是John本人和他的朋友。

This model is of Hong Kong car 145. It was built to 1:16 scale (3/4in to 1ft). It is fully working (24volt DC) and was scratch built by John Prentice from wood and metal as appropriate. This class of tram was built in the 1950s. The tramcar used a Peckham P35 truck and originally was first class on the upper deck and third on the lower but were later one man operated, rear entrance – front exit, as shown on the model, being in the 1970s condition and till present.

The inner of 145 is mostly wood, the lower deck has longitudinal wooden seats, like the originals. The turnstiles are scratch built from metal and turnable. The metal doors also open correctly.

這架由John製造的1:16香港電車模型145號，以木和金屬製成並可走動，完全呈現昔日的電車風貌。這款電車建於五十年代，上層頭等，下層三等，七十年代改為一人操作後，上落車方式變成「前落後上」維持至今。

模型的內籠主要為木，下層木造的橫向坐椅、可轉動的旋轉閘和可開啟的車門等，都和真車一樣。

The smallest model on show is this plastic model of tram 38 in N gauge (1:160). It advertises Po Sum On Medicine and the model itself was produced as marketing feature for that company. They were sold by the 80M Bus Model shop in Hong Kong.

More details of tram modelling at www.tramwayinfo.com

這個1:160的N gauge情景模型，38號電車披上保心安廣告，在80M巴士模型專門店有售，相信是比例最小的了。

Most has been gone or materially changed, only photos are recalling. Yet I hope the old memories can recur one day.

無數的舊物或消失，或改變面貌，只有相片可懷緬，但我仍寄望昔日經典重現的一天…

現役於1987-91年全新建造的電車，不經不覺已服務二十年，隨著新電車的面世，很快亦會步入歷史。99號成為第一架。

HKT 99: Lars F. Richter Photo (LOREN SEBO, 20-FEB-1991, Whitty Street junction)

 Duties ended – goodbye, and thank you.

http://gwulo.com/node/4101

An interesting photo in 1920s commonly find in books showing two double-deck tramcars, one with canvas roof and the other one fully enclosed passed by the “bridge”, with a pair of tracks laid underneath.

Most Hong Kongers named it “Ngo Geng Kiu 鵝頸橋” (formerly named Bowrington Bridge, In Cantonese “Ngo Geng” means “the goose’s neck”) guestimating for its curved outline of the canal, now become a well-known area for “beating the petty person” 打小人 today ¹.

The tracks underneath has been a mysterious query on readers and historicans, some argued it’s for trams running but obviously in weak persuation, as the height is not enough for trams even a single-decker. It’s part of the Praya East Reclamation Project, the tracks are for transporting sand and soil removed from Morrison Hill to the waterfront land reclamation.

這張相片在書中頗常見，兩架分別裝有帆布帳篷和密封式上蓋的雙層電車，橫渡鵝頸橋，橋下還隱藏了兩排路軌。

它是香港人熟悉的「鵝頸橋」(前稱寶靈頓橋)，”Ngo Geng”廣東話的意思是鵝頸，橋下是一條運河，它彎曲窄長形如鵝頸，故橫跨此河的橋俗稱「鵝頸橋」。今天成為了著名「打小人」的集中地。

至於橋底的鐵軌用途為何，曾經掀起學者和歷史學家辯論的熱潮，有人堅稱是行走電車，但光看橋的高度不足以讓單層電車經過，欠卻說服力。其實它是當年東區填海工程的一部分，鐵軌用作將摩理臣山一帶的砂石泥土運送到填海區。

Coincidentally, tha above photo² shows a track layout being laid in the same area in 1922, which was the main way to Happy Valley and the junction of the depot exit in Russell Street.

巧合地，上面的照片顯示1922年該路段的確有電車路軌，當時電車由堅拿道東，經過羅素街車廠出口，進入跑馬地。

Notes:

^{1 The Best of Asia 2009 entitled in Time Magazine}

^{2 R.L.P. Atkinson and A.K.Williams, Hongkong Tramways, 1970}

A superb angle capturing the tram encircled by the barges and row of lorries – The vanished coastal tramline at Kennedy Town Praya recalls me most. You can hear the frequent “ding ding” sounds but the workers often neglect the sounds, rushing to load their goods on the tramlines and quickly remove them before trams passed by¹. (T.V. Runnacles)

昔日緊貼著電車軌的堅尼地城海旁，電車被躉船和沿岸一排排貨車包圍著的畫面，仍縈繞在我的腦海。岸邊的工人要和電車鬥快，無瑕理會「叮叮」聲，爭分奪秒地越過路軌來運貨。

Such area has been reclaimed today in place of a park and new launched swimming pool, and the memorable moments will probably be lost forever.

如今這塊地已填海了，換成了供人休憩的公園和新建成的游泳池，經典的畫面亦不再。

^{1 Superb photos could be found in Tram Jam 電車舞曲 by Martin Jones, Presstram, 1984.}

1975年，西北航空成為披上電車的第一個航空公司全車身廣告。不論是偌大的飛機還是陽光與海灘，豈能不讓你心動，給自己放個假嗎?

HKT 22: Michael Rokitta Photo / Lasr F. Richter Collection (Thai, 6-JAN-1994, Western Street)

HKT 113: T.V. Runnacles Photo (KLM, DEC-1978, Wong Nai Chung Road/Happy Valley)

A simple design could draw your attention. United Airlines advertised on tram 132 in freshly white plus the principal three colours, whilst tram 108 in tartan design perfectly match-up the vanished, Scotland-based airline British Caledonian.

簡潔的車身設計，如132號以白色配上聯合航空的三種主色，108號用了最能代表前英國金獅航空的方格花紋設計，已能夠吸引你的目光。

HKT 132: Lars F. Richter Photo (United Airlines, 3-APR-1989, Shek Tong Tsui)

HKT 108: T.V. Runnacles Photo (British Caledonian Airways, 27-APR-1987, Des Voeux Road West)

Car 22 was likely designated on the adverts for Thai Airways. An interesting design with densely hallmarks was shown, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Thai Airways.

為慶祝泰航三十周年，22號整個車身佈滿泰航標記的設計，雜亂中看來十分有趣。

HKT 22: John Prentice Photo (Thai 30th Anniversary, c.1990, Cleverly Street / Sheung Wan)

Tram 26 in eye-dazzling yellow coat ready for depart, note the same Chinese 私用 but varied English names, of which the front reads “PRIVATE” and the side with “PRIVATE HIRE”. Perhaps the latter one was used to differentiate between tour cars and non-service cars.

停在霎東街車廠的26號除奪目的黃色車身之外，值得留意的是同一個「私用」牌布出現兩個英文版本 (前方是PRIVATE，側面是PRIVATE HIRE)。相信後來為區別旅遊車和不載客車，PRIVATE HIRE的中文便改為「私人租用」。

HKT 26: degahk Photo (Lufthansa, MAY-1986, Sharp Street Depot)

More freshly-painted adverts on cars 123 and 154.

上圖為披上加航和全日空廣告的123和154號。

HKT 123: H.C. Steele Photo / Lars F. Richter Collection (Canadian Airlines, 4-NOV-1994, Happy Valley Terminus)

HKT 154: Scott Manson Photo / Lars F. Richter Collection (ANA, 3-MAR-1990, Sheung Wan MTR)

Both the fleet number and the soft-painted adverts, were vanished.

這個藍天與白雲的日航廣告和電車號碼，皆俱往矣。

HKT 71: John Prentice Photo (JAL, c.1990, Causeway Bay Terminus)

The partial redundant tracks outside the depot and along the main lane are still visible today.

Back to the Past…

今天在電車廠外及主線旁仍然可以見到部分廢棄路軌的痕跡。讓我帶大家回到過去…

The vanished junction of Whitty Street (Shek Tong Tsui) Loop in the late 1990s. Trams go straight when bound to Kennedy Town same as today, and enter the junction laid to the north, either go to the depot or sit for the next route by passing the loop under the Hill Road Flyover. (Lindsaybridge)

九十年代初的屈地街 (石塘咀) 分段路軌，往堅尼地城的電車跟現在一樣直走，左段是電車入廠或繞過山道橋底轉往下一目的地。

Tram 120 departing from the depot, eastbound to North Point but the side screen was still displayed in “Whitty Street”. Perhaps the driver has to modify while stopping at the traffic light ahead!

120號從車廠出發往北角，但側牌仍然顯示屈地街。司機在前面的燈位停下時需要更正了。

(H.C. Steele Photo / Lars F. Richter Collection, 25-JAN-1992, Whitty Street Depot)

 

This might be the ever first time to closing a street for filming. An unidentified tram masqueraded as “Shanghai Tramways car 22″ for the film Shanghai Surprise, starring Madonna and Sean Penn by Shaw Brothers Studios. Initially it was planned to close Catchick Street for filming early in the morning on 12 February 1986, the Chinese New Year of the Tiger.  Unfortunately there is lack of slides of the film showing the shots of the tram itself.
Precedent films with HK trams are “Rouge” 《胭脂扣》 in 1987 and “Lust, Caution” 《色‧戒》 in 2007, featured in Post-war and Pre-war styles, respectively.

相信這是首次因配合電影拍攝而須封閉街道。1986年2月12日 (踏入虎年第四日) 早上，由邵氏電影公司攝製，國際巨星麥當娜與辛潘主演的電影《上海驚奇》在港開拍，一架電車化身成上海年代的22號，令吉席街需要封閉，場面墟陷。

近期以香港的電車作場景的電影有1987年《胭脂扣》及2007年《色‧戒》，分別呈現戰後和戰前款式的電車。

The blurry circled watermark near the rear gate, guesstimating it was 126.

這架上海款式電車的真身仍是個謎，但估計是126號。

Special thanks to T.V. Runnacles

Russell Street Depot was an 11-lane depot, of which 4-lanes served the main workshop.  As the tram fleet expanded, a smaller five-lane was opened in North Point in 1938.  This depot’s entrance was in Tin Chiu Street.  However, North Point Depot closed after Russell Street Depot was rebuilt (and renamed Sharp Street East Depot) in 1951.¹

Although many tram depots are prohibited to public access, Sharp Street’s many gates were always open during operating hours, enabling curious onlookers to see and photograph the trams and the workshops.

昔日的電車廠是坐落羅素街，銅鑼灣的核心地區。

羅素街電車廠共有11條車坑，其中4條連接維修工場。其後電車數目增多，便於北角電照街興建一個臨時車廠 (共5條車坑，1938年啟用) 。1951年羅素街電車廠進行擴建，改名霎東街電車廠，同時關閉北角車廠。

電車廠向來是路人止步的禁地，但由於霎東街電車廠入口的閘門長期開著，很容易在外窺見或拍攝一排排停泊在廠內維修的電車。

The depot offered the opportunity to observe various interesting vehicles.  In the photograph above may be seen the water tank car 200 and standard cars 128 and 12.  Interestingly car 128 was renumbered to 59 after the original 59 was rebuilt as Tour Car 128.  Car 12 was the vehicle that was shipped to Vancouver for Expo 86.  (John Prentice)

A day and night view of the depot surrounded by tenements (Special thanks to Overture and degahk)

A noisy market surrounded the largely silent tram depot; I used to like standing at some distance from the depot, viewing the trams inside but scared to walk too close.

Today’s Times Square is bustling, and it is easy to forget what had stood on the site until the end of the 1980s. Despite operational arguments in favour of the present depots, it was the Wharf Company’s anxiety to redevelop Sharp Street as a multi-storey shopping centre that really determined the old depot’s fate.…

昔日的電車廠和牆外的市集，相映成趣。小時候經過時，我喜歡遠遠的望著停在裡面的電車，不敢走得太近。

今天的時代廣場，熱鬧的背後，不少人已遺忘了它原本直到八十年代末的面貌。撇開現在的車廠的營運爭拗，當時的九倉意欲把霎東街重建為大型商場，便決定了電車廠的命運…

Last and First

Tram 31 (above) was officially the last tram to leave Sharp Street on 20 March 1989, whilst car 80 had been the first to be berthed at the new Sai Wan Ho Depot three weeks earlier, on 28 February.  (T.V. Runnacles)

上圖分別顯示最後一架離開舊車廠的31號，和第一架駛入新建成的西灣河電車廠的80號。

Notes:

^{1 P.75, R.L.P. Atkinson and A.K.Williams, Hongkong Tramways, The Light Railway Transport Leaque, 1970}