/Hong Kong’s trams are celebrated

HONG Kong’s iconic Peak Tram is celebrating its 130th anniversary this month.

From its earliest days, The Peak Tram has been one of Hong Kong’s most visited and photographed attractions.

Today, more than two million people a year take the journey up to The Peak which offers spectacular views of Hong Kong’s skyline and beyond.

To mark the occasion, The Peak Tramways Company Limited has released five historic images of The Peak Tram carriages from years gone by.

The brainchild of Scottish entrepreneur Mr Alexander Findlay Smith, The Peak Tram was the first cable funicular railway in Asia, built primarily to help increase trade to Mr Smith’s hotel which stood at the top of The Peak.

The tram was a popular attraction from the moment it opened.

On its first day alone, 600 people rode The Peak Tram, and within its first year it carried 150,000 passengers.

The original wooden tram held 30 passengers in three classes – first, second and third - with one way tickets starting from just 10 cents.

The original wooden carriages were operated by coal and steam, and consisted of open rows of slatted seats at the front and rear, with an enclosed compartment in the centre to make up the three classes.

In 1926 the Peak Tram switched to an electrical system and increased the carriage capacity to 52 passengers.

The carriages were still made of wood and remained opened to the elements.

In 1949 the all-metal green trams which could seat up to 62 passengers were introduced. Hollywood also took notice and featured the carriages on film for the first time in the 1950s film, Soldier of Fortune.

Another 10 years later, in 1959, the tram was upgraded again with a new fully-enclosed carriage to protect passengers from the elements.

The new lightweight trams could now sit 72 passengers and remained unchanged for a further 30 years.

In 1989, the Peak Tram went through its latest development which saw the green metal carriages replaced with the iconic red carriages which are still in use today.

Return tickets on The Peak Tram start from approximately £4.75.

See DiscoverHongKong.com for more.