Its another edition of “Around the World in Trams” and we go to Hong Kong for today’s photos.
Think of double deck trams and outside of the UK you probably think of Hong Kong (the one other notable example being Alexandria in Egypt) with its iconic double deckers having been operating there since 1904. The fleet in Hong Kong is the biggest operational double deck fleet in the world and the network only includes double deckers with no single deckers to be seen. The tramway has always been electric powered, it runs on a 3’6” gauge and includes 19 miles of line between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan plus a branch through Happy Valley.
This 2009 view shows tram 79 in action carrying the traditional dark green livery. This tram was originally built in 1951 before being rebuilt in 1987 and then withdrawn in 2014.
Then we see the rather spartan upper deck interior of the tram. Since the trams are unidirectional all seats face in the forward direction. There is however an auxiliary controller at the rear of the tram for reversing if necessary.
Both Photographs by John Hampton, 2009