Hong Kong Railway Museum Explained

Tai Po Market (Tai Po)
Native Name:大埔墟
Native Name Lang:zh
Type:Former KCR station
Status:Ceased operations, converted to museum
Mlanguage:
Order:ts
T:香港鐵路博物館
S:香港铁路博物馆
Y:Hēung góng tit louh bok maht gún
J:Hoeng1 gong2 tit3 lou6 bok3 mat6 gun2
P:Xiānggǎng Tiělù Bówùguǎn
Address:13 Shung Tak Street,[1] Tai Po
Borough:Tai Po District, Hong Kong
Coordinates:22.4476°N 114.1644°W
Line:Kowloon–Canton Railway (British Section)
Connections:
Structure:At-grade
Platform:2 (2 side platforms)
Levels:1
Tracks:2
Owned:Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
Operator:Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
Map Type:Hong Kong MTR
Map Alt:Hong Kong MTR system map

The Hong Kong Railway Museum is a railway museum in Tai Po, Hong Kong.[2] It is now under the management of the Leisure and Cultural Service Department. Opened on 20 December 1985, it is located at the site where the old Tai Po Market railway station was built in 1913.[3] Admission to the museum is free.

History

The Kowloon–Canton Railway (British Section) opened in 1910 in Tai Po Market was one of the stops in the New Territories. The station building was erected in 1913. Since then, it has acted as a centre of administration and trade, which indirectly boosted Tai Po Market's economy by bringing traders there.

The Kowloon–Canton Railway was electrified in 1983 and the station was taken out of service, with the opening of the new Tai Wo station north of it and the new Tai Po Market station south of it. One year later, the Old Tai Po Market Railway Station was declared a monument. The site, together with the buildings and relevant exhibits, were then given to Regional Council by the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation for the of the museum.

The museum opened on 20 December 1985.[4]

Architecture

The building of the station is unique in the way of architectural style among original Kowloon–Canton Railway (British Section). It is of indigenous Chinese architectural style, with many small figures decorating the exterior, such as are commonly found in existing old southern Chinese temples.

Exhibits

Inside the museum

On the left of the museum, there is an exhibition room of train tickets and train models of not only KCR trains but also Japanese Shinkansen and Eurostar. The further internal part of the room is a refurbished ticket office and signalling house.

Vehicles on the track

Two locomotives are on exhibition at the museum:

There are seven coaches on the tracks for public viewing and appreciation of the contrast between the old and the new.

There are also a pump trolley and a diesel-engined railcar.

A 1:1 scale model of a non-refurbished East Rail line Metro Cammell EMU was once on display at the Museum, but was removed to make space for locomotive #51.[7]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hong Kong Railway Museum. Hong Kong Heritage Museum. 2022-05-15. Address: 13 Shung Tak Street, Tai Po Market, Tai Po, Hong Kong..
  2. http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/attractions/museum-hongkong-railway.html Hong Kong Railway Museum
  3. Web site: Old Tai Po Market Railway Station - Declared Monuments . Antiquities and Monuments Office. Hong Kong Government. 31 July 2018. 18 September 2018 .
  4. Book: Hong Kong Railway Museum . 1986 . Regional Council . 7.
  5. Web site: KCRC donates Hong Kong's first diesel electric locomotive to Hong Kong Railway Museum. Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation. 18 May 2004. 22 December 2016. 15 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181015101541/http://www.kcrc.com/en/announcements/2004/040518.html. dead.
  6. Web site: Fanling - Sha Tau Kok Branch Line . .
  7. Web site: 1:1 Yelloe-head model . . www.rrpicturearchives.net . 2011-02-16 .