Friday, May 15, 2009

The Peak and Tram



The Peak Tram (山頂纜車)Operating : 7am - 12 midnight daily
Frequency of Tram : Every 10 - 15 minutes
Sky Terrace : 10am - 11pm (Mon - Fri), 8am - 11pm (Sat, Sun & PH)
Tickets for Peak Tram (Return/Single) : Adult HK$33/HK$22, Child (age 3-11) & Senior Citzen (age above 65) HK$15/HK$8
Tickets for Peak Tram & Sky Terrace (Return/Single) : Adult HK$48/HK$37, Child (age 3-11) & Senior Citzen (age above 65) HK$23/HK$16

History of the Peak Tram1881 - Planning of the tram system by Scotsman Alexander Findlay Smith.

1882 - Proposal was granted and the Hong Kong High Level Tramways Company was born.

May 1888 - Official opening by the Governor, Sir William Des Voeux.
It was a wooden tram's haulage system that was powered using coal fired steam boilers.
Seating capacity of 30 passengers and the carriage was indivded into three classes.
Having First class with the centre compartment.
Tickets at that time cost 30 cents, 20 cents and 10 cents (First class, Second class and thrid class).

1926 - The steam power system was replaced by an electrically powered haulage gear system. Seating capacity had increased to 52 passengers.

1959 - All metal tramcar were used and seating capacity incresed to 62 passengers.

1989 to Present - A fully enclosed, lightweight, all aluminum tramcar was used and seating capacity increased to 72 passenger. It cost a HK$60 million for upgrading using the microprocessor-control technology and new tramcars.
The seating capacity has now increased to 120 passengers.
Official opening on 20 September 1989 by Governor Sir David Wilson.

Tram Capacity - Maximum 120 passengers (95 seats, 25 standing)
Steepest part of the route is the crossover tracks on May road, which is 27 degrees to the horizontal.
At the Garden Road Peak Tram Lower Terminus, a Peak Tram Historical Gallery was opened in September 2007 and exhibited more than 200 memorabilla items.
The Gallery is free admission for Peak Tram passengers.



Peak Tram technical stuffsLength of Track - 1,365 metres
Track Gradient - 4 degrees to 27 degrees
Lower Terminus - 28 meters above sea level
Upper Terminus - 396 metres above sea level
Speed - Maximum 6 metres per second

I brought a return ticket for the tram ride.
It's a interesting experience and enjoyed the ride.
Would highly recommend if you are visiting Hong kong to try this.


The Peak (太平山)
Mountain - Altitude of 552m


The view from the sky terrace at the Peak.
I was there in the evening, late March 2009.
It was very very misty and the air was very cold.
But I like it...would prefer to be cold than hot.
Sky Terrace is the highest viewing platform that offers a 360 degree view of Hong Kong.
I was up there for almost an hour and really enjoyed the scenery and cool air.
The Madame Tussaud's wax museum is also located at the Peak Tower,along with many other souvenir shops and restuarants.





6 comments:

Pete said...

U got my vote! Cheers!

astrogalaxy said...

Cheers to you, Pete!
Thank you!

Livingsword said...

Hi Astrogalaxy!

I didn’t even know about this other blog!

Very cool...

I like the way you have used the images and I like it when you interject your own thoughts about the experience of being at the various locations...

I will be voting for you...

astrogalaxy said...

Thank you Livingsword,
Glad to see you here too!
Take care and also thanks for the vote.
Cheers!

Small Footprints said...

Hi! I've been away for awhile and just finished reading comments. Thank you, so much, for the vote on Blogger's Choice ... I've voted for this blog as well ... it's one of my favorites!

Re. this post ... I love the look of this tram ... and the views from the peak are spectacular. Thank you for continuing to share great posts and pictures with us. And best of luck on Blogger's Choice!

Small Footprints
http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com

astrogalaxy said...

Thanks small footprints,
cheers for yours too!!