My grandfather took this photo of my grandma at the Sheung Shui station in 1974. The train that took them out there was still the old steam engine, or at least something that looked like a steam engine. In 1974, did you need a special permit to go to Lo Wu?
Date picture taken
1974
Shows place(s)
Comments
Re: Sheung Shui KCR
Hi there,
Back in 1974, KCR should have been using Diesel Locomotives like these instead. The #51 shown was the smallest among the fleet, I think. Passengers really have to climb up a few steps in order to go into the cabins.
Best Regards,
T
70's KCR Train
As a youngster, I would never forget the bathroom on KCR train from the 60-70's era during my odd outings to NT. It's simply a tiny cubical with cut hole on the floor. When you relieved yourself, everything went straight onto the track below. Primitive and definitely environmental unfriendly but it did the job nevertheless.
Another unforgettable memory was that every time a livestock train passed by the station, the stanch was so overpowering you thought you were standing right in the middle of a livestock slaughter house or the old wet market in Central.
70s KCR
Thanks for your replies and memories of the old KCR. It does sound primitive! I can still muster up the feeling I got every time I stood at a KCR station in the 90s and a hog train passed by. It was just like you described and left people gagging for minutes after the train had passed by. Does anyone know when the diesel engines were replaced with the modern trains?
Re: 70's KCR
Hi there,
According to KRC's own History page the diesel engines ceased for domestic passenger services in 1983. They had since been reserved for freight. The #51, Sir Alexander as mentioned earier, are now placed in the Railroad Museum in Taipo, which was also the original Tai Po Station.
Best Regards,
T
70s KCR
Thanks! I've been to that Tai Po museum, but it was 15 years ago.
1950s Sheung Shui Railway Station
Sheung Shui KCR station
Wow, it's both fascinating and frightening how much that station changed over a decade--or less. Or maybe the black and white provides more a contrast than was really the case back then. In any case, I love this photo. Thank you for posting!
Tai Shek Mo
The hillside in the background is Tai Shek Mo, the top of which marks the start of the closed boundary area.