1922 Tram service was extended to the Race Course in Happy Valley.
In the 1922 map on hkmaps.hk, the tram circle around the racecourse has been completed. The double-track section of the new terminus can be seen. 1922 is likely the year when the operation started.
Researched in 2007 from government and public archives when other information, documents and maps were not readily available online: https://gwulo.com/media/11073.
Hi moddsey. Excellent job without the resources we have today. Unfortunately, I didn't know anything about your compilation despite searching on Gwulo; it is a bit hidden.
... extension of Section 5 of their Tramway by a single line commencing at the existing termination of the said Section No. 5 and terminating in Wong-Nei-Chong Road about opposite the North Western corner of Inland Lot No. 1927 ...
I could not find I.L. 1927, but on the 1913 map on New HK Maps there is I.L. 1926 which was close to today's tram terminus. I think this refers to tracks at the eastern side of Happy Valley. The Hongkong Government Gazette from 29 December 1922 refers to "a present terminus at Wongneichung Village" which therefore was operative in 1922 already.
So possibly the terminus started its operation in 1913 already, but likely in a different layout compared to today. The present appearance of the terminus likely started in 1922.
Yes, it was the early days of Gwulo. Place locations were not as abundant as there are today.
A recap of what is known from 1913 to 1922:
a) The Happy Valley Tram Terminus (1st Location) on Wongneichong Road (western side) was in front of the Racecourse Grandstand and opposite the Colonial Cemetery. It was dual-lined up to a point on Morrison Hill Road where it reverted to a single line exiting via Tin Lok Lane.
b) In 1913, work was undertaken to complete the improvement of Wongneichong Road (western side) prior to the extension of the Tramway from the gate of the Colonial Cemetery to Wongneichong Village. Work was nearing completion by end of 1913. Source: 1913 Report by the Director of Public Works.
c) Farm Lot 52 at Wongneichong Village was converted into Inland Lots 1926 and 1927 respectively. Source: 1912 Report by the Director of Public Works.
d) Inland Lot 1927 (later Dragon Motor Garage) fronted Wongneichong Road and was located between Sing Woo Road and Blue Pool Road. Source: 1938 Street Index
e) Hong Kong Telegraph 29 May 1913 announced that Government had approved the extension of a single line from the Racecourse Grandstand (existing termination) to Wongneichong Road at about the NW corner of Inland Lot 1927 on 8 May 1913. (It was not a long track extension.)
f) "A diversion of Wongneichong Road to the north of the village bearing the same name was completed and the improvement of a further portion of this road, extending from near the village to the gate of the Colonial Cemetery was in progress. The Tramway Company undertook the extension of their Happy Valley line to opposite IL. 1927." Source: Colonial Reports: Hong Kong 1913-14. See: https://archive.org/details/colonial-reports-annual-1913-14/page/n269/mode/2up?q=wongneichong
g) Improvement work on Wongneichong Road past the Hindoo and Parsee Cemeteries was completed. Source: 1914 Report by the Director of Public Works. The extension of the single tramline to Wongneichong Village was also completed in 1914 as evidenced by the introduction of first class cars between Whitty Street and the new Happy Valley Tram Terminus with frequency every 10 minutes. Fare: 10 cents. Source: Hong Kong Telegraph 1 June 1914.
h) Hong Kong Daily Press 29 December 1922 announced that Government had approved the construction and extension of the tramline from Wongneichong Village along Wongneichong Road (eastern section) and Leighton Hill Road on 9 November 1922, for the purpose of connecting with the existing line at Morrison Hill Road. Construction work was in progress. It was expected work on the new tramline would be completed in February 1923.
i) Today's Happy Valley Tram Terminus (2nd Location) is just slightly west of the former terminus that was opposite Inland Lot 1927. The layout then would have been a simple one.
Note: Wongneichong/Wong Nei Chong refers to Wong Nai Chung
Thank you, moddsey. Your list makes it quite clear in which order the extension of tram lines was done. Contrary to my previous consideration, the second terminus near IL 1927 was reached from the west (along the cemeteries), and the eastern line was added latest.
It looks as if the layout of the tram lines around Happy Valley changed in the years after 1922. In 1922, a short double track ran from the Parsee Cemetery to the tram terminus. On the 1955 map on New HK Maps, the second track had been removed, even at the terminus. That's why only a single track appears in the 1980 photos. On the 1996 map, the short double track section appears (as it is today).
Yes, the mode of operating trams into and out of Happy Valley changed after 1922 after the tram loop around the racecourse was completed.
Well spotted about the short double track from Parsee Cemetery to the Happy Valley Tram Terminus. Not sure if this was the original state of affairs as the tram terminus appears to be opposite I.L. 1926 rather than at the NW corner of I.L. 1927. The difference in location is not that much.
Comments
Hong Kong Tramways report: …
Hong Kong Tramways report:
1922 Tram service was extended to the Race Course in Happy Valley.
In the 1922 map on hkmaps.hk, the tram circle around the racecourse has been completed. The double-track section of the new terminus can be seen. 1922 is likely the year when the operation started.
Happy Valley Trams, Routes and Directions
Researched in 2007 from government and public archives when other information, documents and maps were not readily available online: https://gwulo.com/media/11073.
Re: Happy Valley Trams, Routes and Directions
Hi moddsey. Excellent job without the resources we have today. Unfortunately, I didn't know anything about your compilation despite searching on Gwulo; it is a bit hidden.
The Hongkong Government Gazette from 29 May 1913 reports:
... extension of Section 5 of their Tramway by a single line commencing at the existing termination of the said Section No. 5 and terminating in Wong-Nei-Chong Road about opposite the North Western corner of Inland Lot No. 1927 ...
I could not find I.L. 1927, but on the 1913 map on New HK Maps there is I.L. 1926 which was close to today's tram terminus. I think this refers to tracks at the eastern side of Happy Valley. The Hongkong Government Gazette from 29 December 1922 refers to "a present terminus at Wongneichung Village" which therefore was operative in 1922 already.
So possibly the terminus started its operation in 1913 already, but likely in a different layout compared to today. The present appearance of the terminus likely started in 1922.
Happy Valley Tram Termini
Yes, it was the early days of Gwulo. Place locations were not as abundant as there are today.
A recap of what is known from 1913 to 1922:
a) The Happy Valley Tram Terminus (1st Location) on Wongneichong Road (western side) was in front of the Racecourse Grandstand and opposite the Colonial Cemetery. It was dual-lined up to a point on Morrison Hill Road where it reverted to a single line exiting via Tin Lok Lane.
b) In 1913, work was undertaken to complete the improvement of Wongneichong Road (western side) prior to the extension of the Tramway from the gate of the Colonial Cemetery to Wongneichong Village. Work was nearing completion by end of 1913. Source: 1913 Report by the Director of Public Works.
c) Farm Lot 52 at Wongneichong Village was converted into Inland Lots 1926 and 1927 respectively. Source: 1912 Report by the Director of Public Works.
d) Inland Lot 1927 (later Dragon Motor Garage) fronted Wongneichong Road and was located between Sing Woo Road and Blue Pool Road. Source: 1938 Street Index
e) Hong Kong Telegraph 29 May 1913 announced that Government had approved the extension of a single line from the Racecourse Grandstand (existing termination) to Wongneichong Road at about the NW corner of Inland Lot 1927 on 8 May 1913. (It was not a long track extension.)
f) "A diversion of Wongneichong Road to the north of the village bearing the same name was completed and the improvement of a further portion of this road, extending from near the village to the gate of the Colonial Cemetery was in progress. The Tramway Company undertook the extension of their Happy Valley line to opposite IL. 1927." Source: Colonial Reports: Hong Kong 1913-14. See: https://archive.org/details/colonial-reports-annual-1913-14/page/n269/mode/2up?q=wongneichong
g) Improvement work on Wongneichong Road past the Hindoo and Parsee Cemeteries was completed. Source: 1914 Report by the Director of Public Works. The extension of the single tramline to Wongneichong Village was also completed in 1914 as evidenced by the introduction of first class cars between Whitty Street and the new Happy Valley Tram Terminus with frequency every 10 minutes. Fare: 10 cents. Source: Hong Kong Telegraph 1 June 1914.
h) Hong Kong Daily Press 29 December 1922 announced that Government had approved the construction and extension of the tramline from Wongneichong Village along Wongneichong Road (eastern section) and Leighton Hill Road on 9 November 1922, for the purpose of connecting with the existing line at Morrison Hill Road. Construction work was in progress. It was expected work on the new tramline would be completed in February 1923.
i) Today's Happy Valley Tram Terminus (2nd Location) is just slightly west of the former terminus that was opposite Inland Lot 1927. The layout then would have been a simple one.
Note: Wongneichong/Wong Nei Chong refers to Wong Nai Chung
Re: Happy Valley Tram Lines
Thank you, moddsey. Your list makes it quite clear in which order the extension of tram lines was done. Contrary to my previous consideration, the second terminus near IL 1927 was reached from the west (along the cemeteries), and the eastern line was added latest.
Happy Valley Tram Lines after 1922
It looks as if the layout of the tram lines around Happy Valley changed in the years after 1922. In 1922, a short double track ran from the Parsee Cemetery to the tram terminus. On the 1955 map on New HK Maps, the second track had been removed, even at the terminus. That's why only a single track appears in the 1980 photos. On the 1996 map, the short double track section appears (as it is today).
Re: Happy Valley Tram Lines after 1922
Yes, the mode of operating trams into and out of Happy Valley changed after 1922 after the tram loop around the racecourse was completed.
Well spotted about the short double track from Parsee Cemetery to the Happy Valley Tram Terminus. Not sure if this was the original state of affairs as the tram terminus appears to be opposite I.L. 1926 rather than at the NW corner of I.L. 1927. The difference in location is not that much.