Hong Kong Railway Museum

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Tai Po Market (Tai Po)

大埔墟
Former KCR station
Hong Kong Railway Museum.jpg
The station in 2003
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese 香港鐵路博物館
Simplified Chinese 香港铁路博物馆
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Xiānggǎng Tiě​lù Bówùguǎn
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization Hēung góng tit louh bok maht gún
Jyutping Hoeng1 gong2 tit3 lou6 bok3 mat6 gun2
General information
Location13 Shung Tak Street, [1] Tai Po
Tai Po District, Hong Kong
Coordinates 22°26′51″N114°09′52″E / 22.4476°N 114.1644°E / 22.4476; 114.1644
Owned by Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
Operated by Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
Line(s)   Kowloon–Canton Railway (British Section)
Platforms2 (2 side platforms)
Tracks2
Connections
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Platform levels1
Other information
StatusCeased operations, converted to museum
Website Hong Kong Railway Museum
History
Opened1 October 1910;113 years ago (1910-10-01)
Closed6 April 1983;41 years ago (1983-04-06)
Services
Preceding station KCR logo.svg KCR Following station
Tai Po Kau
towards Kowloon
KCR British section Fanling
towards Lo Wu
Location
Hong Kong Railway Route Map blank.svg
Station icon MTR.svg
Tai Po Market (Tai Po)
Location within the current MTR system

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.

Contents

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 construction[ clarification needed ] 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

Exhibition gallery include historical pictures and artifacts that help chronicle the story of how the railways developed in Hong Kong Hong Kong Railway Museum Exhibit 2012.jpg
Exhibition gallery include historical pictures and artifacts that help chronicle the story of how the railways developed in Hong Kong

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

6 historical coaches are inside the museum Hong Kong Railway Museum Overview2 201208.jpg
6 historical coaches are inside the museum

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

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References

  1. "Hong Kong Railway Museum". Hong Kong Heritage Museum . Retrieved 15 May 2022. Address: 13 Shung Tak Street, Tai Po Market, Tai Po, Hong Kong.
  2. Hong Kong Railway Museum, Hong Kong Tourism Board
  3. "Old Tai Po Market Railway Station - Declared Monuments". Antiquities and Monuments Office. Hong Kong Government. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  4. Hong Kong Railway Museum. Regional Council. 1986. p. 7.
  5. "KCRC donates Hong Kong's first diesel electric locomotive to Hong Kong Railway Museum". Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation. 18 May 2004.
  6. "Fanling - Sha Tau Kok Branch Line" (PDF). Hong Kong Heritage Museum.
  7. "1:1 Yelloe-head model ". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 16 February 2011.