The Peak Tram is a funicular tram which became in service in 1888 after 3 years of construction.
It was built in 1888 by Findlay Smith, who owned the Peak Hotel, now owned by Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, the Peak Tram has been associated with the Kadoorie family since the beginning. They were shareholders of the Peak Hotel (now the Galleria). It was built to attract more guests at the Peak hotel.
As per ‘Industries and Iron’, volume 4, published in 1888: ‘When en route to Japan in 1876, I had the pleasure to meet, in Chicago, Mr. A. Findlay Smith, of Hong Kong, and during our journey between there and Yokohama he spoke of a tramway which he thought could be made to the Peak on the mountain behind the city of Victoria, and on meeting him again after the lapse of eleven years, I was both surprised and delighted to find his former crude ideas not only matured, but worked out; and I believe the Hong Kong High Level Tramway will be in operation before this is in print.’
It was originally created to cater to the transportation needs of the wealthy who lived on Victoria Peak and the Peak hotel itself. In 1926 after the change of operating power for the cables from steam to electricity another big change came: anyone could board the tram but there it was divided in three classes. The first class was reserved to white residents, the second to members of the Hong Kong police and British armed forces, the third being for the rest of the people. This class system finally came to an end in the 1960s for the Peak Tram to become the one we know of.
Every few years the Peak Tram is modified for it to be more safe and for there to be more seats. So far there have been 5 generations of Peak Tram. The one most of us know dates from 1989 and will end on the 28th of June 2021. During a period of six months an overhaul will take place in the goal of increasing the number of passenger capacity from 120 to 210 people per tramcar and they will put in place a new control system. Also the waiting time for the passengers will be reduced and the waiting area on Garden Road will be renovated. The Tram renovations should be finished by late 2021.
Every few years the Peak Tram is modified for it to be more safe and for there to be more seats. So far there have been 5 generations of Peak Tram. The one most of us know dates from 1989 and ended on the 28th of June 2021. Matthew Ng captured the peak tram right before it’s last overhaul.
Matthew Ng had his first encounter with photography at the age of 14 by borrowing his father’s camera for then on photography has become an integral part of his creative life. He dabbled into different genres such as wildlife, portraiture and street photography. He finally got hooked to landscape photography which is his main focus today.
Matthew is obsessive when it comes to achieving the highest possible quality for an image. Hence why his choice of camera is a medium format Phase One XF paired with IQ4 and 150 Megapixels. To fully unlock the potential of the camera, Matthew loves to see his work translated to large prints which gives the viewer the opportunity to immerse himself in the landscape as if he was there. His eye for detail goes beyond the equipment though and extends to composition, light, ideas and concepts.
In this little mini series on the peak tram Matthew’s eye for detail is present. Wishing to picture the tram without the reference to the city he sought locations to which the tram can be seen stripped from its concrete background. His tram portrait feels serene and pure, almost surreal. In the same presentation we are showing some historic prints from the Blue Lotus collection depicting the peak tram soon after its maiden voyage. Comparing this to the image of the old peak tram shot 130 years ago it's as if time has stood still and nothing changed apart from the trees maturing and growing taller.
In his mini series there is a picture that stands out from the rest, the picture of the terminus at the top of the tram line. In Matthew’s photo the terminus is located inside a building that seems narrow. This is in stark contrast to the old albumen print taken around 1890 where we see the tram out in the open surrounded by mountains and the sky. The Victorian buildings in the old image are large and set far apart. It all seems very spacious compared to the current terminus and its surroundings today!
If you wish to receive the full Peak Tram catalogue, please inquire here.
