Wally Higgins Tram & Maeklong Rlwy Photos [Archive]

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ncr

07-03-06, 04:24 PM

Today's pic (http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Tram/higgins/tram673.jpg) is fantastic! I mean, that train looks like coming right out of the transportation museum....

The Krauss loco (1903 or 1906) is cute anyway. But those passenger carriages with their sunshades are the hoot.

45 years is a long time. Apart from the equipment, it also seems to me there was far less garbage strewn about the tracks back then - especially plastic (bags), of course.

More images to come, Ron?

von Hirschhorn

08-03-06, 08:23 PM

Yes, more fuel for dreaming of the nearby past.
By 1960 Bangkok was far from a tourist spot as it is today. A good thing to see some were privileged to come here and took pictures as well. Rare pictures, only not at the time of taking.

tram1

11-03-06, 07:32 AM

Can it be this late type tram is at Lopburri ?? the only town outside Bangkok to have a tramway system ?

GWR

20-04-06, 12:46 AM

Can't get enough of those Wally Higgins pictures on the frontpage!

But here's another article illustrated with Wally Higgins Pictures:-

http://www.tramz.com/tva/th.html

BANGKOK,
the capital of Thailand, spanning the Chao Phraya River, is a port and transport and manufacturing center. There are several hundred Bhuddist temples in the old section of the city, which is built on piles and pontoons with canals like Venice. The city was originally a fishing village and fort before becoming the imperial capital in 1782. A horse tramway opened on September 22, 1887. The electric tram system that was inaugurated by Bangkok Tramways Co. on Jan. 1, 1893, was the first in Asia. Bangkok Electric Light Syndicate opened another electric line in September 1901 and Siamese Tramways Co. opened a third on Oct. 1, 1905. The three companies merged on May 5, 1927, as Siamese Electricity Corporation, which eventually operated eight routes, 48.7 km of track and 206 trams. The photo shows a tram and trailer in the business district. Bangkok's urban system closed on Oct. 1, 1968.

BANGKOK also had two suburban electric railways.
The Paknam Railway, Thailand's first rail line, opened on April 11, 1893, connecting Bangkok with the deep water port of Paknam near the Gulf of Siam. The 21 km route with 10 stations was electrified on September 13, 1926. The line began opposite the central railroad terminal and followed Rama IV Road and the Hualampong Canal south of the city. The illustration shows a suburban train racing a tram train of the city system on February 28, 1959. The line closed on December 31, 1959. Photo by J. W. Higgins.

BANGKOK's other suburban line,
the Meklong Railway, connected the Thon Buri section of Bangkok on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River with the town of Ma Klong. The 34 km route was divided into two unconnected sections by the Meklong River at the fishing village of Maha Chai. The eastern section of the line was electrified in 1926-27 after the company was purchased by the government. It was de-electrified in 1955.

LOP BURI
is a provincial capital located north of Bangkok in central Thailand. The one tram route was opened on Jan. 31, 1955, with 5.75 km of track and 6 ex-Bangkok cars. It closed in 1962. Photo by J. W. Higgins.

GWR

20-04-06, 12:59 AM

http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/srt/timeline.shtml

01 January 1961
Khlong San-Wong Wian Yai section of Mahachai Line closed, Khlong San Station demolished

http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Tram/higgins/tram682.jpg

Love this picture with the Shocking Pink VW Beetle over on the left. It also seems that there are always Austin A40s and A40 Vans in Wally's pictures. In fact, I'm beginning to wonder if Wally ran around on photographic expeditions in THAT grey A40 van which seems to appear in every tram picture.

Here's a map that shows Khlong San Station, with a forum string to go with it. Ramaer's book 'The Railways of Thailand' has a picture of the Khlong San Station awning being used as a bus station after its closure, complete with a very snazzy up-to date BMW Bus (probably built at the Bangkok Thonburi BMW Bus Factory!):-

http://www.2bangkok.com/images/Bangkok1958.jpg

http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=1172

dick

20-04-06, 04:11 AM

And there's more Bangkoktram coming. Just today I've send my dutch article about Bangkoktram/Paknam and Ban Buathong Railway to a friend for translation for an english version for Tramway Review. Except the already known maps includes te article several ' unknown' Higgins trampictures. I don't know now when the article will be published, but soon as I know I will inform the Bangkoktram fans.

tram1

20-04-06, 07:08 AM

ncr

29-04-06, 03:15 AM

GWR

29-04-06, 09:13 AM

The latest "Wally Pic" (http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Tram/higgins/tram705.jpg) happens to show exactly the location where until this day, you can still find remnants of the tram rails.

Looking west; Ministry of Defense (the one with the ever turning cannons....:p ) on the left, Lak Muang (City Pillar Shrine) on the right.
That Grey Austin A40 van is back! Parked right behind the tram. Is there anyway we can ask Wally if it was his? In those days it would have been comparatively easy to park your motor fairly close to your photo op:-

http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Tram/higgins/tram705.jpg

When I was in my callow youth in about 1967-68, I once helped my next door neighbor who was in the process of renovating an old A40 Van. It was already a collector's item at that time.

Wisarut

30-08-07, 02:45 PM

Now, Someone has Stolen the book written by Khun Wally Higgins abotu Thai railways and Thai Tramway :( ... The book name is:

発掘カラー写真 1950・1960年代鉄道原風景海外編

I better buy a New Copy of That treasure as soon as Possible :(

tram1

01-09-07, 07:17 AM

Now, Someone has Stolen the book written by Khun Wally Higgins abotu Thai railways and Thai Tramway :( ... The book name is:

I better buy a New Copy of That treasure as soon as Possible :(

That would be the 1950-1960s Historic railway Scenes would it??
Great book Wally also had a other book that showed Trams of Thailand.
He sent me a copy of cover but it was all in japanese.
Ric

Wisarut

03-09-07, 11:30 AM

That would be the 1950-1960s Historic railway Scenes would it??
Great book Wally also had a other book that showed Trams of Thailand.
He sent me a copy of cover but it was all in japanese.
Ric

Yes, you are right ... and I DID gog to Tokyodo at Siam Paragon to buy that book AGAIN :D ;) :rolleyes: :p :cool: