Hong Kong Railway Museum reopens October 4 with new display of Diesel Electric Engine No. 60 (with photos)
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L60, which commenced operation in 1974, was one of the last fleet of diesel electric engines introduced to Hong Kong for the Kowloon-Canton Railway. Operating on the East Rail Line, L60 had witnessed the golden era of railway freight services between Hong Kong and the Mainland. Following the full electrification of the Kowloon-Canton Railway in 1983, L60 was withdrawn from passenger services and switched to hauling freight and maintenance trains. It was named after Mr Peter Quick, the second Managing Director of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC), and was the last locomotive named after a person in Hong Kong. After serving Hong Kong for nearly half a century, L60 was retired from service in 2021. L60 was handed over to the HKRM for its permanent collection and display by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRC), with the conservation work supervised by the Conservation Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD).
Addressing the handover ceremony today (October 3), the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu, said that it was a piece of great news for train fans and the general public to have another large-scale railway artefact added to the HKRM's collection, following Historical Coach No. 313 in 2020. It is believed that L60 can further enhance public interest in the historical development of the local railway.
Other officiating guests included the Managing Director - Hong Kong Transport Services of the MTRC, Ms Jeny Yeung; the Operations and Innovation Director of the MTRC, Dr Tony Lee; the Company Secretary of the KCRC, Mr C L Wong, and the Museum Director of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Mr Brian Lam.
Fabricated primarily from metal materials, L60 was subjected to prolonged exposure to outdoor environments throughout its service life. As a consequence, the iron parts of the locomotive inevitably suffered from corrosion and deterioration of its protective coating. In preparation for its relocation to the HKRM, the conservators from the Conservation Office conducted extensive conservation work and applied a protective coating to the locomotive at the MTR Lo Wu Locomotive Running Shed in order to minimise the rate of deterioration of the locomotive and ensure its suitability for outdoor display.
To complement this new, precious and historically meaningful exhibit L60, the HKRM has arranged to provide multimedia information of the exhibit through the LCSD's "iM Guide" mobile app to offer visitors a more vivid and interesting experience.
This year also marks the 110th anniversary of the construction of the Old Tai Po Market Railway Station, in which the HKRM is located. The HKRM is presenting the "Stories Behind Built Heritage: Old Tai Po Market Railway Station Celebrates 110 Years" exhibition to introduce the history and development of the station as well as its relationship with the Tai Po community through historical photos collected from different parties. Visitors can fondly recall memories of their past train journeys through the photographs. For details of the exhibitions, please visit the website at hk.heritage.museum/en/web/hm/museums/railway.html or call 2653 3455 for enquiries.
In addition to the new exhibit L60, there are more special exhibits in the museum, including the first diesel electric engine in Hong Kong No. 51, narrow gauge steam locomotive once in service on the Sha Tau Kok Branch Line, and other historical coaches of different eras that railway fans should not miss. The HKRM is located at 13 Shung Tak Street, Tai Po Market, Tai Po, Hong Kong.
Ends/Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Issued at HKT 18:53
Issued at HKT 18:53
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