百載鐘鳴 Centenary of the Bell

【 #鐘樓等】火車捐山窿，咿嘩鬼叫！

常說「火車捐山窿」，乘坐過舊九廣鐵路火車穿越隧道的朋友，可記得當時的況味？九廣鐵路英段於1910年通車，同年啟用的煙墩山隧道(舊筆架山隧道)曾為此段所經的一條隧道，至1981年停用。

受訪者陳太自小在九龍長大，回憶小學時，最開心就是一年一度的學校秋季旅行：「那時候在九龍車站乘火車到新界，如彭福公園，最記得是火車捐山窿時，整卡車漆黑一片，我們全班同學咿嘩鬼叫，老師則摟着大家。」今天，火車對大家可能只是一種交通工具，但那些年，乘坐火車可是一趟興奮刺激的旅程！

至於鐘聲？「我1952年才出世呢。」1950年，鐘樓停止了鳴鐘報時，是至2021年才重新響起。

【 】Choo choo! Train through tunnel!

For those who have had a train ride through the tunnels in the early days, do you remember how it was like? The Kowloon-Canton Railway British Section opened for traffic in 1910, the Old Beacon Hill Tunnel was used at the same year until 1981.

Interviewee Mrs Chan grew up in Kowloon, her happiest memories during her primary school years were the annual autumn school picnics, “we took the train from Kowloon Terminus to the New Territories, like Penfold Park. I remember clearly when the train went through the tunnel, the entire coach went dark and all my classmates just screamed and shouted. Our teachers would then held us in their arms.” Today, the train is a common transport for all, but in those years, riding a train was an exciting journey!

What about the bell sound? “I was born in 1952!” The Clock Tower stopped chiming to report time in 1950. Only until 2021, it rang again.

圖片顯示一列火車正駛離車站，背景為尖沙咀九廣鐵路總站大樓及鐘樓。
The photo shows that a train is leaving the station, with the Kowloon Terminus and Clock Tower at the back.

圖片由香港歷史博物館提供
Photo provided by Hong Kong Museum of History

#百載鐘鳴 #用鐘聲留住回憶 #尖沙咀鐘樓

【 #鐘樓知多少】最早的香港旅遊書

於1938年初版的《香港指南》，是現存最早的香港旅遊指南書之一。作者陳公哲概述了港九新界的名勝古蹟和風土人情，也為來訪香港的遊客提供衣食住行等實用資訊。當中，怎少得介紹九廣鐡路？

據書中所述，自九廣鐵路(又稱廣九鐵路)與粵漢鐵路接軌後，「由本港可乘火車至漢口轉北平，經東北西伯利亞、莫斯科、華沙而達柏林，計分六段，為期祇十八日耳。」

書中亦有當年九廣鐵路行車時間表，其中分為慢車、花車、飛星等。慢車就是由九龍站開，站站停，包括油蔴地、沙田、大埔、大埔墟、粉嶺、上水達至深圳；而花車則由九龍站開，直達粉嶺或上水；飛星則直接從九龍站直達深圳，只需35分鐘。

送上舊照數幀，不妨一邊翻閱《香港指南》，一邊回顧香港昔日風貌！

線上閱讀：https://bit.ly/3t0svD3

【 】The Earliest Hong Kong Travel Book

Hong Kong Guide first published in 1938 was one of the earliest Hong Kong travel guide books. Author Chan Kung-che introduced the historical sites and local customs of Hong Kong, and listed out useful information for tourists, including the Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR).

Stated in the book, after the KCR (aka Canton-Kowloon Railway) was connected with the Canton-Hankow Railway, it took 18 days and in total of 6 sections to travel by train from Hong Kong, changing at Hankow to Beiping, then passing through northeastern Siberia, Moscow, Warsaw and arriving upon Berlin.

The train schedule of the KCR at that time was also in the book, divided into “Slow Train”, “Flower Train” and “Flying Star” etc. “Slow Train” indicated starting at Kowloon Terminus, stopping at every stop, including Yaumati, Sha Tin, Tai Po, Tai Po Market, Fanling, Sheung Shui and arriving at Shenzhen. “Flower Train” meant directly from Kowloon Terminus to Fanling or Sheung Shui, while “Flying Star” meant directly from Kowloon Terminus to Shenzhen using only 35 minutes.

Here are some historical photos for you to read along with the book and reminisce the old Hong Kong!

e-book (Chinese only): https://bit.ly/3t0svD3

歷史圖片由香港文化博物館提供，九廣鐵路公司捐贈
Historical photos provided by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, donated by Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation

#百載鐘鳴 #用鐘聲留住回憶 #尖沙咀鐘樓 #九龍總站

【 #鐘樓等】 #照片徵集 投稿分享

感謝粉絲李先生的投稿。

這張出自他手的照片攝於1976年，讓人得見昔日的火車站風貌。據他憶述，火車站給他最深刻的印象是每年清明節出發往和合石班次的擠逼場面，有時甚至需調動運豬車卡接載乘客。「接近半個世紀的照片，不算久遠，然而拍的時候不知道建築物日後會變成如何。隨着歲月流逝，同類景物日漸消失，不勝唏噓。」

你也有收藏1978年或之前的舊火車站照片嗎？歡迎分享。

【 】 Fan’s Sharing

Thank you Mr Lee for his sharing!

This photo was shot by him in 1976 showing us what the railway station was like in the good old days. He remembers vividly that the station used to be packed with people heading to Wo Hop Shek Cemetery during every Ching Ming Festival, and sometimes even coaches for pigs were used to carry passengers. “This photo was taken half a century back, not very long ago. But little did we know at that time, what will happen to the building after this shot. As time passes, it is saddening to see these sceneries disappear one after another.”

Do you have photos of the former Terminus on or before 1978? Welcome to share with us!

#百載鐘鳴 #用鐘聲留住回憶 #尖沙咀鐘樓 #回憶收集

【 #鐘樓知多少】1949年，九龍往廣州的頭等車票幾多錢？

有人知道上世紀30、40年代一張九龍至上水的頭等車票幾多錢嗎？

答案是$1.7。那算是便宜還是貴？當時一般工人的月薪由$2至$45不等，所以對低收入人士而言，一程火車票可能已是一個月人工！除了車票，車站亦設月台票，供大眾為親友送行。

那麼試猜猜，一張九龍至廣州的頭等車票在1949年賣多少錢？
答案稍後揭曉！有圖有真相！

【 】How much did a first-class ticket from Kowloon to Guangzhou cost in 1949?

Do you have any idea how much did a first-class ticket from Kowloon to Sheung Shui cost in the 1930s-40s?

The answer is $1.7! Was it cheap or expensive? The monthly salary of a worker ranged from $2 to $45 at that time, meaning it can cost people with low income a month’s salary to buy a single journey ticket! Apart from train tickets, platform tickets were sold in the Terminus for people to walk with their associates to the train.

Let’s take a guess how much did a first-class ticket from Kowloon to Guangzhou cost in 1949. Check out the answer in the comment section!

火車票圖片由香港文化博物館提供，九廣鐵路公司捐贈
Photos of tickets are provided by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, donated by the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation.

#百載鐘鳴 #用鐘聲留住回憶 #九廣鐵路

【 #鐘樓有段故】發思古之幽情

藉着鐘鳴百載，跟大家來重新認識鐘樓和鐘聲的意義，從美學及文物角度去了解自己身處之地 —— 一個城市之所以美，是多得人們駐足觀賞。

當年香港文物學會曾呼籲保留九龍總站：「尖沙咀火車總站是香港優美建築物之一，建成於一九一零年，過去一向為九廣鐵路起點，鐵路經廣州並蜿延北上，貫通中國，遠達歐洲，有極輝煌的歷史文物價值。車站建築，鐘樓圓柱，典雅宏偉，富有特色，雄視附近高二十層新型大廈，這車站正刻劃着時代邁進的標誌⋯⋯」在其於1977年予港督麥理浩的信件中，亦提示了舊火車站及鐘樓的價值；也讓我們記得當下的生活，每每跟過往有着連繫。

單是閱讀這些文字，舊火車站足以叫人發思古之幽情，也讓我們更珍惜鐘樓，以至香港文化中心與維港一帶的景致。前面的風景，還等著我們。

【 】Ruminating the History

In celebration of the Centenary of the Bell, it’s time to re-recognize the Clock Tower and the meaning behind the chimes. A city is beautiful when it gets enough contemplation, when people understand the place’s aesthetic and historical values.

The Hong Kong Heritage Society once called for the preservation of the Kowloon Terminus highlighting its historical value:

“The Kowloon Canton Railway Terminal Building at Tsim Sha Tsui is just one example of HK’s heritage. It is a dignified architectural statement and an historic monument marking the termination of the railway system northwards to Canton, China and beyond to Europe. It is a considerable landmark possessing great scale and significance despite the changed environmental conditions and the constructions of 20 storey buildings nearby...”

It’s hard not to ruminate over history by reading the above words, and cherish more not only the Clock Tower, but also the view along the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Victoria Harbour. The scenery ahead is awaiting.

#百載鐘鳴 #用鐘聲留住回憶 #尖沙咀鐘樓 #九廣鐵路
#香港文物學會

【 #鐘樓知多少】鐘樓與風球

說起鐘樓與颱風，可能你會想到電視台記者在海傍報導風暴消息的畫面。兩者看似風馬牛不相及，但要是知道香港的颱風信號歷史，可能會有意外發現。

自1884年開始，當有風暴迫近香港的時候，會鳴放「風炮」警告市民烈風將會吹襲本港。1907年開始改用燃放炸藥的巨響代替「風炮」。而在1917年香港首次採用的數字颱風信號系統正是現時熱帶氣旋警告信號的雛型，目的是向市民及港內船隻預警熱帶氣旋吹襲時的風力及風向，在夜間則以三盞紅、綠、白色的信號燈顯示不同信號。風球除於香港天文台 HKO總部及其他信號站懸掛外，尖沙咀鐘樓亦曾是其中一個顯示夜間燈號的地方。

【 】The Clock Tower and Typhoon Signals

The Clock Tower and typhoons seems to have no connection, but if you look at the history of the typhoon signals in Hong Kong, it may surprise you.

Starting from 1884, a typhoon gun was used to warn local public about imminent gale force winds in Hong Kong due to impending storms. The typhoon gun was replaced by explosive bombs starting from 1907. The first set of numbered tropical cyclone signals, the prototype of the current tropical cyclone warning signals, was introduced in Hong Kong in 1917 to warn citizens and marine community the wind speed and direction brought by tropical cyclones. Red, green and white lights were used to display different signals at night. Apart from hoisting signals at the Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters and other signal stations, the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower was also one of the locations for displaying the night signals.

圖片由香港天文台提供 Images provided by the Hong Kong Observatory

#百載鐘鳴 #用鐘聲留住回憶 #香港文化中心 #香港天文台 #颱風

【 #鐘樓等】 鐘樓旁有檔報紙檔

哪個香港人與鐘樓最親近？可能是尖沙咀碼頭的報紙檔檔主！馮小姐和馮先生兩姐弟已是家中第三代檔主，「由婆婆到阿媽，到我們兩姐弟，一直在這裏擺檔。」

馮小姐笑說：「小時候學校旅行會去沙田，或去萬佛寺，都是在這裏搭火車，高興得很。那時這裏有不少小販和人力車，非常熱鬧，我們也不時走進火車站吃飯，晚上欣賞美麗的噴水池。掃墓或是過新年時人最多，搶購車票回鄉。」馮先生亦說：「我還記得姐姐帶我去看牙醫！當時火車站大樓內有牙醫診所的！沒變的就是這個巴士站，一直未拆。」

可曾聽過鐘聲？馮小姐想一想說：「好像聽過，不過不記得了。」這時，在旁的弟弟插嘴說：「我們都未出來幫手。哈哈。」

【 】 The Newspaper Stall at Clock Tower

Speaking of the neighbours of the Clock Tower, there are owners of the newspaper stalls at the Tsim Sha Tsui pier. Miss and Mr Fung, sister and brother, are the third generation owners of the family-run newspaper stall. “From grandma to our mother, to us, we have always been here.”

“When we went on school trips to Sha Tin or the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, we were so excited because we could travel by train,” Miss Fung smiles, “it bustled with hawkers and rickshaws back then. Sometimes after having our meals at the station, we will enjoy the fountain view at night. There were a lot of people during grave sweeping season or Chinese New Year, they flocked to buy tickets to go home.” Mr Fung exclaims, “I still remember my sister took me to see the dentist! There was a dental clinic in the Terminus! The one thing that remains unchanged is the bus terminus.”

Have they ever heard the chimes? Miss Fung says after a thought, “I think so, but I can’t remember.” Her brother cuts in, “we were too young to help at the stall back then.”

圖片由香港歷史博物館提供
Photo provided by the Hong Kong Museum of History

#百載鐘鳴 #尖沙咀鐘樓 #香港文化中心 #用鐘聲留住回憶

【 #用鐘聲留住回憶】感知時間，感知歷史

古人透過日出日落掌握時晨，從中領悟一分一秒的規律運作；現在我們從鐘樓的建築感知過去，回溯香港鐵路發展。

反應熱烈的兩場鐘樓紙模型工作坊及講座於上月順利舉行。相信現場和網上觀眾不單洞悉了時間同步的奧妙，得知更多鐘樓歷史，亦在拼砌模型從中欣賞鐘樓的建築美。齊來看看他們的成品吧！

錯過了的朋友不妨到以下連結重溫工作坊及講座，同時亦可在此下載鐘樓紙模型組件及教學：https://bit.ly/3lU301H
鐘樓趣史講座： https://www.facebook.com/tstclocktower/videos/1849558171921851
時間科學的演進講座： https://www.facebook.com/tstclocktower/videos/1346827029079471

【 】Perceiving Time and History

In the old times, people calculated time by sunrise and sunset, through which, sensed the rhythm of minutes and seconds. Today, looking at the history of the Clock Tower, we can trace back the development of railway transportation in Hong Kong.

The Clock Tower Paper Model workshops and seminars were completed with overwhelming responses last month. Participants got to know more about the science behind time synchronisation and the history of the Clock Tower. Everyone had a great time appreciating the architectural beauty of the monument while building their own models. Let’s have a look at their amazing works!

If you have missed the event, please click the below links to watch the archived workshop and seminars! You can also download pattern of the paper model and instructions here: https://bit.ly/3lU301H
Soft History of the Clock Tower Seminar Video: https://www.facebook.com/tstclocktower/videos/1849558171921851
Evolution of Time Science Seminar Video:
https://www.facebook.com/tstclocktower/videos/1346827029079471

#百載鐘鳴 #尖沙咀鐘樓 #香港文化中心 #鐘樓紙模型工作坊 香港天文台 HKO 展城館 City Gallery

【 #鐘樓憶記】鐘樓下的熠熠星光

多年來有不少電影在鐘樓前取景，西方電影有1955年的《江湖客》(Soldier of Fortune)，經典港產片有《無敵幸運星》、《咖喱辣椒》，記錄了鐘樓的面貌。

說到經典，不得不重看的還有李小龍的沙龍。1972年3月21日，李小龍於尖沙咀海旁為翌日上映的《精武門》拍攝宣傳，背景正是前九廣鐵路九龍總站大樓及鐘樓。

時至今天，由李小龍會籌建的「世紀之星李小龍」銅像矗立於鐘樓旁的香港星光大道 Avenue of Stars Hong Kong，大家在眺望維港景色的同時，亦可緬懷這一代巨星的昔日風采。

【 】The Stars under the Clock Tower

Many movies have once shot at the Clock Tower. Western movies like “Soldier of Fortune” in 1955 and Hong Kong classics “When Fortune Smiles”, “Curry and Pepper” have captured the Clock Tower in the films.

Speaking of classics, you can’t miss these photos of Bruce Lee! On 21 March 1972, Bruce Lee took promotion shots at the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade in front of the former Kowloon-Canton Railway Kowloon Terminus and Clock Tower before “Fist of Fury” premiered the next day.

“The Star of Century” Bruce Lee statue funded by the Bruce Lee Club is placed at the Avenue of Stars Hong Kong next to the Clock Tower. With the breathtaking view of the Victoria Harbour, let’s reminisce the charisma of this legendary star.

圖片提供及鳴謝 Photo credits:
劉善生James Lau
吳貴龍Ng Kwai Lung
黃耀強Wong Yiu Keung (李小龍會Bruce Lee Club)

#百載鐘鳴 #用鐘聲留住回憶 #尖沙咀鐘樓 #李小龍 #香港電影 #香港星光大道