BANGKOK TRAMWAYS (1894-1968)

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at Lumpini Park

Tram map from 1958
Line details
The Tramway Division office is at Sam Yeak area where New Road intersects with Lamphunchai Road.
Distance:
1) Bangkholem line - 9.18 km
2) Samsen line - 11.67 km
3) Bang Sue line - 4.05 km
4) Dusit line - 11.49 km
5) Hua Lamphong line - 4.51 km
6) Silom line - 4.54 km
7) Prathumeasn line - 3.10 km
Total 48.54 km

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BANGKOK ELECTRICAL SUPPLY 1931

The Siam Electricity Co., .Ltd.-This company was formed and incorporated in Copenhagen on December 27, 1898, for the purpose of acquiring the concessions, contracts and rights of the former companies and started its existence with a registered capital of £33,400.

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Trams, old and new
The Modern Tramway for August 1955. It shows the subtle differences between the modernised trams, probably with the imported English parts and the local version. The numbers displayed might be expected to be service running numbers, but as they are so obviously posed, they may well represent the tram numbers for the occasion - 203, 17 and 3. Note also that the two modern trams are not fitted with towing gear.


Tram 18 info ...it is the Yellow Tram line (Bang Kho Laem line) in front of Wat Sam Jin (Wat Trai Mitr), near Odean Circle.


a copy of Modern Tramway (March, 1969) which contains a contemporary account of the closing of the Bangkok tram system in 1968.

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The last tram sign - September 26, 2004
Bangkok tram stop sign near Wat Chai Chana Songkhram intersection in Chinatown


The trams are gone, but there are still some tracks to be seen. The building on the left in the photo is the Lak Meuang building. There may be other tracks around.


Tram #9, circa 1964-65 is definitely taken at Phan Fah Intersection (on Ratchadamnoen Avenue). The pink-grey building is the SAS office in Bangkok. SAS was the partner of Thai Inter when Thai Inter was just starting up. Today that building is home to Deves Insurance PCL (an insurance company in which the Crown Property Bureau is a major shareholder).

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some frame grabs from a 1906 film of the Bangkok trams.

Bangkok streets in 1959!
     

   

Tram ticket prices during the WWII
Before May 17, 1945:
2nd class: 6 satang/3000 meters (2 satang/km)
1st class: 12 satang/3000 meters (4 satang/km)
Bus tickets .g. Nai Lert White buses, Bangkok Municipal green buses, etc.): 12 satang/km (due to price controls during from the War Time Act BE 2485 (1942))
After May 17, 1945:
2nd Class: 10 satang/2500 meters (4 satang/km)
1st Class: 20 satang/2500 meters (8 satang/km)

Tram Fare Rates (from Jan 1, 1950 to October 1, 1968)
Bangkok Tram Line Name - 2nd class fare rate - 1st class fare rate
1. Bangsue-Kiakkai-Bang Krabue - 10 Satang - 20 Satang
2. Bangkrabue-Samsen-Wireless Road - 25 Satang - 50 Satang
3. City Pillar-New Road-ang Kholaem (Thanon Tok) - 25 Satang - 50 Satang
4. Silom Bridge-Sala Daeng-Pratoo Nam - 15 Satang - 30 Satang (shortened to Pratoo Nam to Saladaeng around December 1950)
5. Yotse-Natioanl Stadium-Pratoo Nam - 10 Satang - 20 Satang
6. Thewet-Saphan Dam-Hua Lamphong - 15 Satang - 30 Satang
7. Bang Lamphoo-Phan Fah-Wat Liab - 15 Satang - 30 Satang (or Bang Lamphoo - Tha Tian - Wat Liab)

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Early 1890s - Tram and trailer
Note the very early tram and trailers design.


Trams being built in a workshop
Wisarut Bholsithi informs us this is probably the one at Maen Sri Intersection (AKA Saphan Dam)
not far from the Maensri Branch of the Metropolitan Waterworks


Sprinkler tram passing the tramway office site


1896 - Charoen Krung Road area


1896 - Charoen Krung Road area

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Tram interior


Undated photo of an early-style tram on the Bang Krabue-Saladaeng line going over a bridge.


Magic lantern slide of "Bangkok Electric Tram"circa 1894
(from the collection of Ric Francis)


Official opening of the SEC Tramway in 1901 with Tram No 4 leading. It is only photo of the first fleet of SEC on opening day with HM the King and the Crown Prince on board.

 
The cover of Chai Ya Pook magazine from 1968. Now nearly forgotten, the trams were a everyday part of Thai city life for nearly 100 years.


Tram control panel (in Belgian) with control handles removed. The left dial controls speed and the right handle controls forward or backward motion


Tramway sign on New Road. Look close! On the left side of the nearest pole is a triangular sign with three stars. This is the tramway sign.


A present day photo of a tram stop sign
Wisarut Bholsithi informs us this is probably the last tram sign at Yaowarat Road near Werng Nakhonkasem

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a tram at Bangsue Terminus


Close-up of the tram's front bumper with a date: "26-11-2501"


Here is Paknam Railway Station with three Nippon Sharyo cars


The share certificate was issued in Bruxelles with a capital stock of 12,000,000 de Francs with details indicating that the share capital was arranged between 1912 and 1924. The attractive share issue is green and has a drawing of the route as it passed behind Wat Prakeo.
The Bangkok Tramways system had many facets


The back of the certificate. It appears on one of the cancellation stamps that some or all of the issue was retired as late as 1950

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The (last) daily tram
Bangkok tram, circa 1964-65. Rapee points out that The Transport Co.Ltd. building on the corner of Thanon Maharat and Thanon Naphralan is now the Siam City Bank


Bangkok tram, circa 1964-65

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