KERETA API BUKIT BENDERA / PENANG HILL RAILWAY. Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Postcard

KERETA API BUKIT BENDERA
PENANG HILL RAILWAY
Pulau Pinang

Postcard.

The Penang Hill Railway was opened on 21 October 1923 after the failure of a previous attempt, built between 1901 and 1905, but did not work due to technical faults. It has a length of 1,996 meters (6,549 ft) and connects Air Itam, on the outskirts of the city of Pulau Pinang (former Georgetown, during British colonization) with Penang Hill, at an altitude of 833 m (2,733 ft). Until 2010, the Penang Hills Funicular Railway had two independent sections due to the difference in gradient between the lower and upper section, and passengers were required to change trains at the middle station. The first carriages were wooden with defined first and second class compartments in each one. The four carriages were in use on the railway for over 50 years until they were retired in 1977 and replaced with new carriages which had fans and automatic sliding doors.

Thanks to Marian K.