Old Penang: Weld Quay

As you can see, Penang once had a decent public transport system.

Trolleybus No. 36 passing by the Railway Jetty at Weld Quay - Photograph from Ric Francis, also published in his book Penang Trams, Trolleybuses and Railways

Thanks to Ric for this photo from the 1950s. Click on the photo to view a full-screen version.
Here you can see a trolleybus passing by the Railway Jetty along Weld Quay. The Railway Jetty was located at the site of the present-day Church Street Pier. You can see a newspaper vendor and money-changer at the entrance to the Jetty.
Trolleybuses, ferries and trishaws and not a car in sight. People used to buy a train ticket at the KTM office on the island and then hop on a ferry to the Prai Junction railway station, where they could board the trains. The two ferries shuttling to Prai in the early 1950s were known as ‘Elizabeth II’ and ‘Victoria’, recalled a senior citizen. According to him, the trolley buses and tram cars were a major attraction for visitors to Penang. “It felt as if we were entering a foreign land.”
The present railway station in Butterworth was only opened in 1967.
Unfortunately, the state government is now taking the regressive step of catering for private motor vehicles with all the road infrastructure projects in the pipeline.
If you have any other old photos to share of places and people of interest, do send them to me. (See ‘Submit photos’ link at the top of the page.)