Shanghai SK541 007
A trolleybus loops around the square in front of the World Trade Center. This is the closest point to the city center trolleybuses used to get to. The statue of King Tribhuvan is in the middle of the square.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
A trolleybus in the layover area on Tripura Path. As of the date of this photo, the layover time at the end of the line was usually within 5-10 minutes. This terminal stop boasted the only bus shelter on the system.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
A trolleybus approaches the Tripureshwor Terminal. Tripura Path was the only section of the line that went through an area of the city more or less reminiscent of the urban city center core.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
A trolleybus is pictured at the eastern end of Tripura Path. As of the date of this photo, only 3 vehicles operated throughout the day, thus limiting the variety of the rolling stock to be photographed.
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
A trolleybus turns onto Tripura Path, heading toward the city center. The conductor sticks a hand out of the window on the right side of the vehicle to signal for a turn.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
A trolleybus amid a typical Kathmandu traffic flow at the beginning of the final stretch of the line that leads toward the city center. The Tripura Sundari Temple is in the background.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
A trolleybus traverses through the Thapathali neighborhood at the fringes of the central area of the city.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 013
An opportunity shot from the window of a trolleybus moving in the opposite direction. Maitighar Square is visible in the immediate background.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 013
A trolleybus circles around Maitighar Square, located in the periphery of the central area of the city. The overhead link pictured upfront allowed for short turns around the square for inbound trips.
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 013
A trolleybus completes a loop around the square.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
An inbound trolleybus rolls down the hill toward Maitighar Square. Various types of gypsy midi-buses are visible in the background.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 0??
A photograph of the third trolleybus that operated in service on the day of this photo (besides 007, 013). The vehicle number remained unidentified. This trolleybus just made it up the hill from Maitighar Square at the beginning of the Arniko High Way corridor. The passenger load on this trip represents, perhaps, the heaviest load observed at the time.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
The section of the Arniko High Way corridor that is closest to the city center, is actually called Madan Bhandari Path.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
The Arniko High Way corridor is the main approach to the city from the east. It is also the main thoroughfare in the eastern part of Kathmandu Valley.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 013
A chaotic urban setting surrounding the high way corridor is interrupted by a well-groomed expanse of the park belonging to the Birendra International Convention Hall, visible in the background of this photo. From here on, Madan Bhandari Path officially becomes Arniko High Way (breaking the word "highway" into two is a peculiar local custom).
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 013
A trolleybus passes the Depot in the New Baneshwor neighborhood.
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
Curiously, the trolleybus and diesel bus stops were separated. Most diesel bus stops along Arniko High Way are rather lavishly furbished with service pockets and bus shelters. In this photo the trolleybus passes by the diesel bus stops situated on both sides of the high way and separated from the main roadway by the islands of greenery. A fancy diesel bus stop shelter is visible on the far left.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
The sections of the high way located farther away from the city center pass through rather chaotic urban landscapes. The trolleybus stops were not identified by any means and existed rather virtually, as a common knowledge among passengers and operators.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 0??
An unidentified trolleybus approaches the Ring Road, a belt highway that surrounds the city. The area around the merge is known as Tinkune. The intersection itself happens to be a huge triangle with a vast open space in the middle, with traffic allowed in both directions on each spur of the merge.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
Arniko High Way and Ring Road join together for a common stretch of less than 1 km in length. The Tinkune merge is in the background.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
Running with the front door opened for ventilation purposes is a common practice.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
A trolleybus enters a service pocket for transit vehicles prior to the Koteswor Terminal. Unlike other such pockets along Arniko High Way, this one is used by trolleybuses and diesel buses alike.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
Upon approaching the Koteswor Terminal, transit vehicles continue via the service pocket along Arniko High Way, behind a separating railing. The bi-directional lanes of the main roadway are to the left. A fence surrounding the Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport is visible in the background. Even though trolleybuses reached the area in the vicinity of the airport, they did not serve the airport terminal building itself.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
A trolleybus enters a tight turnaround at Koteswor, which was built in 2004 upon the line being cut back to the city limits only. The turnaround precedes a busy intersection, thus a U-turn is rather hard to complete. In this photo road repair workers remove their tools, so a trolleybus can pass.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
Upon completing a turnaround, a trolleybus makes an attempt to enter a shabbily separated transit layover service pocket shared with diesel buses. The overhead support poles for the former suburban section of the trolleybus line to Bhaktapur are visible in the background, in the far left.
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
As the layover area is blocked by diesel buses, the trolleybus driver opts for passing it altogether. India-built TATA midi-buses are popular in Nepal; in this photo they are represented by models of older and newer generations.
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
A trolleybus is lucky to find a spot within the layover area on this particular run, so it pauses for a usual 5-10 min allowed for layovers at each end of the line.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
The former suburban section of the trolleybus line with all the overhead removed. The last trolleybus ran here in 2004.
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Single poles were used to support the overhead in both directions.
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
An Indian-built TATA diesel bus in the former trolleybus terminal loop. The overhead remains within the loop only.
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 0?? & 011
Two trolleybuses are laying over in the loop during the better days for the trolleybus operation.
( 1980s , Jane's Urban Transport Systems )
A complete view of the entire terminal loop.
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 018
One of the last four or five serviceable vehicles that remained on the property at the time of this photo. Only three trolleybuses were sent into service on a daily basis. On the day in question 018 stayed behind at the depot.
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541
Curiously, older Shanghai SK541 vehicles were equipped with a driver's seat on the left side, while newer Shenfeng SY-D60C vehicles (in the background of this photo) had the driver's seat on the right.
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 010
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shenfeng SY-D60C 032
At the time of this photo, all ten newer Shenfeng SY-D60C trolleybuses, delivered in 1997, remained out of use due to complex maintenance requirements. This vehicle was perhaps the best preserved one out of the batch. Note the fleet number, 032, and compare with photos of another vehilce, also numbered 032.
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shenfeng SY-D60C ex-032
Even though this trolleybus is clearly out of order, for reasons not immediately clear, the fleet number 032 was given to another trolleybus of the same type, also pictured in this collection.
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shenfeng SY-D60C 024
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shenfeng SY-D60C 031
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shenfeng SY-D60C 030
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shenfeng SY-D60C
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shenfeng SY-D60C 029
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shenfeng SY-D60C
( 28.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
A conductor gave the 'stop' and 'go' signals by way of one vs. two hand taps on a partition.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
Even though adapted for the left-handed operation, older Shanghai SK541 vehicles retained a driver's seat on the left side.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )
Shanghai SK541 007
The vehicle fleet number was usually (but not always) scribbled with a light paint right below the rear license plate.
( 29.03.2007 , Stefan Mashkevich )