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Shanghai Trolleybus Overhead Map, 1983

I sketched overhead wire arrangements in all cities I visited in China during 1983 where trolleybus systems operated.

 

Once I returned home, I drew trolleybus overhead maps using "old-fashioned" drafting techniques. (No computer-assisted drafting back then!)

 

I hoped that others interested in public transportation would be able to use these maps to "navigate" in Chinese cities. This actually did take place, in 1985: a group sponsored by the Light Rail Transit Association (London) used maps I drew. The LRTA tour visited Harbin, Anshan, Changchun, Dalian and Fushun in the Northeast, in addition to Beijing and Tianjin.

 

The LRTA tour leader said that, in Tianjin, some problem caused a major delay and the group did not have time to ride the metro (subway). However, he decided to ask the driver to stop at one of the stations so that the group would at least see the (old) Tianjin Metro. He showed the map to the driver, pointed to a station, and said, "We want to go here."

 

The Chinese guide looked at it, studied it for a moment, and said, "WHERE did you get this map!"

 

Some but not all of these maps were re-drafted for publication in "Trolleybus Magazine" (UK). I hope that these will be of interest.

 

Notes:

 

Tramway service in Shanghai was opened on 1908 March 15. Three companies, one British-owned, one French-owned, and one Chinese-owned, operated tramway service in Shanghai to 1949. The last tramway line was closed on 1975 November 30.

 

Trolleybuses began operation in Shanghai on 1914 November 15. Shanghai did not have the world's "first" urban trolleybus system, but has operated trolleybuses longer than any other city.

 

The first segment of the Shanghai Metro was opened on 1993 May 28. Today, there are 14 lines with a total system length of 538 km. Expansion plans outline a system of 22 lines, with a total system length of 877 km, by 2020. This system will connect with the Suzhou Metro, and the planned metro system in Wuxi.

 

Annual passenger traffic was 2,500 thousand million at 2013.

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Uploaded on May 4, 2012
Taken in April 1984