Dennis Dominator 6X2 Dragon 10.4m Photographs (Page 6)

The photographs and text below belong to Anthony Lui. You may set it as the wallpaper in your PC. However, you must seek Anthony Lui's permission and state the source before you place any of the pictures on the WWW or show it in public. Self-discipline is expected as I do not put my name in the pictures so as to retain its originality.

Citybus Trolleybus

The Transport Department in Hong Kong conducted a series of feasibility studies on the use of trolleybuses in Hong Kong. Citybus Limited carried out a similar study in parallel and in June 2001, they converted 10.4m dragon 701 (GD1492, DDA2202-985) to the world's first air-conditioned double deck trolleybus. A 100m long overhead wiring circuit was set up at their bus park in Wong Chuk Hang as testing track. A Dennis Eagle fire engine withdrawn from the Fire Services Department was converted to a wiring vehicle. Power supply was provided by a diesel generator hired from Ajax Pong, a local construction machinery supplier and a temporary transformer room. The bus was tested from late 2001 to 2003. The government later turned down the idea of trolleybus system owing to the complicated operation environment and lack of routes in favour of the operation. The trolleybus test was put to an end in 2003. The overhead cables were dismantled in 2005 and the bus was scrapped in 2010.

Temporary transformer room for the trolleybus circuit.

Trolleybus, diesel generator and overhead cables in Ocean Park bus park.

On 23 November 2001, Anthony was kindly escorted by Citybus engineers to the depot for close-up photos and a detailed introduction of the vehicle.

Exterior views of the bus.

Lite Vision display control, periscope, air-conditioning control, electrical control.

Switchboard behind driver.

Entrance

Side view of engine room.

During normal operation, the bus used electric traction motor with electricity supplied from the overhead cables. When the bus overtook a broken down trolleybus in front, encountered power supply failure or negotiated a short distance with no overhead cables (e.g. under flyovers or in tunnels), the driver could lower the electric bow with pulleys at the back and switch the power to a 100kW General Electric diesel turbine.

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Page created: 30 October 2011