You only see what you know (Goethe)
There are many ways to explore the German city of Frankfurt am Main. One of them is by riding the Ebbelwei-Expreß. This tram tours the most impressive sights and provides info via an audio guide. In addition, the passengers enjoy a glass of Ebbelwei.
Naumburg (Saale) still uses GDR tramcars on its tourism tramline. While walking along the tracks, this “Gothawagen” T57 overtook me. Its nickname refers to the manufacturer, the Gothaer Waggonfabrik in Gotha. T57 stands for 1957, its first year of production.
After a relaxing stay on the Traun Lake (Traunsee) in the region of Salzkammergut, it was time to head back to the far-away railway station of Gmunden. Surprisingly, a tram car from 1898 invited me to jump on.
Shortly after discovering a museum-related manhole cover, the next surprise overtook me. An OEG Salonwagen (saloon car) in the design of the 1920s rattled past me. Inside, passengers chilled and enjoyed the view. [German]
The transparent factory (Gläserne Manufaktur) of the Volkswagen plant in Dresden is supplied with material by means of a freight tram. The blue tram can only be seen at certain times in the streets of Dresden. This mural close to Dresden Mitte station gives you an impression of this rare streetcar. [German]
This tramcar still operated by the Naumburg Tramway was built in 1973. Even though this tramcar numbered N° 51 is of the same class as tramcar N° 50 it looks more lively. Fascinating how much difference some red paint can make.
This tramcar of the class 70/1 was built in 1971 and is still used by the Naumburg Tramway (Naumburger Straßenbahn) in Naumburg (Saale). The Naumburg Tramway is considered the smallest urban tramway in Germany and one of the smallest tramways in Europe.
I took this pic inside the depot of the museum tramway in Mariazell. The private association provides not only a museum tramway connecting the railway station of Mariazell with the nearby Erlauf Lake (Erlaufsee) but also consists of a fine selection of Austrian tramcars built before WW II. The depicted tramcar was designed by Austrian architect Otto Wagner.
Next to the Museum of Technology in Vienna, I came across this train of three tram cars. It is a rare view in Vienna today. A better chance to see a sample of classic tramcars is a visit to the Transport Museum Remise. Or you join a tramway tour with one of these cars.
The first district of Vienna is surrounded by a circle street called ‘The Ring’. Taking the yellow ‘Ring Tram’ is like taking a guided tour. The installed audio system explains in eight languages the buildings along the Ring. E.g. the Parliament Building, the Vienna State Opera and the Hofburg.
Update: The Ring Tram stopped their service with the beginning of the corona pandemic.
The Pöstlingberg Railway (Pöstlingbergbahn) links the main square of Linz with the Pöstling Hill (Pöstlingberg), which offers a great view of the city. The Pöstlingbergbahn is known as one of the world’s steepest adhesion-only railways.
