Another first for ZIWA’s intrepid Discovering Zurich &
Switzerland group was Tuesday afternoon’s guided tour of the Tram Museum,
housed in the old tram depot in Burgwies. Zürich
is famous for its comprehensive tram network, but less well known is its
history and the variety of trams in use over the past 130 years. After some
elaborate negotiations at the cash desk, twenty ladies were admitted into the
hall housing a tram collection dating back to 1882. There we were able to climb
inside the cars varying in age from 1897 to 1968, as well as learning something
of the history of the tram network. It was an afternoon well spent for the
transport enthusiast.
Our guide Hans Ryffel knew everything about the old tram companies
who each commissioned their own liveried tramcars in distinctive colours. The
earliest trams were horse-drawn and the network supported as many as 200 horses
at the end of the 19th century. In 1900 electric trams were
introduced on the 1 metre gauge tram tracks still in use today. Early tram
routes ran from Seefeld to the main station, and on to Paradeplatz and Enge; the
Glattbrugg line ran through Oerlikon and went as far as the Rigibahn, and a
tram line even ran across the Münsterbrücke. Eventually the private companies
were taken over by the city and more inner city lines were built.
The tram museum contains working examples of all ages of the
Zurich tram, all lovingly maintained by a Verein of volunteers. The city of
Zurich owns the trams in the museum as they are also insured to travel on the
city tram line: the Museum Line 21 runs every
last weekend of the month. All the tram cars in service were built locally,
some in the workshops in Schlieren. The
first electric trams had a driver and conductor and only ran one way, so a turning
loop was built at the end of each line. Early trams also pulled trailers and
even a post wagon. The trams were especially popular in winter, when people
left their cars at home. Smoking used to be permissible in the trailer section
of the tram. Articulated tramcars were constructed in 1966-68. The modern cobra tram has low entry for passengers but the space
for machinery under the cars is reduced.
The trams are powered from overhead power lines which send
up to 600 volts through the braker system to the controller. Wet lines or leaves on the line can still be a
problem today. At the tram museum, with a little imagination, one can still
smell the oil and smoke and hear the sound of the horses’ hooves clopping along the
tracks. For information about the Museum Line service as well as a guide to the
tram museum, see this link: www.tram-museum.ch.
You might even consider holding a party at the museum!
Thank you to Rowena for arranging the tour and to Anne-Marie
for coordinating the afternoon visit.
Julia Newton, 21 January 2015.
