InTramCities with Gordon Stewart
Gmunden, Austria : 29th August,
2003
Gmunden is a small town of around 15,000
inhabitants located an the northern end of the Traunsee, a
picturesque lake whose southern half reaches deep into alpine
territory. The tramway at Gmunden runs downhill from the OBB
(Austrian Railways) station to the town centre at the lakeside, a
distance of 2.2 km. The line is single track with a passing loop at
Tennisplatz and a depot near the Kraftwerk tramstop.
The line was opened in August 1894, operated electrically from the
outset, with three two-axle trams, to which a fourth was added during
the the following year. Tram 5, which still survives in operatioinal
order for special occasional services, was purchased in 1911. Three
second hand cars were obtained after World War II and in 1962, a new
"Grossraum" tram (number 8) was delivered. Further strengthening of
the fleet was achieved after second hand Grossraum trams were
purchased from the Vestische Strassenbahn in Germany. Tram 9 entered
service in 1977 and 10 followed in 1983 after refurbishment locally
at Vorchdorf. A third car was bought for spares.
In 1975, the line, which had previously terminated at Rathausplatz,
was cut back to Franz-Josef-Platz. The reason given was to ensure
that trams did not interfere with new traffic lights installed in the
town centre. Recent proposals made by the town council give hope that
the line will be restored in the central area and extended to the
Seebahnhof to connect with the Traunseebahn, a local light railway
linking Gmunden with Vorchdorf and also operated by the Stern +
Hafferl company.
As a further indication that the tramway will not only survive, but
be extended, was given in the summer of 2003 when tram 107 was
operated on loan from Nordhausen in Germany. This was an example of
Siemens' popular "Combino" model, a 100% low-floor tram in modular
design, suitable in it's shorter form for smaller tram systems. After
ten days in Gmunden, the Combino ran trials on the Traunseebahn for
one day - and the success of the trial could
encourage not only the modernisation of the Gmunden Strassenbahn, but
also it's linking and integration with the Traunseebahn with 600
metres of new track.
| Date |
Film No |
No |
Location |
View |
Dir |
Tram |
| 29/08/2003 |
203113 |
1 |
Bahnhof |
In |
In |
10 |
| 29/08/2003 |
203113 |
2 |
Kraftwerk |
In |
Out |
10 |
| 29/08/2003 |
203113 |
3 |
Kraftwerk |
In |
Out |
10 |
| 29/08/2003 |
203113 |
4 |
Kraftwerk |
Out |
Out |
10 |
| 29/08/2003 |
203113 |
5 |
Kraftwerk |
|
|
8 |
| 29/08/2003 |
203113 |
6 |
Rosenkranz |
Out |
In |
10 |
| 29/08/2003 |
203121 |
1 |
Tennisplatz |
In |
Out |
10 |
| 29/08/2003 |
203121 |
2 |
Tennisplatz |
In |
Out |
10 |
| 29/08/2003 |
203121 |
3 |
Tennisplatz |
In |
Out |
10 |
| 29/08/2003 |
203121 |
4 |
Kuferzeile |
Out |
In |
10 |
| 29/08/2003 |
203121 |
5 |
Kuferzeile |
In |
In |
10 |
| 29/08/2003 |
203121 |
6 |
Esplanade |
Out |
In |
10 |
| 29/08/2003 |
203121 |
7 |
Franz-Josef-Platz |
In |
In |
10 |
| 29/08/2003 |
203121 |
8 |
Franz-Josef-Platz |
In |
|
10 |
| 29/08/2003 |
203121 |
9 |
Bahnhof |
In |
|
10 |
| Film No |
No |
Location |
View |
Dir |
Tram | |
| 203113 |
1 |
Bahnhof |
In |
In |
10 |  |
| 203113 |
2 |
Kraftwerk |
In |
Out |
10 |  |
| 203113 |
3 |
Kraftwerk |
In |
Out |
10 |  |
| 203113 |
4 |
Kraftwerk |
Out |
Out |
10 |  |
| 203113 |
5 |
Kraftwerk |
|
|
8 |  |
| 203113 |
6 |
Rosenkranz |
Out |
In |
10 |  |
| 203121 |
1 |
Tennisplatz |
In |
Out |
10 |  |
| 203121 |
2 |
Tennisplatz |
In |
Out |
10 |  |
| 203121 |
3 |
Tennisplatz |
In |
Out |
10 |  |
| 203121 |
4 |
Kuferzeile |
Out |
In |
10 |  |
| 203121 |
5 |
Kuferzeile |
In |
In |
10 |  |
| 203121 |
6 |
Esplanade |
Out |
In |
10 |  |
| 203121 |
7 |
Franz-Josef-Platz |
In |
In |
10 |  |
| 203121 |
8 |
Franz-Josef-Platz |
In |
|
10 |  |
| 203121 |
9 |
Bahnhof |
In |
|
10 |  |
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