Trams in Kassel

Kassel tramway network
Tram no 458 with art – Das Kunstmagazin
wrap advertising, for documenta X, 1997.
Operation
Locale Kassel, Hesse, Germany
Steam tram era: 1877 (1877)–1897 (1897)
Status closed
Operator(s) Cassel Tramways Company
Casseler-Straßenbahn-Gesellschaft
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Propulsion system(s) steam
Horsecar era: 1884 (1884)–1909 (1909)
Status closed
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Propulsion system(s) Horses
Electric tram era: since 1897 (1897)
Status open
Operator(s) Kasseler Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (KVG) (since 1897)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Propulsion system(s) electricity
Electrification 600 V DC
Website Kasseler Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (German)

The Kassel tramway network forms part of the public transport system serving Kassel, in the north of the state of Hesse, Germany.

Opened in 1877 as a steam tramway from Wilhelmshöhe the Königsplatz (Royal Square), the network has been operated since 1897 by Kasseler Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (KVG). The track width is 1435 mm ( standard gauge ). There existed also a narrow gauge network to the hercules-monument. The tram network was extended gradually into the surrounding area, partly as a conventional tram, some parts as a "RegioTram".

Contents

History

In the summer of 1870 opened a horse-drawn omnibus line. It was part of an industrial exhibition from 1 June to 5 October 1870. The growth of the city made ​​it attractive to operate a steam tram which was opened in 1877 by the English company "Jay & Comp. London". With the first two steam locomotives and four passenger cars they brought visitors to the Royal Palace in Wilhelmshöhe. Soon other vehicles, including locomotives made by Henschel were added to the rolling stock. The Kassel steam train is considered to be the first tramway in Germany not pulled by horses. In 1881 the company was taken over by an other company from Berlin which invested into the transformation into a electric tram in 1897.

The "Hercules Rail" was operated separatly until 1927 bringing tourists to the Hercules monument.

Lines

Historic fleet

Until 1900 54 railcars were ordered at Van Zypen & Charlier and Crede. From 1955 to 1958 the railcar types "260", "261-288 (2 +2 Tw)" desigend by Duewag and built in Kassel were put in service. They were in regular service until 1991. Ten vehicles were given to Gorzow in Poland and later scrapped, one of the went to the Warsaw tram friends. Other precented railcars are in two dutch railway museums one in Hanover and one in Kassel. The next generation 301-317 and 351-366 was produced by Wegmann in Kassel in the 1960ies and in service until 2003. Some of them stil exist but are not in regular service any more.

Current fleet

RegioTram fleet

See also

Trains portal
Germany portal

References

External links

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Trams_in_Kassel Trams in Kassel] at Wikimedia Commons
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