Spårakoff
Spårakoff is a HM V type tram converted into a bar in Helsinki, Finland. Known as the pub tram, the bright red vehicle does circular tours of Helsinki picking up passengers for an additional fee during summer months.
Claimed to be the only one of its kind in the world, the pub tram is immediately distinguishable in the Helsinki traffic by its vivid red colour and PUB destination board. Normal trams operated on the Helsinki tram network by Helsinki City Transport are green and cream. A tour ("pub crawl") takes approximately 40 minutes, travelling around the streets of Helsinki while its passengers enjoy their drinks.
Operation
The name "Spårakoff" comes from the Helsinki slang word spåra [tram]1 and the beer brand Koff, produced by the Sinebrychoff Brewery—Finland's largest and most famous beer brewery. Spårakoff was given the number 175 to honour Sinebrychoff’s 175th Anniversary, and began operating as a pub tram on May Day Eve in 1995. Operation of the tram is by the Finnish restaurant chain S-Group.
Route
Rautatientori, Linnanmäki, Oopperatalo, Aleksanterinkatu and Kauppatori[1]
Technical information
The tram has two bogies and was originally constructed in 1959. The conversion for pub use (including addition of a toilet) was in 1995.
- Width: 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in), height: 3.6 metres (11 ft 10 in)
- Track gauge: 1 metre (3.3 ft)
- Total mass: 20 tonnes (44,000 lb)
- Top speed: 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph)
- Capacity: 24 seats, 6 standing places, one flush toilet (WC)
The tram is staffed by one driver and one waiter/waitress serving customers.
See also
- Colonial Tramcar Restaurant in Melbourne, Australia.
- Trams in Helsinki
- Trams in Finland
Notes
^1 Although the letter å is part of the Finnish alphabet, native Finnish does not use it, and in commonly used Helsinki slang, the word for "tram" is spelled spora. However, the official spelling of Spårakoff's name retains the å from the original Swedish word spårvagn.
References
- ↑ Tom Heino. "Ravintolaraitiovaunu Spårakoff - HKL 175". Suomen Raitiotieseura ry.
External links
- The Official website of the Spårakoff
- Genuss mit den VBZ, restaurant trams in Zurich, Switzerland.
Coordinates: 60°10′16″N 24°56′42″E / 60.1710187°N 24.9450463°E