Tram World (Strassenbahnwelt), a museum documenting over 140 years of street car history with over 60 restored trams, seems a bit out of place in Stuttgart considering that Stuttgart is home to two rather large automobile companies (those would be Daimler (Mercedes) and Porsche). But once I became aware that Stuttgart was the first city in Germany to provide mass transit in 1868, it made more sense.
A model of one of the earliest trams used in Stuttgart dating back to the late 1800s.
I really didn’t know what to expect from Tram World, but when the opportunity came up for a guided tour in English with the Met Club (an international club based in Stuttgart) I figured why not? Our volunteer guide was wonderful and enthusiastic as he explained that the first trams were pulled with horses and that the drivers sat outside for 12 hour shifts, often in freezing temperatures. He probably was wishing he was driving people to their apartments in Rome where it was warmer instead of being in Stuttgart.
One of the early trams used in Stuttgart.
Unlike today, riding the trams in the early days was a status symbol, something only the upper-middle class and the rich could afford. The poor couldn’t afford the price of a ticket and were stuck walking. I’m guessing Rome apartments were also out of reach for the poor in those days.
Horses were used to pull the trams until 1884 when they were replaced by cog wheels, which involved the driver having to change every time he reached the end of the line, enabling the tram to go back in the opposite direction. By 1891 the Stuttgart trams were all running on electric wires, much to the great relief of the tram drivers I’m sure.
This tram may look familiar if you've been to the Czech Republic.
Trams are expensive and when trams need to be replaced Stuttgart often sells trams to other countries, especially the Czech Republic, so if you’re wondering why there is German writing in your tram car in the Czech Republic, now you know why.
Previously party trams were available for rent in Stuttgart, but not today unfortunately.
One of my favorite parts of visiting Stuttgart Tram World was seeing the party tram, which used to be available for rent by large groups, who could often been seen dancing in the tram as it worked its way through the streets of Stuttgart. Unfortunately it’s no longer available for rent, but it is possible to take a vintage ride on Sundays in Stuttgart or host your own celebration at Tram World, which used to be a former tram depot, complete with tracks and markings on the floor. It’s the perfect ambiance for a tram museum, but a wedding or other formal event? I’m not so sure. I enjoyed Stuttgart Tram World a lot more than I thought I would, but this was in large part to our volunteer guide who was passionate about keeping the history of trams alive. Had I just gone on my own, I wouldn’t have gotten as much from it. Stuttgart Tram World is definitely not as slick as the Mercedes-Benz Museum, but the museum has character and I didn’t realize how little I knew or had admittedly thought about trams until visiting Tram World.
This photo has been submitted as part of Travel Photo Thursday by Nancie at Budget Travelers Sandbox and to Delicious Baby for Photo Friday. Check out their sites for more travel photos.
I'm Laurel, a former Program Director from Canada now living in Munich, Germany. I love traveling, diving, and hiking. I'm also an animal enthusiast with a special affinity for monkeys, cats and sharks.
I love the party tram! Wouldn’t it be fun to ride one of those?
Great article, I like old tramcars…
Muza-chan recently posted..A Japanese Song per Day: Girugamesh – Crying Rain
Fun! I took plenty of those trams in the Czech Republic, so as you said, they do look familiar.
@Lisa – I would love too, too bad they’re not operating any more. I think dancing on a tram would be a blast.
@Muza-chan – Thanks, me too.
@Jenna – It’s like experiencing a little bit of Germany in the Czech Republic
What a great place to spend the day. Enjoyed the photos and the commentary.
Nancie recently posted..Travel Photo Thursday– November 24, 2011– Koreans Love Their Bells!
That last picture of the party tram is fabulous. We’re heading to eastern Europe in two weeks – I’m going to have to keep an eye out for German trams lurking on the streets of the Czech Republic!
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Oh, my son would love this museum! He is a transportation junkie. Bookmarking this post in case we ever make it to Stuttgart. Thank you!
So when the trams need replacing, they sell them to the Czech republic? I think I’ll be walking next time I’m there.
The trams sure looked cool when they were older. Must have been fun to ride.
Steve recently posted..Magic Mirror
oh such a shame they no longer offer the ‘party tram’. That idea really called out to me.
Sam recently posted..Northgate Peaks Trail – Kolob Terrace – Zion National Park
Laurel, what a cool post. You can actually rent party trams in Berlin and they typically run along the M10 route. One night when I was waiting for an actual tram when one of the party trams went sailing by .. there were people dancing, drinking and listening to a DJ!! What a fun way to celebrate a special event. =)
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The city I grew up in had a tramway and I love this mode of transportation. Not a chance to have one in Ottawa though, the city already can’t agree on the light train!
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What a great place. I like transportation museums and old trams in particular. There’s a party-tram in Oslo as well, that you can hire for the night, and have fun as it drives through town.
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I like trams! I’m such a nerd for public transit that I should be taking more photos of trams, buses, and metros. I didn’t know about the Tram World in Stuttgart, because as was pointed out above, I had mistakenly thought Stuttgart was all about Daimler-Benz.
@Cheryl : M10 party-tram! That’s a truly long slow surface route to party hardy – I’m trying to imagine getting all liquoured up from Nordbahnhof to Warschauer Strasse … and then back!
With nods to the lads in Kraftwerk, I kept hearing : “Wir fahr’n fahr’n fahr’n mit der Strassenbahn, wir fahr’n fahr’n fahr’n mit der Strassenbahn …”
Thanks for your post, Nancie!
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