Naumberg August 2009

From Berlin and Leipzig - the two biggest networks to Naumberg - a 2.5 km long route using one tram and taking 10 minutes.

Naumburg used to have a Ring Tramway - a circular route based on the Hauptbahnof. It tended to rely on second hand trams and thus became a subject of interest among tram enthusiasts. By the early 1990s the line faltered after many closure threats. In 1994 it was taken on by a support group (Nahverkehrsfreunde Naumburg - Jena e.V) and since 2007 has since run daily again with local authority support (though this is only guaranteed until the end of this year. Only part of the route runs - Hauptbahnof to Vogelweise - ironically including a post 1976 diversion between Poststrasse and Theatreplatz away from the now pedestrianised shopping area.

On the day of my visit car 37 was in use. This is a 1957 Gotha T57 which ran in Gorlitz, Gotha and Jena and has been in Naumburg since 2003. It is supported by similar 36 (ex Jena) and 38 (ex Cottbus via Jena) - 38 recently overhauled.

The fleet list also includes car 17 (new to Halle in 1928), 23 which like a Bad Schandau car ran for Klingenthal and Plauen, 29 - a Lowa car, 50/51 which I think are ex Jena Rekos from the early 1970s and 202 a Gotha built and operated articulated car which is single ended.

It will be interesting to see the future for this short line - an extension to Salztor (where the track remains) is mooted. Perhaps one day the ring will be complete again.

Nahverkehrsfreunde Naumburg - Jena e.V have a website
http://www.ringbahn-naumburg.de/
My photos here: http://paul-turner.fotopic.net/c1741202.html

Gotha - August 2009

My visit to the German town of Gotha took place in early August 2009. It seemed to be a system of two parts. The main terminus is at the Hauptbahnof with cars running down to Huttenstrasse. Here the co-ordinated routes 1 and 4 turn left and the 2 turns right.

The 1 and 4 provide a 10 minute service out past the depot to Sundhausen and the Hospital. One or two journeys per hour extend through the Thuringer Forest to Tabarz with a short one tram feeder service (6) connecting at Walterhausen. These routes were run by Tatras. There are 18 of these:301-306 bought new in 1981/2 and mainly in blue/yellow fleet livery307-309, 311 and 312 of 1990 bought from Erfurt in 2001 and in their red/white livery313-317 and 319 of 1990 also bought from Erfurt but in 2006. All but two in red/white (319 in yellow, 316 in fleet livery)310 was bought from Erfurt in 2008 to replace a 2001 purchase which was accident damage (the front half is in the depot yard). 9 cars are required for the 1 and 4 (8 and 1 extra at peaks) with workings 1-5, 7-10 noted. A further Tatra (working 6) operates the shuttle service 6.

Route 2 runs through the slightly more run down part of Gotha to Ostbahnhof with some single line sections. At the time of my visit it was run by the ex Mannheim Duewags of which six remained and 396 and 442 provided the duties on my visit. 324 and 395 were noted in the depot yard, with withdrawn 442 and (by elimination) 328 also there. The Duewags were finally retired at the end of the month - with the Tatra now reigning supreme. 395 is advertised as part of the hire fleet along with Gotha built ET55 39 of 1955, Gotha T57E 43 of 1956, Gotha T7 56 of 1929 and Gotha artic 215 of 1967. Plus trailers 82 of 1928, 101 of 1956 and a wagon.

A few photos are here:http://paul-turner.fotopic.net/c1740558.html and the official website (with a nice logo!)http://www.waldbahn-gotha.de/