Kirnitzschtal tramway
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Electrification | 600 V DC overhead line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Kirnitzschtal tramway, also known as the Kirnitzschtalbahn, is an
The line is operated by the
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/LichtenhainerWasserfall82.jpg/220px-LichtenhainerWasserfall82.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Die_Kirnitzschtalbahn_%2C_July_1992_-_Flickr_-_sludgegulper.jpg/220px-Die_Kirnitzschtalbahn_%2C_July_1992_-_Flickr_-_sludgegulper.jpg)
The first plans for the line were introduced in 1893. These were for a tramway from Bad Schandau to Kirnitzschschänke (now Zadní Jetřichovice in the Czech Republic). The decision on the form of propulsion to use was controversial, with both steam locomotives and electric traction proposed. However steam propulsion proved uneconomic, and electrification was chosen, requiring the construction of a power plant. The line opened from Bad Schandau as far as the Lichtenhain Waterfall on Saturday, May 28, 1898. The remainder of the line, to Kirnitzschschänke, was never built for economic reasons, and service was initially limited to the summer months. The initial vehicle fleet comprised six enclosed motorcars and six open trailers, which were built by Busch in Bautzen.[7][8][9]
In 1926, the overhead electricity supply was completely renewed, the existing cars were modernised and two new cars were purchased from
In 1938, the line finally started running during the winter months. It largely escaped any damage during the
In December 1969, after some debate, the city council decided to retain the line, a decision that was endorsed by the district council of Dresden in March. However the necessary reconstruction of the track was delayed and it was not until 25 July 1972 that the line reopened. Even then the reopened section only stretched as far as the Nasser Grund stop, and Lichtenhainer Wasserfall was not reached until 24 May 1973. As a further modernisation move, the line took over five motorcars from the Lockwitztal tramway in 1977, after the closure of that line. These vehicles were built between 1938 and 1944 for the
In 1984, four trailers built by Gothaer Waggonfabrik in the 1960s were acquired, and two of them were placed into service. However at the end of 1985 poor track condition forced another closure of the line, and again the line's future was in doubt. Public pressure led to a decision to retain the line, and after reconstruction of 650 metres (2,130 ft) of track, the section between Waldhäusel and Lichtenhainer Wasserfall stops reopened on 18 August 1986, with a replacement bus operating between Bad Schandau and Waldhäusel. The following year the remaining two trailers acquired in 1984 were brought into service. The line into Bad Schandau reopened as far as Botanischer Garten stop in 1989 and to the Kurpark terminus on 3 August 1990.[8][9][10]
In 1992, the line acquired two motor cars similar to the trailers acquired in 1984. A further two motor cars and two trailers were acquired in 1995 and a final motor car in 2007. These vehicles came from various East German cities, and, along with the trailers acquired in 1984 are collectively known as Gothawagen. Their arrival allowed the retirement of the remaining Erfurter motor cars and MAN trailers. Between October 1993 and May 1994, the line underwent extensive construction work, including rebuilds of the depot and the Lichtenhainer Wasserfall stop.[9][10]
The very serious
As of January 1, 2019, the Oberelbische Verkehrsgesellschaft Pirna Sebnitz mbH (OVPS), which had previously operated the line, became part of the Regionalverkehr Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge GmbH (RVSOE), which now operates the tramway.[3][4][5][6]
Operation
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Kirnitzschtalbahn_Betriebshof_%2801-2%29.jpg/220px-Kirnitzschtalbahn_Betriebshof_%2801-2%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/OVPS_KTB_2.jpg/220px-OVPS_KTB_2.jpg)
The line is 7.9 kilometres (4.9 mi) long, of
Principally a tourist service, the line transports passengers to the waterfall and to a number of access points for hiking, including along the Malerweg or Painters' Way . Adjacent to its waterfall terminus is the half-timbered Lichtenhainer Wasserfall hotel, which has been described by The Guardian as "delightfully kitsch".[13]
The line is unusual in that it is mostly "gutter running", a type of track layout once common on rural tramways in Germany. In this tramway, the track is laid in the southern, eastbound, lane of the S165 Kirnitzschtalstrasse road. Thus westbound trams heading towards Bad Schandau travel against the normal flow of road traffic, requiring heightened attention from both tram and road vehicle drivers. Although some of the line's tramcars are double-ended, only the doors on the south side are used, as all the stops are on the south side of the road.[9]
Currently[when?] the line operates throughout the year. In the winter months it operates every 70 minutes, whilst in the summer months it operates every half hour. The winter timetable is typically operated by a single Gothawagen motor car operating on its own, whilst the summer timetable requires three such motor cars, each pulling one or two matching trailers. Additional public trips are operated on some days using the line's older rolling stock, which is also available for private charter.[9][14][15][16][17]
In the 1990s the line installed solar cells on the roof for the depot, which contribute about 20% of the electricity used by the system.[3][18]
Although RVSOE is a member of the Verkehrsverbund Oberelbe (VVO), that organisation's common fare structure does not apply to the Kirnitzschtal Tramway, reflecting its predominantly tourist nature. The line is paralleled throughout by OVPS bus route 241, which accepts VVO fares. On the parallel stretch, bus service varies from half-hourly, on summer weekends, to a few journeys a day, on winter weekdays.[3][14][19]
Rolling stock
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Kirnitzschtalbahn_Cockpit.jpg/170px-Kirnitzschtalbahn_Cockpit.jpg)
Image | Numbers | Type | Date | Notes |
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1-4,6 | Gothawagen motor car | 1957-1960 | Acquired from various |
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5 | MAN motor car | 1928 | Built for the Kirnitzschtal tramway as one of the class of motor cars that provided the main service on the line from 1928 to the 1970s, when they were replaced by Erfurter motor cars. Car 5 was finally retired on March 31, 1979, but was restored to working condition on 28 May 1983 to celebrate the line's 85th anniversary, and is now used for special services.[9][20] |
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8 | Erfurter motor car | 1938 | Built for use on the Erfurt tramway, where it was used until 1968. It was then acquired and rebuilt for use on the Lockwitztal tramway. When that line closed in 1977, car 8 and four other ex-Erfurt cars were acquired by the Kirnitzschtal line, where they provided the main motor car service until replaced by Gothawagen motor cars in the 1990s. The only Erfurter car still on the Kirnitzschtal line, it is now used for special services.[9][20]
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9 | Bautzen motor car | 1925 | Built for use on the Lockwitztal tramway. The car was restored in 1976 for the 70th anniversary of the Lockwitztal line, but after the line closed the following year it was slated for scrapping. At the last minute this was avoided and the car was transferred to the Kirnitzschtal in 1979. It is now used for special services.[9][20] |
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12 | MAN trailer | 1928 | Built for the Kirnitzschtal tramway as one of the class of trailers that provided the main service on the line from 1928 to the 1980s, when they were replaced by Gothawagen trailers. Car 12 was restored to working order in 1991, and is now used for special services hauled by matching motor car 5.[9][20] |
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21-26 | Gothawagen trailer | 1963-1968 | Cars 21-24 were acquired and rebuilt in 1984 using bodies from the |
Media
During 2008, motor car 5 and trailer 12 were used in the filming of
References
- ^ "Die historische Kirnitzschtalbahn" (in German). OVPS. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
- ^ a b "Kirnitzschtalbahn" (in German). RVSOE. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "Kirnitzschtalbahn" (in German). VVO. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-3-89494-139-0.
- ^ a b "Oberelbische Verkehrsgesellschaft Pirna Sebnitz mbH" (in German). OVPS. Archived from the original on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
- ^ a b "Neues Busunternehmen für die Sächsische Schweiz und das Osterzgebirge" [New bus company for Sächsische Schweiz and the Osterzgebirge]. Sächsische Zeitung (in German). 20 June 2018. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Kirnitzschtalbahn". Wikipedia (in German). Wikipedia contributors. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Geschichte bis 1989" [History to 1989] (in German). RVSOE. Archived from the original on 5 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Bad Schandau Tramway Network". ymtram.mashke.org. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f "Geschichte ab 1989" [History from 1989] (in German). RVSOE. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ "Hochwasser im Kirnitzschtal" [Floods in Kirnitzschtal] (in German). RVSOE. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "Gleisplan der Kirnitzschtalbahn" [Track plan of the Kirnitzschtalbahn] (PDF). gleisplanweb.eu (in German). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
- ^ Guardian readers (29 April 2022). "'The seats aren't comfy but you've got a beer': readers' favourite tram rides". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Tarife und Fahrplan" [Tariffs and timetable] (in German). RVSOE. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ "Sommerfahrplan Kirntzschtalbahn 2022" [Kirntzschtalbahn Summer Timetable 2022] (PDF) (in German). RVSOE. 22 April 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ "Winterfahrplan_Kirnitzschtalbahn_2020_2021" [Kirntzschtalbahn Winter Timetable 2020 2021] (PDF) (in German). RVSOE. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ "Sonderfahrten und mehr" [Trips and more] (in German). RVSOE. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ "Umweltschutz (Environmental Protection)" (in German). OVPS. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
- ^ "Bus - 241 - Pirna - Königstein - Bad Schandau - Hinterhermsdorf" (PDF). RVSOE. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Unsere Fahrzeuge" [Our Vehicles] (in German). OVPS. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
Bibliography
- Mißbach, Helmut K. (2004). Sächsische Überlandstraßenbahnen seit 1898 (in German). Stuttgart: Transpress Verlag. ISBN 3-613-71243-1.
External links
Media related to Kirnitzschtalbahn at Wikimedia Commons
- Official web site of the RVSOE (in German)
- Web site about the tramway (in English)
- Track plan of the tramway