GT4 (Bremen)
Encyclopedia
The Bremish GT4 is a tramcar that was built in two main versions form 1959 to the 1980s.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Bremish tram company BSAG
, like many other German tram companies, changed old two-axle tramcars for modern ones on bogies. The cars could be longer, if they were articulated. In Bremen, like at the same time in Stuttgart
, articulated cars on only two bogies were constructed by the local manufacturer Hansa Waggonbau. The articulation was controlled by transmission shafts. All the Bremish cars were designed for unidirectional traffic (doors only on the right side), so that they required loops on the ends of their courses.
With few changes (types GT4 to GT4c), this tramcar was produced till 1968. For Bremen and Bremerhaven
, 79 such trams were built. In daily service they ran partly single, partly in trains of two such cars. Later, part of the motorcars were transformed to trailers. In Bremen, these trams were in service till 1990. Afterwards, several of them were sold to Timişoara
in Romania
, where they are still in use.
Under licence, the same car was also produced for the Munich tramway
s.
After the decay of Hansa Wagonbau, since 1973 the Wegmann & Co. railcar company in Kassel
continued the production of trams for Bremen. The principal structure of Bremish GT4 was kept, but the articulation was now controlled hydraulically. These types were called GT4d to GT4f, in all 61 items. The Bremish Wegmann articulated tram was also produced as a trailer (types GB4d to GB4f, in all 47 items). In that period, most trams in Bremen ran as trains of an articulated motorcar and an articulated trailer.
In 1986, two of these Wegmann cars were enlarged by interposition of a third segment, also with two doors and three windows on the right side. These cars were called GT6, but they were very different from Duewag
GT6.
The experiences acquired with these cars were used by AEG
manufacturing company, when they developed low-floor tram
s for Bremen, which they also sold to several other systems, such as the Berlin tramway and the Munich tramway
.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Bremish tram company BSAG
Bremer Straßenbahn AG
Bremer Straßenbahn AG , often abbreviated BSAG, is the public transport provider for Bremen, Germany, offering tramway and bus services.- Horse tramway :...
, like many other German tram companies, changed old two-axle tramcars for modern ones on bogies. The cars could be longer, if they were articulated. In Bremen, like at the same time in Stuttgart
Stuttgart Stadtbahn
The Stuttgart Stadtbahn is a light rail system in Stuttgart, Germany. It is operated by the Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG , which also operates the bus systems in that city...
, articulated cars on only two bogies were constructed by the local manufacturer Hansa Waggonbau. The articulation was controlled by transmission shafts. All the Bremish cars were designed for unidirectional traffic (doors only on the right side), so that they required loops on the ends of their courses.
With few changes (types GT4 to GT4c), this tramcar was produced till 1968. For Bremen and Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven is a city at the seaport of the free city-state of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. It forms an enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the River Weser on its eastern bank, opposite the town of Nordenham...
, 79 such trams were built. In daily service they ran partly single, partly in trains of two such cars. Later, part of the motorcars were transformed to trailers. In Bremen, these trams were in service till 1990. Afterwards, several of them were sold to Timişoara
Timisoara
Timișoara is the capital city of Timiș County, in western Romania. One of the largest Romanian cities, with an estimated population of 311,586 inhabitants , and considered the informal capital city of the historical region of Banat, Timișoara is the main social, economic and cultural center in the...
in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, where they are still in use.
Under licence, the same car was also produced for the Munich tramway
Munich Tramway
The Munich tramway is the tramway network for the city of Munich in Germany. Today it is operated by the municipally owned Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft and is known officially and colloquially as the Tram...
s.
After the decay of Hansa Wagonbau, since 1973 the Wegmann & Co. railcar company in Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
continued the production of trams for Bremen. The principal structure of Bremish GT4 was kept, but the articulation was now controlled hydraulically. These types were called GT4d to GT4f, in all 61 items. The Bremish Wegmann articulated tram was also produced as a trailer (types GB4d to GB4f, in all 47 items). In that period, most trams in Bremen ran as trains of an articulated motorcar and an articulated trailer.
In 1986, two of these Wegmann cars were enlarged by interposition of a third segment, also with two doors and three windows on the right side. These cars were called GT6, but they were very different from Duewag
DUEWAG
The DUEWAG AG was one of Germany's major manufacturers for rail vehicles. The business was sold in 1999 to Siemens transportation.- History :The company was founded in 1898 as Waggonfabrik Uerdingen AG in Uerdingen...
GT6.
The experiences acquired with these cars were used by AEG
AEG
Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft was a German producer of electrical equipment founded in 1883 by Emil Rathenau....
manufacturing company, when they developed low-floor tram
Low-floor tram
A low-floor tram is a tram that has no stair steps between one or more entrances and part or all of the passenger cabin. The low-floor design improves the accessibility of the tram for the public, and also may provide larger windows and more airspace....
s for Bremen, which they also sold to several other systems, such as the Berlin tramway and the Munich tramway
Munich Tramway
The Munich tramway is the tramway network for the city of Munich in Germany. Today it is operated by the municipally owned Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft and is known officially and colloquially as the Tram...
.
Literature
- Bremer Straßenbahn AG (Hrsg.): Bremen und seine Straßenbahn. Eine illustrierte Zeitreise. Bremen 2001, ISBN 3-927155-47-0
- Bremer Straßenbahn AG 1876–1976. Jubiläumsbuch zum 100-jährigen Bestehen.
- Freunde der Bremer Straßenbahn: Die Schienenfahrzeuge der Bremer Straßenbahn
- Dieter Höltge: Straßen- und Stadtbahnen in Deutschland. Band 2: Niedersachsen / Bremen. EK-Verlag, Freiburg 1992, ISBN 3-88255-331-6