Tramscape Tramway Photographs
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| Stuttgart's distinctive
four-axle articulated GT4 trams dominated the scene for many years.
350 examples were delivered by the nearby Esslingen factory between
1959 and 1965 and remain one of the most stylish of all tramcar
designs. Only limited numbers were supplied to some other small
tramways in south-western Germany, but many have found new homes in
Eastern Europe as they have been withdrawn from their home city with
the conversion to a standard-gauge Stadtbahn system now almost
complete. 630 is at Heidehofstrasse on the steep climb to Ruhbank in 1996. |
From 1985, Stuttgart took delivery of increasing numbers of "DT8" Stadtbahn sets from the Duewag factory in Dusseldorf to run on the standard-gauge tracks which were, over a period of time, to replace the narrower metre-wide lines of the traditional tramway. The existing network was to be replicated with few changes so for many years several routes had three-rail tracks to accommodate both. Where possible, high level platforms were built to allow step-free access into the DT8 cars and at many stops both high and low level platforms were used. The DT8s were built with retractable folding steps allowing them to call at street level tram stops if necessary. | A distinctive feature of the Stuttgart tramway system was the line along the Neue Weinsteige, a road clinging to the side of one of the many steep hills surrounding the city. The route up to Degerloch, which afforded some magnificent views of the city in the valley below, needed to be upgraded to "Stadtbahn" standards and this involved the construction of short tunnels and viaducts as seen in the view above in what is a most unusual feat of tramway engineering. To get the new Stadtbahn to Botnang, a longer tunnel was built between Herder Platz and Lindpaintnerstrasse, removing the steep gradients of the former tramway altogether. |