lightrail.nl/vintage

Vintage light rail for ever
www.lightrail.nl/vintage

Our Case study: the vintage tramway project in Bergen, Norway.
Photo by Bergens Elektriske Sporvei, Bergen, Norway, April 29, 2009.

We investigate the meaning of vintage tramway and light rail projects. Our first case study is the 'Electric Tramway' ('Elektriske Sporvei') of Bergen (Norway). This city hosts a magnificent vintage tramway project. Construction and planning are well under way. Meanwhile a first portion of the line is in operation.

Introduction
Nowadays light rail represents a broad variety of urban rail-bound modes of public transport. With no exceptions these modes have been invented in the late 19th or early 20th century. During the last 30-40 years a second generation of light rail emerged. Though much more advanced the basic principles of light rail didn't change. Trams are still trams in Europe, or (again) streetcar in the USA, the country that witnessed the birth of German-based light rail that performs like a mode called interurban in the old days. And still we find many regional light railways in countries like Switzerland and Japan.

Example: Dallas (Texas, USA). The McKinney Avenue Transit Authority maintains, restores and preserves historic trolley cars while educating the public on the role they played in the development of Dallas. The vintage line provides a touristic oriented public transport service within Uptown and Downtown. Photo by Rob van der Bijl, Dallas, Texas, June 7, 2007.

At this 'vintage page' of Lightrail.nl the first generation of light rail is recalled. Our page doesn't serve as nostalgia page, but primarily as contemporary showcase of historical rail-bound modes which recently got (or will get) a new life as industrial monument, or moreover as contribution to the improvement of urban realm and urban life particularly.
In many cities tramways have been reinstalled along former (or sometimes new) routes and being served by restored vehicles which are maintained and parked in heritage buildings. The initiators' main purpose with these tramways is preservation and exhibition of industrial heritage within a public setting. As a matter of fact the tramways are open museums, as well as attractions in the public realm. Public transport isn't necessarily their function.

Example: Arnhem (Netherlands). The vintage tramway of Arnhem (Netherlands) stays within the boundaries of the Open Air Museum, though potentially an extension into the city itself would be valuable. Photo by Rob van der Bijl, Arnhem, Netherlands, March 24, 2005.

Most examples we studied combine a museum-like presentation with a role as touristic attraction. We won't present an extensive, let alone comprehensive, world-wide overview of the existing examples - e.g. Amsterdam (Netherlands), Bendigo (Australia), Birkenhead (England), Christchurch (New Zealand), A Coruña (Spain), Dallas (Texas, USA), Edmonton (Canada), Lille (France), Naumberg (Germany), New Orleans (Louisiana, USA), Porto (Portugal), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), San Francisco (California, USA), Sankt Florian (Austria), Stockholm (Sweden), Thuin (Belgium), Zürich (Switzerland). In this first edition of our vintage page we shall focus on a case study we commenced February 2009 in the city of Bergen (Norway).
Bergen is the home of two light rail projects. Under construction is the 'Bybanen', a cutting edge tramway between the city centre and Nesttun along the region's most heavily occupied corridor surrounded by mountains and impressive natural landscape. The system is due to open in summer of 2010 and various extensions have been envisaged. The other project is the reconstruction of a former urban tramway line in the old city. This vintage tramway project is subject of our ongoing case study.

Construction of the future terminus at Engen, city centre.
Photo by Bergens Elektriske Sporvei, Bergen, Norway, February 10, 2008.

Case study
The 'Bergen's Electric Tramway' ('Bergens Elektriske Sporvei') is a non-profit organisation. Since 1993 this organisation has operated from the Bergen Technical Museum which is housed in the old tram workshop at Møhlenpris. The aim of the group is to restore the former tramline 3 (opened in 1911 and closed in 1950) that ran from Møhlenpris to the city centre and Engen. The length of the planned vintage line is 1,5 km and will be operated as a museum tramway.
The vintage tramway project is supported by the City Council, which favours its completion. The initiators have appointed with the local administration to allow installation of tracks in the street when integrated in planned and ongoing reconstruction of the public realm. Once a street section is newly paved the tracks are installed as part of the very same work.
Five independent sections with a total length of 850 meters have been completed so far including the first 400 meters from the depot. It is hoped that the first two sections can be joined later this year (2009), so that operation can be extended from the depot to the Student Centre at Olaf Ryes vei in the University area. Phase 2 will bring the vintage tramway into the centre Bergen at Engen. Hence further extensions will join together the other finished sections and will complete the line to the 'Den Nationale Scene'. For the far future ambitious plans have been envisaged to rebuild the tramway to Bryggen, St Mary's Church, Nordnes, Bergen Aquarium and VilVite, the Bergen Science Centre. It may also be possible to connect the museum tramway to the new light rail system allowing vintage tram operations on special occasions.
Second-hand trams from Berlin (type Reko) were acquired in 1996 and will be used to operate phase 1. The depot also hosts a historical tram from the old system of Bergen (1897), as well as a 1913 two-axle Oslo tram pending restoration.

Winter impression. Tracks covered by snow. Photo by Rob van der Bijl, Bergen, Norway, February 12, 2009.

Impressions
In February 2009 we made our first inspection, hosted by Thomas Potter and Jimmy Schmincke. Though, the rails were covered with snow we could easily trace the route and its alignment. From the depot/museum about 400 meter of tracks are wired and in operation. Beyond the temporary terminus we walked along recently installed tracks. Tom pointed to an open air storage of rails. "We got these rails from Trondheim. These rails were purchased about 20 years ago for an extension which was never built." After a small gap we witnessed a newly reestablished section of tramway. "These parked cars on the gutter alignment will be removed once our tram is running," Thomas smiled. After a steep climb an impressive and romantic portion of the route allows a view on the city centre down the hill. "And the terminus of the new light rail", Jimmy Schmincke added. At the top of the hill the tramway will pass the San Giovanni church (Johanneskirken). We continued and were amazed by the glass façade of the modern swimming pool of the new student centre that will serve as background of the terminus of phase 1. We continued and were impressed by the vast amount of track already being installed in the section of phase 2. We loved the fine atmosphere of Engen that will serve as the final terminus of the tramway in the very heart of Bergen's historical centre. We loved the beer too in the Café Henrik, on the first floor that allowed a fine view of the elegant bow of the vintage tramway in the renewed public realm of Engen. "We are eager to finish this project", said Thomas. And we are too, cheers!

Winter impression. Thomas Potter in front of the depot. Photo by Rob van der Bijl, Bergen, Norway, February 12, 2009.

Links
=Bergens Elektriske Sporvei - www.besporvei.net
=Bybanen Bergen Light Rail - www.bybanen.no
=Light Rail Atlas' historic page - LRA HISTORY

Acknowledgments
Thomas Potter, Jimmy Schmincke, Knut Serigstad, Atle Ingebrigtsen.

Information
RVDB/Lightrail.nl/ offers information on this page and interesting vintage projects. Please mail Rob van der Bijl

Case study #2: Stockholm (Sweden). The Djurgärdenbanan is due to be transformed to contemporary light rail, though the museum and touristic function will remain. Photo by Jaap Modder, Stockholm, Sweden, June 25, 2005.

Next case study
This vintage tramway runs between Norrmalmstorg and Waldemarsudde in central Stockholm. The tramway will be part of a new cutting edge urban tramway system. This proves vintage tramways can develop into real public transport too. This is the reason while Stockholm serves as our second case study. To be continued…