The crimson K2 tram went on its to start with tour of Prague close to 50 % a century following leaving the factory gates of CKD Praha in 1977. It was selected for Bratislava the place it served in teaching drivers up till 2009. Just after that, it stood neglected in the Krasňany depot in the Slovak cash.
Two decades back, the Prague Transportation Business purchased it from Slovakia for 1,000 euros, i.e. much less than 25,000 crowns, providing it a new lease on lifetime. The K2 then invested extra than a yr in Brno’s Medlánky depot, where by the transport organization renovated it for 9.5 million crowns.
Past Sunday it was taken out for its 1st-ever ride by Prague using passengers on a nostalgic tour of the city. Jan Šurovský, the technical head of the transportation firm, had the privilege of staying in the driver’s seat.
“Right now we’re heading at 20 kilometres per hour simply because we are passing a tram halt. The tram can travel at all around 60 kilometres for every hour, but you only speed up to that speed on a more time, flat terrain, absolutely not uphill. By the way, not each and every tram driver can travel a veteran. There is a unique system for that and you need to get a license to travel the so-known as two-axle trams, which are those previous open up, wooden trams.”
The K2 is now in quite great situation. Nonetheless, its renovation in Brno took 14 months and was substantially more than just a facelift. It was taken aside down to the chassis and set back with each other yet again, using the original pieces.
The inside and the driver’s cabin have also been renovated in accordance to the original structure. Drivers will also come across modern-day elements, but these are hidden so as not to spoil the authentic look of the tram.
These aged Prague trams just take to the highway various situations a year on specific instances. But if you want them to your self or a exclusive get together at the time of your picking it is achievable to employ a veteran for a experience of one or far more hrs as a result of old Prague, reducing throughout Wenceslas Sq., earlier the National Theatre and Prague Castle. The journey begins and finishes in the Stresovice depot. The price for a single hour is just less than 5,000 crowns.
For a less expensive thrill you can take a look at the Museum of General public Transport. The long lasting exposition, opened in May well 1993 by the Prague Transportation Organization, showcases far more than forty historic vehicles and many other exhibits – tram types, images, historical paperwork, tickets, ideas, etcetera.
link