Markus from Erfurt saves Tatra-Straßenbahn: A piece of nostalgia for home!

Markus from Erfurt saves Tatra-Straßenbahn: A piece of nostalgia for home!

What is happening in the world of trams? These inspiring vehicles not only captivate passionate connoisseurs, but also arouse nostalgic memories of past times. In Erfurt we find a very special example that makes the heart of a locals beat faster. Markus Christophel, a passionate train driver, has committed himself to the Tatra Straßenbahnen. These characteristic paths were in action in the city from 1976 to 2014 and left permanent impressions.

Markus has two original Tatra streams in his private ownership, which he lovingly maintains. His enthusiasm for the trams was put to the test in 2021 when he learned from an old Tatra train that was to be scrapped in Gotha. Originally sold from Erfurt to Gotha in 2016, this train was never in use and only served as a spare parts dispenser. A call that prompted him to act!

He saves a piece of history

The railway was intended for a fire service exercise, which decided to take Markus to take a piece of this special vehicle. The transport of the front piece, which weighs between 250 and 300 kilos, according to Markus, was not a little thing. He needed four people and it took an hour for everything to be built safely in the living room. The building locked up helped to prepare the relic, and now the front piece is adorned with his home. Markus ’Facebook post about his very personal achievement was very well received and brought the Tatra passion in front of the eyes of his friends and followers.

But that's not all when it comes to the Tatra street railways. For example, the Tatra tracks, also known as "Dubček's revenge", can look back on an exciting story. These high -flour wagons from Prague had a significant role from 1969 to 1986; In Leipzig, 598 railcars and 273 followers were ordered. This makes Leipzig to the city with the highest number of Tatra street railways in the GDR-a true heart of public transport of this time!

A look at the Tatra tradition

But what does the story of the Tatra tracks look like? The very first Tatra-Bahn was delivered by the company èkd Tatra in Prague in 1983 and soon the trains were not only established in Erfurt, but in many other cities of the former Eastern Bloc. In Görlitz, for example, the era of the Tatra tracks was heralded on July 3, 1983. This still uses up to 40 years old trams - some even 44 years old. A highlight for all nostalgics: The Jubilee Stram of the Görlitz Verkehrsbetriebe presents itself in bright colors and shows large-format recordings of Tatra cars in recent decades.

But in Cologne and other cities you can see that time does not stop. With the modernization of rail passenger traffic, many of the old Tatra models disappear, as in Leipzig. It has already been announced that many of these railways should be taken out of regular operation in 2022, but some are preserved as a reserve.

What does that mean for the future of the trams? Will we continue to see the Tatra streams on our tracks or will they slowly become part of the urban story? In any case, Markus is an important piece of puzzle in the preservation of this heritage and proves that the passion for rail burns well over the years. He shows us that there is always a story to tell - and a piece of history can even be in your own living room!