The Stuttgart Tram Museum, or Strassenbahnmuseum, takes visitors back over 140 years of light rail train history. It is another reason why Stuttgart, Germany is Europe’s transportation capital.
Stuttgart, Germany hosts the headquarters for Daimler AG – Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. The first Volkswagen Beetle was produced in this southwestern German capital of the Baden-Wurttemberg state. Stuttgart is the Detroit of Europe. What surprises visitors is the city is the birthplace of mass transit in Germany. The Stuttgart Tram Museum carries you through the rich history of light rail transportation.
The 3,000 square meter museum is located in a former street car depot in the suburb of Bad Canstatt. There are 90 historic street cars and trams to investigate. Horses began pulling trolleys in Stuttgart in 1868, the first German city to enter mass transit. In 1884 horses were replaced with a cogwheel train. In 1891 the tram system was electrified. It continuously improved, and was completely rebuilt after World War II. Strassenbahnmuseum salvaged the tram history.
As you enter the old trolleys, you almost hear the clanging bells as the trains rocked through the cobblestone streets. Tour through the Type Stuttgart articulated tram, a car developed especially for the steep hills of the city. From the early days until now, light rail trams are a sustainable form of mass transit. This is critical given fuel costs and Europe’s focus on improving the environment. What is most fascinating about Stuttgart is light rail continuously improved in a city that hosts two automobile companies.
When traveling in Germany, hop aboard for the Stuttgart Tram Museum. It is easily reachable from the city centre on a Statbahn.
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Written by Mark F. Weber
I am an international business professor in Pittsford, NY who managed a business unit for a German company. My passion is family and friends, plus roaming the countryside on my road bicycle.