Description
TMG 1907 was a historic trolleybus that entered service on 16 July 1907 in today’s České Velenice, then part of Gmünd in Lower Austria. It was the first trolleybus operation on the territory of the present-day Czech Republic.
The first trolleybus here
The Mercédès-Électrique-Stoll trolleybus was one of the first examples of electric mass transit in Europe. In 1907 it linked Austrian Gmünd with the station that now lies in České Velenice. On a route of about 2.2 km it replaced a planned tram that would have been too expensive. Local councillors chose an electric vehicle under trolley wires.
Line technology
The line, fed at 440 V from the local power station, was unique in Central Europe. The first vehicle carried up to 18 passengers and had a small mail compartment. The second, without mail space, took up to 24 people. A wooden platform was used to maintain the overhead wires. (Photo: https://www.koridory.cz/)
Specifications
- Era: 4–7
- Top speed: 45 km/h
- Power: 80 hp
- Price: 20 wood tokens
- Capacity: 15 people
- Running cost: 1 coin
- Multiple units: no
- Hi-poly: 6850 triangles
- Low-poly: 675 triangles
Service in Gmünd
The route ran from the railway station along Litschauer Strasse to the town hall square in Gmünd. The original 2.2 km line was extended to 3.3 km in 1909. The trolleybus ran 16 times a day in each direction from 5:40 to 20:50. A ticket cost 20 hellers. Service ended in 1916 because it was unprofitable.