Prague T3 Trams

[bill937ca]

Tomytec has recently announced a line of Tatra T3 tram cars In Prague and Leipzig colors and I thought I would give you some background.

 

Prague, Czech Republic based Tatra produced 13,991 T3 trams between 1960 and 1991. These trams were common in Eastern Europe countries in various configurations. As Tatra purchased a PCC license in 1947, T3s are built to PCC specifications.

 

The Tomytec illustrations show tram 7250 which was built in 1987 for DPP Prague.  In 1994 it was converted to demand door operating system wherein  passengers control the doors from inside and outside the tram. This tram remained in service in Prague until 12/16/2015.   

 

In September 2016, 7250 was sold (?) to Kyiv Ukraine and began operation in Kyiv during October 2016. I assume it was sold, but sometimes the European Union intervenes and trams are donated to Eastern Europe countries. My source lists as still being active, but who knows?  EDIT: seznam-autobusu.cz lists the Prague T3SUCS trams as being a Gift

 

https://seznam-autobusu.cz/vuz/59431

 

7250 is a subvariant of the T3 called T3SUCS.  This stands for T3, SU for Soviet Union and CS  for Czechoslovakia.  Domestic production of the T3 was stopped in Czechoslovakia in 1976.  The Soviet Union version of the T3 had been built since 1963 and was delivered to 34 different Soviet cities.  The T3SU was the largest single production tram in history with 11,368 trams built.  

 

These trams were built with closed operator cabs (absolutely no regular contract with passengers) and 1 + 1 single seating to maximize overall capacity. There is a single route number indicator over the windshield.

 

As I said elsewhere T3s continue to run in Prague.  As of December 31, 2019 there were:

347 modernized T3R.P trams

41   un-modernized T3, TUSU, T3M, T3M2DVC 

 

There is an English language article on various Prague trams here:  http://www.globestudios.co.uk/prague/

 

Here is a movie I made in September 2019 of mainly modernized T3s in Prague. The biggest difference is the full-width electronic destination sign.

 

There is also a lubricating T3 "convertible" tram in Prague, #5572. Six days a week it makes its rounds on the Prague tram system from dawn until late at night. At the back of the cab there is a web cam. It was a social media sensation in its early days.

 

 

Here is a sample of the web cam on 5572.

 

 

Edited July 14, 2022 by bill937ca

[brill27mcb]

Bill, thanks for posting this. Where did you see the Tomytec announcement?  - Rich K.

[brill27mcb]

Ha! Never mind, the answer was in the next forum topic that I read.  - Rich K.

[bill937ca]

Available from Hobby Search, as well as others.

 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10901232

 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10901230

[railsquid]

4 hours ago, bill937ca said:

Tomytec has recently announced a line of Tatra T3 tram cars In Prague and Leipzig colors and I thought I would give you some background.

 

Prague, Czech Republic based Tatra produced 13,991 T3 trams between 1960 and 1991. These trams were common in Eastern Europe countries in various configurations. As Tatra purchased a PCC license in 1947, T3s are built to PCC specifications.

 

 

For anyone else wondering: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCC_streetcar

[bill937ca]

54 minutes ago, railsquid said:

 

For anyone else wondering: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCC_streetcar

I don't think that Wikipedia article is accurate. More like a hatchet job. Even after TRC dissolved, foreign royalties were still collected. Duwag's were not PCCs as they used hand controls.  Cairo's 134 PCCs were from Los Angeles, not Toronto. Toronto's air electric PCCs were sold to Alexandria, Egypt. The TTC total was 745 PCCs, with 205 used. It misses the mine in Chile with 22 PCCs from Los Angeles. It  misses Madrid's 210 PCCs built under license by Fiat and a local builder.  Milan also had 3 licensed PCCs  Rome received 20 PCCs in 1956. And I see no sign of Brooklyn and Queens Transit 1000, the only PCC built by Clark Equipment Company.

 

All this is covered in PCC From Coast to Coast  by Fred Schneider and  Stephen P. Carlson, and An American Original, The PCC Car. by Seynour Kashin and Harre Demoro.

 

A history of Tatra's PCCs called CKD Tatra--Builder of 8500 PCC Cars was published in ERA's Headlights for April-June 1975 along with a photo article PCC Cars of Western Europe.

Edited July 15, 2022 by bill937ca

[railsquid]

OK, but I had no idea what "PCC" meant at all, so it's a start...

[bill937ca]

True, and that was not directed at anyone here.

 

The article is probably OK for the basics of North American PCCs. There are a lot traction fans over here that think if it's not North America it can't be a PCC.

 

This is why writing streetcar / tram / trolley articles gives me a headache. Too many details.

 

Generally for trams or trains I only rely on Wikipedia build dates and fleet series size numbers.

Edited July 15, 2022 by bill937ca

[disturbman]

4 hours ago, railsquid said:

OK, but I had no idea what "PCC" meant at all, so it's a start...

it means “Parti Communiste Chinois”

[onetruescale]

I am pretty excited about the Tomytec Tatra T3 & T4 Trams from Prague & Leipzig! I have a lot of East German DR and some Czech CSD mainline trains. These will really enhance my long planned “generic European city” layout with DR & CSD trains.

 

bill937ca gave some specifics about the Prague T3. Some info on the Leipzig T4 can be found from Wiki. The T4 was a narrower version of the T3 (2200mm vs. 2500mm). Comparing photos of T3 & T4, the tapered end sections are much less pronounced on the T4. Looking at the taper on the Tomytec injection mold sample photo, I think they molded a T3, probably to fit over their standard TM-TR01 power unit.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatra_T4

 

Tomytec (Hobby Search translation) has some important claims:

 

--1/150 scale N gauge size Painted and assembled open package (Unfortunately ~7% larger than European 1/160 N scale like their GT6 trams)
* Due to the structure of the car body, it does not support super mini curve rails. (R103 no, but R140 and above ok)
* Since the mold is shared, there are some differences from the actual vehicle. (Apparently both T3 & T4 are T3 width. Only prototypical differences I see in Tomytec drawings is coupler types and rear windshield wiper).

 

Both Prague and Leipzig are available as double either with one TM-TR01 power unit installed, or single without power.

 

[200系]

18 hours ago, disturbman said:

it means “Parti Communiste Chinois”

 

 

+1 social credit!

 

 

22 hours ago, bill937ca said:

There are a lot traction fans over here that think if it's not North America it can't be a PCC.

 

Somewhat guilty as charged I guess? Though as a clarification I am a fan of North American traction, not a North American traction fan if that clears things up 😉.

[sleepyrider]

Bit of a Tatra fan so I've ordered these on a whim - got an idea for a small layout but, having noted above that they're 1/150 scale I wonder how they'll match with other trams, especially the Kato My Tram?

[bill937ca]

5 hours ago, sleepyrider said:

Bit of a Tatra fan so I've ordered these on a whim - got an idea for a small layout but, having noted above that they're 1/150 scale I wonder how they'll match with other trams, especially the Kato My Tram?

Kato My Tram is also 1/150.

 

[sleepyrider]

Thanks! The My Trams are easy to pick up here in the UK so I can get started whilst waiting for the Tatras to arrive later in the year.

[sleepyrider]

Having come across this blog post I think I'm probably worrying unnecessarily about the 1/150 -1/160 difference:

https://ngaugetrams.wordpress.com/2018/07/20/1-160-vs-1-150/

I notice the author is also a Bill, I don't suppose...? 

 

This is good news because I'm rather taken with the Coca Cola version of the Arnold Duwag which is on the way.

[bill937ca]

That's me.  You need a good power pack for an Arnold tram. Starting voltage is 9V.  

 

https://modelclub-draveil.eu/en/comparison-of-n-scale-tramway-performance

 

 

[sleepyrider]

Wow, that's high compared to the others. At the moment my controller is an 00 one so no problems, but I do have my eye on the Kato 22-018 because of its realistic looking controls. Hopefully as a 12v it'll be up to the job.

[bill937ca]

On Sunday, the Prague DPP held a 60th Anniversary parade for the T3.  Interestingly, the original Tomytec release date would have corresponded with the anniversary date. Nine T3s starting with 6102 the oldest T3 in the world and the second production T3 and including 8 other historic and current T3s made up the parade. Video by train.cz.

 

 

 

Edited November 22, 2022 by bill937ca

[bill937ca]

I got my notification from HS that the T3 trams have arrived finally.  My payment has already been taken. 

 

The car numbers are 7225, 7205 (double set) and 7250 (solo tram).

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10901232/20/1

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10901230/20/1

 

There are assembly instructions.  https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10901232/50/1

 

There is prototype information on the Prague T3s here.    https://www.prag-straba.de/Fahrzeuge/01_fahrzeuge_strab/04_t3/foto-t3.html

 

This page has information on T3 trams sold by Prague to other locations.  https://www.prag-straba.de/Fahrzeuge/01_fahrzeuge_strab/20_ex-prager/foto-ex_prager.html

 

The Leipiz trams have arrived too.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10901233

 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10901231

 

 

Edited December 16, 2022 by bill937ca

[bill937ca]

I stumbled upon this video today.  It was made by a Japanese rail fan working in the Czech Republic. Operating procedures in Prague are very different than most other places outside central Europe. Trams do not stop at cross walks while all other traffic does. This quite often catches tourists and ex-pats off guard.  T3 trams in particular have very fast acceleration and there are tram junctions that operate without signals with multiple trams in the junction at once. Some of the speed sin the video are actually suppressed. The initial sequence at  Naměsti Republiky is a pedestaling zone with  a 20 k/hr speed limit.  The T junction has a 15 k/hr speed limit. Otherwise the speed limit is 50 k/hr on city streets and these trams are fully capable of doing this.  

 

Frequencies are very high. At the end he shows Masarykovo Nadrazi, the secondary train station.  There are six lines out front with 36 to 45 trams an hour during weekdays.

 

 

Notes from the video:

The Naaměsti Republiky stop is close to the Old Town and a short walk to the Masarykovo Nadraj station for Prague domestic flights. Havrichkova three-way intersection on the way. This is a structure that can go in three directions, and there are no traffic lights or train signals even though cars are coming, a structure that is unthinkable in Japan. With this number of trains during the day, what kind of driving density is the morning rush hour??

Edited December 17, 2022 by bill937ca

[katem]

Always love how people are surprised of things I find completely normal 🙂 The Havlíčkova intersection does not have any transit road traffic anymore since a pedestrian zone was created at Náměstí Republiky (years ago) and in front of Masarykovo nádraží (last month). It's still a busy intersection though, not much less than you can see in the older video.

 

During rush hours the trams are supposed to be in a particular order so they do not delay each other. Random yielding to a tram that should run ahead of you is much easier to be done at a signal-less intersections 🙂

[bill937ca]

Apparently NHK has a program called 8K Europe Tram Journey. The preview lists 4 programs in the rest of December and January.

 

https://www4.nhk.or.jp/P5703/?cid=dchk-yt-2110-61

 

You can watch a preview, but the video does not embed by the creator's setting. It's an interesting five minute ride across the Most Legii (bridge) along Vitenza, Ujezd and Karmelitska to Malostranske Namesti (Little Town Square).  Then its up the Chotkova with its steep grade and on towards Prague Castle.  This footage is interesting because DPP generally does allow cab videos any longer.

 

[European tram trip] Prague, Czech Republic seen from the driver's seat in 4K | Trams in Prague | BS4K8K | NHK

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc_2zuf_QCU&list=PLo_wFcX9o4fExCBBO4BHcg6cpK7xPAfMi&index=2

 

This particular show was broadcast November 21, 2022,

 

8K Europe Tram Trip (4) "Prague, Czech Republic"

 

A European tram trip delivered with 8K high-definition video and realistic 5.1-channel sound. This time, we will travel the 22 route that crosses Prague, Czech Republic from east to west and leads to Prague Castle.

 

A European tram trip delivered with 8K high-definition video and realistic 5.1-channel sound. It feels as if you were on a tram in the middle of your trip. A beautiful European cityscape seen from the train window. 1 hour tour of the city's landmarks along the tram. There are also recommended spots that people in the town tell you about. This time, the town of Prague, Czech Republic, a world heritage site with beautiful medieval streets. Travel the 22 route across Prague from east to west to Prague Castle.

 

https://www4.nhk.or.jp/P5703/3/

 

Edited December 20, 2022 by bill937ca

[brill27mcb]

Bill, you are a dangerous person! 🙂

I was avoiding buying any of the Tatra trams until your posts overwhelmed my better sense. Now they are on order.

Perhaps this is what I get for suggesting some time ago that you get the Tomix Wide Tram track with stone paving...

The European trams in particular look right at home on it!

 

Rich K.

[bill937ca]

Rich, ha ha ha! My T3 set is one its way. I have the stone paving tram track too. All set.  On top of that I am planning a second trip to Prague in June. So looking forward to the trip!!!   I'll be even more dangerous then!  😁

Edited December 22, 2022 by bill937ca

[cteno4]

Resistance is futile rich! You will assimilate a Prague tram.

 

cheers,

 

jeff