Tatra T2

T2 is the name of a tramcar, produced by Tatra. The tramcar was produced between 1955 and 1962, and a total of 771 cars were produced.

Tatra T2
Tatra T2 in Pilsen
In service1955–present
ManufacturerČKD Tatra
AssemblyCzechoslovakia Prague
Family nameTatra
Constructed1957–1962
Entered service1955
Number built771
Number preserved10
PredecessorTatra T1
SuccessorTatra T3
Capacity100 / 94 (T2SU)
Specifications
Car length14,000 mm (45 ft 11 in)
Width2,500 mm (8 ft 2 in)
Height3,050 mm (10 ft 0 in)
Doors3 / 2 (T2SU)
Maximum speed65 km/h (40 mph)
Weight17,318 kg (38,180 lb)
Engine typeTM 22
Traction motors4
Power output4×40 kW
Electric system(s)600 V DC
Current collection methodpantograph
Wheels driven4
Coupling systemAlbert
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in), 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 38 in), 1,524 mm (5 ft)

The very first T2 prototypes were tested as number 6001 and 6002 in Prague in 1955. In 1958, the first series of produced cars were delivered to almost all Czechoslovak networks. They were not put into service in Jablonec, because of an ongoing discussion on whether to keep or not to keep the track width of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 38 in), nor in Prague, where the cars were considered too wide.

The T2s were more durable than their predecessor, the T1, and so also more long-lived. The last T2s were superseded in the 1980s, although some vehicles remain in museums. Some T1 vehicles were converted into T3 during the 1960s.

T2SU

The T2SUs were T2 cars that were delivered to the Soviet Union, hence the suffix -SU. The cars differed from the Czechoslovak version, particularly by the removal of the middle door, making room for more seats. The fare-collection system in most of the Soviet Union maintained that all people pay for their ride, thus the requirement for passengers to board from the rear door and depart from the front door. Removal of the middle door was hence required by contractors to avoid free-riders.[1]

The last T2SUs were withdrawn from service in the 1980s. In total, 380 T2SU cars were delivered to the Soviet Union.

T2R

In the 1970s and 1980s, 112 T2 trams were modernized into T2R. Modernization included overhauling of electrical equipment (similar to Tatra T3) and some changes in the car body. That modernization helped the trams to survive into the 1990s. Two T2Rs were remodernized in the early 2000s in Liberec and these two remained in everyday use till 2018. In Brno, Liberec and Ostrava four other T2Rs are used as service trams.

Production

771 trams were produced from 1955 to 1962 and delivered to:[2]

Country City Type Delivery years Number Fleet numbers
Czechoslovakia Bratislava Т2 1959–1962 66 201–266
Brno Т2 1958–1962 94 401–494
Košice T2 1958–1962 31 211–242
Liberec T2 1959–1961 14 10–23
Most and Litvínov T2 1961–1962 36 235–270
Olomouc T2 1960–1961 4 111–114
Ostrava T2 1958–1962 100 600–699
Pilsen T2 1960–1962 26 134–159
Prague T2 1955 2 1001–1002
Ústí nad Labem T2 1960–1962 18 151–168
Soviet Union Kiev Т2SU 1960–1962 50 5002–5051
Kuybyshev Т2SU 1958–1962 43
Leningrad Т2SU 1959 2 1001, 1003
Moscow Т2SU 1959–1962 180 301–480
Rostov-on-Don Т2SU 1958–1959 40 321–360
Sverdlovsk Т2SU 1958–1962 65
Total: 771

Note: This is a production list. Public transport companies may sell used trams to other companies, thus the number of cities with a history of these trams may be higher.

References

  1. Морозов, Александр, С. (1999). Вагон типа Т-2 (Татра-2). Moscow Tram Rolling Stock (in Russian). Moscow Tram Site. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  2. "Tatra T2 deliveries". Strassenahnen-Online. Retrieved 2007-12-08.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.