The official farewell event for the Gotha cars at the Woltersdorf tramway took place on 1 March 2025. All six operational vehicles of this historic series were running once again on the entire route from Berlin-Rahnsdorf to the lock in Woltersdorf. Between 9:00 and 18:00, the cars ran every 10 minutes, accompanied by a special ticket issue for passengers and tram enthusiasts. The offer was taken up by hundreds of fans and tram enthusiasts.
Last mission for three vehicles
Tram cars 27, 28, 30, 31, 32 and 33 were in operation. This was the last operational day in Woltersdorf for cars 27, 28 and 30, as they have been sold. Trams 31, 32 and 33, on the other hand, will remain in reserve for the time being and will continue to be seen occasionally on line 87 in the future – especially as additional services (E-cars). Two of the four Modertrans Gamma low-floor trams have been in service since 31 January 2025.
Historical significance of the Gotha trams
The Gotha cars date from the 1950s and 1960s and were manufactured in the GDR by the Gotha wagon factories. They characterised local transport in many East German cities for decades. The Woltersdorf tram took over these vehicles as reliable and durable vehicles that were in use for more than 60 years until their current retirement.
The railcars 27 to 33 of the Woltersdorf tramway have a varied origin and history:
Tram car 27: This car was built by VEB Waggonbau Gotha in 1960. Its service history is remarkable:
- 1960 – 1977: Used in Schwerin as car no. 21
- 1977: Transfer to the Woltersdorf tramway
- 1995: Modernisation by MGB (Mittenwalder Gerätebau GmbH)
Tram car 28: This car was built in 1959 and had the following stations:
- 1959 – 1978: Used in Dessau as car no. 42
- 1978: taken over by the Woltersdorf tramway
- 1996: Modernisation by MGB (Mittenwalder Gerätebau GmbH)
Tram car 29: Built in 1961, this railcar passed through the following stations:
- 1961 – 1977: Used in Schwerin as car no. 24
- 1978: taken over by the Woltersdorf tramway
- Out of service for a long time and currently under overhaul
Tram car 30: Built in 1960, this car passed through the following stations:
- 1960 – 1977: Used in Schwerin as car no. 22
- 1978: taken over by the Woltersdorf tramway
- 1995: Modernisation by MGB (Mittenwalder Gerätebau GmbH)
- 3 March 2025: Decommissioning
Tram car 31: This car was built in 1959 and had the following operational history:
- 1959 – 1966: Used in Karl-Marx-Stadt (today Chemnitz) as car no. 808
- 1971 – 1986: Used in Dresden as car no. 1591, 213 013 and 213 206
- 1986: taken over by the Woltersdorf tramway
- 2008: Modernisation
Tram car 32: Built in 1960, this car had the following stations:
- 1960 – 1978: Used in Dessau as car no. 44
- 1978: taken over by the Woltersdorf tramway
- 1996: Modernisation by MGB (Mittenwalder Gerätebau GmbH)
Tram car 33: This car was built in 1957 and had the following operational history:
- 1957 – 2008: Used in Dresden on regular services, then as a children’s tram and for the Theatre of the Young Generations
- 2008: taken over by the Woltersdorf tramway as a carriage
- 3 March 2025: kept as an operating reserve
Future of line 87
From the beginning of March 2025, the four new Modertrans low-floor vehicles are taking over regular operation on line 87. Nevertheless, three Gotha carriages from different years of construction will continue to be preserved as operational museum vehicles. They represent the decades of use of these traditional vehicles in Woltersdorf and will still be found on the line on special occasions or as reserve vehicles. We reported on the new Modertrans low-floor trams here:
