The Association of German Transport Enthusiasts (Verband Deutscher Verkehrs-Amateure – VDVA e.V.) presented its fourth anniversary book at its anniversary conference, “70 Years of VDVA”, held in Frankfurt. Following the same format and approach as its previous anniversary books covering the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s (all now out of print), this 128-page volume explores the themes and developments of the 1970s in a series of chapters, illustrated with 195 colour photographs.
- DVA – Die Strassenbahn – BS
- VDVA communications through the years (8 illustrations)
- VDVA conferences from 1970 to 1979 (10 illustrations)
- VDVA conferences from 2017 to 2026 (no illustrations)
- Farewell to the rails – tramway closures in the Federal Republic of Germany, 1970–1979 (18 illustrations + 1 table)
- A photographic journey to the tramway systems still operating in the Federal Republic in 1979 (39 illustrations)
- A look at the tramway systems in the GDR (28 illustrations)
- New routes for trams – the transition to light rail (16 illustrations)
- The use of “old” tramcars in the 1970s (35 illustrations)
- New generations of tram and light-rail vehicles in the 1970s (32 illustrations + 1½ pages of tables)
Recommended for all tram enthusiasts, whether or not they were already active in the 1970s, this volume provides a detailed insight into the world of 50 years ago. It is not merely a continuation of the series covering the individual decades; it also vividly documents the transition from older tramcars and two-axle vehicles to modern large-capacity and articulated cars, as well as the changes taking place within transport undertakings in West Germany and in the former GDR.
Numerous tables provide additional information and data, while all 195 colour photographs come from the VDVA photographic archive.
Author: Axel Reuther
Publisher: SBB-Verlag, Dortmund – www.sbb-verlag.de/buch_vdva.html
128 pages, 17 × 24 cm, hardback
195 colour photographs
Price: €29.00
ISBN: 978-3-910461-14-7
28.09.2026
