Konstal 13N

Konstal 13N

Konstal 13N in Warsaw (2011)
Manufacturer Poland Konstal
Constructed 1959–1969
Entered service 1959
Scrapped 2012
Number built 842
Capacity 22 seats
100 standing
Specifications
Train length 13,300 mm (43 ft 8 in)
Width 2,400 mm (7 ft 10 in)
Height 3,076 mm (10 ft 1.1 in)
Floor height 850 mm (2 ft 9 in)
Doors 3
Maximum speed 68 km/h
Weight 18000 kg
Power output 4 x 41.5 kW
Bogies 2
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

Konstal 13N was an electric tram built by Konstal in Chorzów between 1959 and 1969 and used in Warsaw until 2012. The design borrowed heavily from the PCC-derived ČKD Tatra T1.

History

After 1945 the tram networks in most Polish cities relied on the small, slow and outdated Konstal N trams. The N-class trams were supposed to be a temporary design to quicly improve the disastrous state of public transport in the aftermath of the WWII, but various attempts at building a better tram in Poland have all ended in failure. In 1955 two Tatra T1 trams were bought by the Warsaw Transport Authority.[1] In 1956 these were sent to the Konstal works in Chorzów for analysis and formed the basis for the first Konstal prototype called 11N. The prototype was then modernised (different interior, Belgian ACEC electrical equipment, different wheels and transmission) and in 1959 put into production as 13N.

Passenger service

Konstal 13N was a single module unidirectional tram with 3 doors on the right side. It held 122 passengers and was capable of reaching 68 km/h. They were most often used in sets of 2, though in peak times and on particularly busy routes sets of 3 were sometimes seen. Although early units suffered from reliability issues, these were soon recitfied and 13N (together with the later 105Na) went on to form the backbone of the Warsaw tram network for over 50 years. Due to their shape they were nicknamed parówka (sausage) and given stock numbers 1-500 and 503-840 [2] (the original Tatra T1 cars were nubered 501 and 502). The 13N remained in production for 10 years and in that time 842 units were built – 838 of those served in Warsaw, and the other four in the Upper Silesian network. In the 21st century, with the need for more energy-efficient, easier to access low-floor trams, the 13N were phased out and replaced by PESA 120Na. The last day of passenger service was 31 December 2012.[3]

Later developement

Konstal 13N also forms the basis for the company's other trams seen in all Polish cities with tram networks. Konstal 102N (produced 1967–1969) and the subsequent 102Na (1970–1973) are both articulated versions of the 13N, and the Konstal 105N started out as 13N in a more modern, lighter body.

Today

No 13N trams remain in regular passenger service after 2012, but several serve as museum cars in Warsaw (#795 since 1996), Poznań (#115 since 1998) and Silesia (ex #366, now #308 since 2013). Due to their sturdiness a number of 13Ns have also been rebuilt as track maintenance vehicles (#388 amongst others).[4]

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ "Tramwaje Warszawskie - zdj�cia". tramwar.republika.pl. Retrieved 2016-11-12. replacement character in |title= at position 27 (help)
  2. ↑ "-=[Fotogaleria Transportowa]=- - Phototrans.eu". phototrans.pl. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  3. ↑ "aktualności - informacje - ZTM Warszawa". ztm.waw.pl. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  4. ↑ "Tramwaje Warszawskie - wagon pomiarowy sieci trakcyjnej". mkm101.republika.pl. Retrieved 2016-11-12.

External links

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