The first electric trams! Badge

The first electric trams!

The first electric trams!
May 16 1881
First electric tram(Source: Siemens)

The Lichterfelde electric railway starts operation

In 1880, local opposition foiled the plans of Werner Siemens to build an elevated electric railway along Friedrichstrasse in the centre of Berlin. Turning his attention to a new project, he decided to build a tram line linking the Central Prussian Cadet School in Lichterfelde to the centre of Berlin. He had a ready-made customer base, as the presence of the most important German military academy in Prussia had established Lichterfelde as a thriving town and its inhabitants needed a fast and affordable means of getting to the centre of Berlin.

A temporary 2.4 km light railway from Berlin to Lichterfelde had been built in the 1870s to transport the materials needed to build the military academy. Taking advantage of this previously levelled ground, the company Siemens und Halske was quickly able to open the “Electric Railway in Lichterfelde” on 16 May 1881. It is considered to be the first electrically operated tram line in the world.

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The whole year at a glance

Wolf Biermann can’t come home!
Nov 16
Artikel erst ab morgen verfügbar
Carl Zeiss opens a workshop
Nov 17 1846
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The Magnificent Seven!
Nov 18 1837
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The “Cologne Confederation” of the Hanseatic League
Nov 19 1367
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Nov 20
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Nov 21
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Nov 22
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Nov 23
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Nov 24
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Nov 25
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Nov 26
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Nov 27
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Nov 28
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Nov 29
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Nov 30
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Dec 1
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Dec 23
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Dec 25
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Dec 26
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Dec 27
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Dec 28
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Dec 29
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Dec 30
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Kölner Silvesternacht
Dec 31 2015
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2000 Jahre
12 Epochen
1 Stunde