Комментарии к фотографиям из города Хальберштадт (трамвай)

One main line on 2 different places (see map).

Цитата (Yury LRTA, 03.10.2020):

> ситуация усугублялась наличием двух активных трамвайно-железнодорожных переездов ///// situation was exacerbated by the presence of two very active tram-railroad crossings

Что за ЖД, с которой или которыми пересекается трамвай: магистрали, или подъездные ветки? ///// What are those RR tram crosses with: main lines, or switching lines?

Цитата (одесса, 04.10.2020):
> А говорят в Европе и Германии всё хорошо, всё ездит минута в минуту и везде порядок. А на деле всё как у нас.


Это всё же скорее исключение. Обычнов Германии даже в маленьких по нашим меркам городах со 100 000 жителей расписание более-менее выполняется. И в отличие от, например, Одессы, оно просто существует)

During my last visit (apparently in 2017) I had to search quite a long time before I saw someone: the workshop was completely deserted except for one or two men.
I asked that person if the director was present: he was there, walked to his office and had a chat there.
I was allowed to photograph everything, with the exception of a tram covered with graffiti. However, hardly anyone was there so it was impossible to have trams moved.

Quote (Yury LRTA, 04.10.2020):
> I wonder how many generations pass until the difference finally evaoporates...

Never. Cultural difference... I see it in my own country too.
On the other hand: until now Halberstadt is the only city where I was always welcome in the depot, up to the director's office (and given the time frame, always other people) and where I have always been able to photograph undisturbed (in the tram depot).
The city is depressing, but for the hobby almost always a highlight... Moreover, with no contrary staff: I don't remember ever seeing a middle finger in my direction.

Thank you. I try to avoid mistakes, but I cannot exclude them.

This map shows an interesting detail. Someone from the Netherlands, who collects tickets, has made an interesting study about this.
The older tickets (in Germany, but also elsewhere) showed a scheme of the line in question, where (almost) all stops were indicated. So the conductor simply had to tick where they had boarded and where they wanted to get off.
The map clearly shows the barracks (even with name) and there is a good chance that a nearby stop had the same name. Due to the threat of war, all barracks suddenly disappeared from all maps... and tickets: they were renamed. This happened several times (according to that study): the stop could first be given a 'beautiful' name (peace), or the name of a known (usually revolutionary) person, and later be renamed to something else, ranging from 'football' to the name of a nearby street. This process could happen in any direction - and has happened, mostly before, during and after the war.
History repeats itself: on Google maps, barracks are now also being blurred...

Цитата (focus1965, 03.10.2020):
> But that is where it ends. I was there last year with my wife, she found it awful

Unfortunately, my impression of the city itself was very similar. In terms of local attitudes, awful service (hotel and restaurants), reception by the locals and in many cases appearances of the city outside of the main streets - it was somewhat like back into 1989 again.

True, the city is critically depressed economically these days, with people leaving and many buildings and apartment abandoned. Those who remain thus turn bitter.

However, remember the fact that Halberstadt was the westernmost city in the DDR, right near the border with the West. It is interesting and shocking at the same time to see how 30 years (!) after the fall of the borer between the East and the West, social economics still change with a few kilometers traveled, and people's attitudes drastically change with them. A 15 minute ride from Halberstadt to the neighboring town in the former Western Germany territory - and the world around you changes completely.

I wonder how many generations pass until the difference finally evaoporates...

> I asked if the trams that were inside could not be driven a bit forward. The result was exactly what I had hoped for.

These were clearly the golden years - when the Eastern systems were still opening up, and visitors with genuine interest were truly appreciated by the locals. Guest reception stories like that were common for many cities in the former Eastern bloc at the time.

During the 2008 visit to the Halberstadt depot I've still gotten a welcoming reception. I was shown around the depot and could photograph anything I wanted, while conversing with the staff who explained everything about the system.

Upon my 2019 visit I was 'greeted' by an employee who basically barked at me. He called for an operations manager on duty who proceeded to be all suspicious and practically barked out orders as well. Both characters looked straight out of 1989. We settled on me quickly taking photos from outside the barn, but into the barn itself, as the gates were open. I was given 2 minutes, and then had to leave. Moreover, some other employees attempted to talk to me an welcome me inside the barn, but the manager barked at them too, so they stopped. And all of the above after I introduced myself not just as a fan, but as a co-worker from the other transit system.

Frankly, this was one of the worst receptions I've gotten anywhere in the world. Reminiscent perhaps of the latest events in the Russian cities, behind the newly established 'curtain', where people are told to hate the West via local propaganda, and local transit companies now look at every visitor with suspicion.

A truly unique photo illustrative of how Halberstadt looked toward the end of the DDRs existence. The photo is shot in the city center. These days photos like this are on display at local museums. Many famous old timber buildings in the city looked like that at the time.

I am curious where the cut off track continuing straight into Johannesbrunnen used to lead. It does not match any lines that previously existed in Halberstadt, see the old map:
https://transphoto.org/photo/1391934/
It is not shown on the 11.1971 system map either. And the 3-point Voigtei terminal is located a bit further down the line. Since there is a square behind the photographer, I am guessing these are remains of a former passing point, which existed here when the network was more diverse.

Extra points for railroad rolling stock type )

Esslingen GT4 tram on the Klusberge branch - a truly unique photo. I wonder if it could be replicated these days. Trams only operate here on weekends, and I am guessing weekend rolling stock requirements do not call for Esslingen GT4 use. That is if trams are operated on weekends in Halberstadt at all...

> The terminus was then called Klusberge and I don't think there was a loop then.

If I remember correctly, there was a loop at Klusberge at the time, but it was not in service because of track deterioration. So the stub-end was cut in. This was at the time when the tram system was about to close for the first time (out of three such attempts!) at the end of the 1980s/beginning of the 1990s at the end of the DDR's existence due to tram infrastructure deterioration. So this photo is an excellent illustration to what was going on with Halberstadt tramway at the time.

Again, all of the above is written under 'if I remember correctly' disclaimer - I didn't find any confirmation on the status of the loop at this time upon a quick search.

However, a map from 11.1971 clearly shows the loop at Klusberge. In fact, this was the only loop on the system at the time, as all other terminals were 3-point (and the current terminal of the Line 1 near the depot still is). In addition the following 05.08.1987 photo shows the loop at Klusberge still in operation:
http://www.strassenbahn-halberstadt.de/bilder/reko/28iv.htm

А говорят в Европе и Германии всё хорошо, всё ездит минута в минуту и везде порядок. А на деле всё как у нас.

This is Hoher Weg stop, I corrected the position.

Quote (Yury lrta, 03.10.2020):

>
> This has already been discussed. Apparently: the subculture of a depressed city

I would never have described it that way, but you are right.
For a tram enthusiast it's a nice city: very manageable and a lot of nice photo opportunities.
But that is where it ends. I was there last year with my wife, she found it awful and a beautiful (and modern) swimming pool brought rescue: she satisfied, I satisfied. That swimming pool may be in Halberstadt itself, but it's not on the tram line. The tram lines didn't grow with the city. Tourists aren't going to come there - or they must be tram enthusiasts. A tram company cannot survive with that alone. Normal users are there, but then it's more of a coincidence...
Perhaps a good reason to post some older photos of Halberstadt.

Цитата (TTT, 03.10.2020):
> Инетересно, а чего так?

Это уже обсуждалось. Судя по всему: субкультура депрессивного города и грядущее закрытие трамвайного хозяйства по мере выработки вагонами FBL NGTW6 ресурса.

Цитата (Yury LRTA, 03.10.2020):
> Во-первых, трамвайщикам Хальберштадта просто ничего не надо было, и на расписание никто не обращал внимания.

Инетересно, а чего так?

Цитата (KT4Daniel, 02.10.2020):
> regular passengers and tramsfans was 50/50

Цитата (Lada 2101, 02.10.2020):
> run every 30 minutes due to a lack of staff at HVG company

Thanks for the info, Halberstadt operation is truly strange and unique in terms of positives and negatives...

> Оба ГТ4 встречаются на главном вокзале каждые 75 минут.

К сожалению, моё основное впечатление по работе трамвая Хальберштадта по мере последнего визита летом прошлого года - практически ни один рейс не выполнялся по расписанию. Трамваи ходили просто как попало.

Во-первых, трамвайщикам Хальберштадта просто ничего не надо было, и на расписание никто не обращал внимания. Во-вторых, ситуация усугублялась наличием двух активных трамвайно-железнодорожных переездов на маршруте 2, и шокирующим неразумным расписанием, подразумевающим ограниченные отстои на конечных. В результате после 2-3 неудачных простоев вагона перед переездами - расписание полностью сбивалось. Маршрут 1, на котором нет переездов, при этом всё равно работал как придётся, под настроение - иногда рейсы выполнялись, а иногда нет. Добавьте к этому, что трамвай на маршрут 1 выходил так же под настроение, и в основном были автобусы. И, наконец, сразу после вечернего часа "пик" все трамваи города ушли в депо, а на маршруты 1 и 2 вышли автобусы. По выходным на трамвайных маршрутах тоже работали автобусы.

По сумме всех моментов, снимаю шляпу при виде такого удачного кадра )

• • •

> Both GT4 meet every 75 minutes at the railway station.

Unfortunately, my main impression of the Halberstadt tram operation during my last visit last summer was that almost no trams operated on schedule.

It looked like Halberstadt operators simply didn't care anymore, and no one paid attention to the schedule. The situation was exacerbated by the presence of two very active tram-railroad crossings on the Line 2, and a shockingly unreasonable schedule, implying limited layover at the terminals. Hence, after 2-3 unlucky delays at railroad crossings, trams fell hopelessly behind schedule. The Line 1 has no crossings, but seemed to be operated at random nevertheless - sometimes the runs were completed, and sometimes not. In addition, trams on the Line 1 were mostly substituted with buses. And finally, all trams in the city left for the depot immediately after the evening rush hour, and service on the Lines 1 and 2 was fulfilled with buses. On weekends, buses-only operated on tram lines as well.

To sum up - this photo is a very lucky shot )