Gdańsk Trams, in the past and today. In 1864, a horse-drawn omnibus line from Gdańsk to Sopot was launched. Nine years later, on 23 June 1873, the Deutsche Pferdeeisenbahn company launched the first horse-drawn tram line; its route ran from the centre of Gdańsk - through Wrzeszcz - to Oliwa. In 1891, the Danziger Straßeneisenbahn company was established, which was taken over by the AEG company from Berlin in 1894. In 1895, it rebuilt the tracks, installed the traction network and built a power plant. On 12 August 1896, the first electric tram line was launched. In the same year, AEG transferred the trams to the administration of the Allgemeine Straßen- und Eisenbahngesellschaft company with a branch in Gdańsk. In 1899, the Danziger Elektrische Straßenbahn company was established in Nowy Port. In 1903, the two operating companies merged and a single Danziger Elektrische Straßenbahn was established. The company from Wrzeszcz contributed 22.4 km of routes, 67 motor cars and 67 trailer cars, a power plant and 4 depots. The company from Nowy Port contributed 14.3 km of routes, 20 motor cars and 16 trailer cars and a depot with a power plant. On July 1, 1927, line no. 4 was extended to Stogi. In 1929, a new road leading to Nowy Port was opened - Marynarki Polskiej Street (Paul Beneke Weg), tram tracks were laid on it, at the same time eliminating the single-track line running along the quay. In 1930, new tracks were laid on ul. Hallera (Ostseestraße), Mickiewicza (Bärenweg) and Legionów (Heeresanger). The headquarters of the management were moved to ul. Jaśkowa Dolina (Jäschkentalerweg). In 1937, a new tram depot was opened in Wrzeszcz. Initially, trams drew current from the traction network using a rod collector with a copper roller at the end. The traction wire had special brass inserts installed at intersections and branches, ensuring the correct course of the roller. In the 1920s, trams with a classic scissor collector - pantograph - were introduced into use. Such a collector allowed for better power consumption and therefore the use of sets consisting of a motor car and a trailer car. The use of such collectors required the reconstruction of the traction network and the removal of inserts. By 1939, most of the lines had been rebuilt, except for routes 6 and 7. In the 1930s, many different models of tram cars could be found in Gdańsk. Cars from before World War I were used, which were rebuilt by building platforms, as well as newer two- and four-axle cars. Some of the cars were manufactured by the Gdańsk company Danziger Waggonfabrik, others came, for example, from the Herbrandt company from Cologne. During World War II, trams of the N series also arrived in Gdańsk. A very interesting model was the model of the 242 series - the first tram in Gdańsk with a partially lowered floor. To this day, Bergmann no. 266, manufactured in 1927 by Danziger Waggonfabrik, runs on the tourist line. In the years 1946-1961, a two-track tram line ran along the current Niepodległości Avenue in Sopot. Its route towards the city centre ended with a loop, which was located near the intersection with ul. Reja in Świemirow. The tram connection between Gdańsk and Sopot was closed down due to the majority of passengers being taken over by the Fast Urban Railway and the expansion of the nearby road. Probably few readers remember that until the early 1960s, the residents of Gdańsk and Sopot could travel between their cities by tram. What's more, at the Sopot tram terminus, one could change to a trolleybus and continue the journey towards Gdynia. Contrary to appearances, the tram line running between Opacka Street in Oliwa and Reja Street in Świemirow was not a German legacy from the period of the Free City of Gdańsk or the Kaiser's or Hitler's Reich. The tram line in Sopot was built from scratch by Poles shortly after the end of World War II. And it was the enormous war destruction in nearby Gdańsk that prompted the laying of new tracks. Ticket prices on tram routes in 1929 Danzig (Gdańsk) - Langfuhr (Wrzeszcz) - 25 pfennig Danzig (Gdańsk) - Oliva (Oliwa) - 35 pfennig Danzig (Gdańsk) - Brösen (Brzeźno) - 30 pfennig Danzig Hauptbahnhof (Gdańsk Main Station) - Weidengasse (Łąkowa Street) - 15 pfennig Danzig Hansaplatz (Gdańsk Hansa Square) - Heubude (Stogi) - 30 pfennig Danzig Kohlenmarkt (Gdańsk Coal Market) - Ohra (Orunia) - 30 pfennig Danzig Silberhütte (Gdańsk Hucisko) - Emaus (Emaus) - 15 pfennig pfennigs Langfuhr (Wrzeszcz) - Brösen (Brzeźno) - 15 pfennigs Oliva (Oliwa) - Glettkau (Jelitkowo) - 15 pfennigs In 1914, the numbering of individual lines was introduced; until then, the direction of travel was indicated by a sign with the name of the destination stop. In the 1920s, ten tram lines were already operating in Gdańsk.