“Erlikon” tram was installed on the site in front of the Packhouses

“Erlikon” tram – a replica of the model that was launched in Nizhny Novgorod in 1896 for the XVI All‑Russian Industrial and Art Exhibition – has been installed on the site in front of the Packhouses. This was reported by the Ministry of Culture of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

Similar trams were operated in Nizhny Novgorod until the late 1920s. The car was recreated in 1978 at the Gorky Car Repair Plant according to old blueprints, since no authentic “Erlikon” had survived in Nizhny Novgorod to this day. Before being installed at the Strelka site, the tram was kept at the Nizhny Novgorod Museum of Electric Transport in Tram Depot No. 1.

The “Erlikon” is a bidirectional tram where the passenger compartment is separated from the platforms by bulkheads with a door for passengers to enter and exit. The seats were arranged along the walls of the body. In total, the car accommodated 30-40 passengers in seated and standing positions. The driver in such a tram worked standing up, moving from one end of the car to the other when changing the direction of travel. Only motor single “Erlikons” were used in Nizhny Novgorod.

Similar trams were produced in Belgium in the late 19th — early 20th century and played a notable role in the development of tram services not only in Europe but also in the Russian Empire. The car had small dimensions, which made it possible to use it effectively on narrow city streets. Thanks to the simplicity of its design, it ensured relative ease of maintenance and repair, while at the same time the cars were distinguished by high reliability and durability, with many serving for several decades.

It should be noted that currently tram services and the renewal of tram infrastructure in Nizhny Novgorod are handled by LLC “Ecological Projects”, a subsidiary of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Development Corporation.

“The “Erlikon” tram became a landmark stage in the evolution of urban electric transport, marking the transition from horse‑drawn traction to the electrification of urban transport, although I should note that the electric tram appeared in our city before the horse‑drawn tram. Thanks to its well‑thought‑out design, high reliability and operational efficiency, this model gained popularity in the early 20th century and served as the foundation for the subsequent development of tram systems,” said Evgeny Grabovsky, Director of LLC “Ecological Projects”.

Currently, the tram fleet of Nizhny Novgorod comprises 238 units of passenger rolling stock. One of the newest models is the low‑floor “MiNiN” tram, developed by the “Nizhekotrans” enterprise specifically for Nizhny Novgorod. At the “Great All‑Russian” exhibition, the cab of a modern tram is on display as a symbol of the development of transport technological solutions. Visitors to the exhibition can not only freely inspect the “Erlikon” model outdoors, but also see the interior of a modern tram cab.

“When creating the exhibition, we wanted to show the evolution of technologies presented in 1896. And one of the most illustrative transformations occurred precisely with the city tram, which evolved from a wooden car clad in iron into a modern eco‑friendly transport beloved by many Nizhny Novgorod residents. This contrast will be especially vivid for exhibition visitors, who will be able to step inside the “Erlikon” before entering the exhibition Packhouse, and then, within the exposition, take a look inside the cab of the modern “MiNiN” tram,” noted Natalya Sukhanova, Minister of Culture of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

The “Erlikon” tram will remain on the territory of the Packhouses cultural center until the end of the “Great All‑Russian” exhibition, which will run at the exhibition Packhouse until 4 November.