Wesseling_Abstellanlage_30_07_2005.jpg (133632 bytes)

Several tramway cars of Colognes tramway company, parked at the depot in Köln Wesseling on 30th Jul 2005. This picture was taken by Sybic - www.bahnnews-austria.at

kbe_barbarossaplatz1.jpg (148194 bytes)

This is the southern part of the area where the station Barbarossaplatz of the Köln-Bonner Eisenbahn (KBE) used to be. The tracks of the so called Vorgebirgsbahn ran along the Luxemburger street (on the left in the background) and ended here. Nowadays this line is part of the tram network, so the tracks pass along this area, which is now occupied by various buildings, and proceed into the city center. Note that there is one single siding track left. Picture taken from the 17th floor of the TausendFenster-Turm on 18 January 2005. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)

koelnanlagen_bk0710010042.jpg (147488 bytes)

Straßenbahn Köln - Anlagen Aufgegebene Gleise in der Gürzenichstraße nahe der Haltestelle Heumarkt am Abend des 01. Oktober 2007. Photo: Bernd Kittendorf (info@bernd-kittendorf.de) Homepage: www.bernd-kittendorf.de

koelnanlagen_bk0710010043.jpg (136438 bytes)

Straßenbahn Köln - Anlagen Aufgegebene Gleise in der Gürzenichstraße nahe der Haltestelle Heumarkt am Abend des 01. Oktober 2007. Photo: Bernd Kittendorf (info@bernd-kittendorf.de) Homepage: www.bernd-kittendorf.de

kvb5002sw1.jpg (56555 bytes)

Prototype tramcar 5002, originally intended for the Kölner Verkehrsbetriebe (KVB), seen at the Open Day at the Wildenrath Test Centre of Siemens on 25 August 2002. After the first prototype of this class, tramcar 5001, crashed seriously on 23 August 1999, the project was cancelled. Since then, 5002 is stored. Picture taken from a moving train, sorry for the bad quality. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

kvb_aachener_str1.jpg (147984 bytes)

The crossing of Aachener Straße and Gürtel in Cologne seen from the 18th floor of the DKV building on 26 June 2004. This is the only crossing where running from each direction into each direction is possible. Line 1 and line 13 run straight through, the 1 from the lower right corner (towards Weiden) to the upper left (towards the city center and Bensberg), the 13 from the right side (towards Sülzgürtel) to the left (towards the northern Gürtel and Holweide). Line 7 uses the connection from the right (towards Frechen, leaving the Gürtel again further south) to the upper left (towards the city center and Zündorf). The two connections to the left are frequently used by trains to and from the West depot, which is reached by a short line branching from the Gürtel about hundred meters north of this crossing. Two low-floor trams of 4000 series are just heading for the depot. There are four platforms, each one located in front of the crossing where the trams have to wait anyway in most cases. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)

kvb_barbarossaplatz1.jpg (149187 bytes)

The tram crossing Barbarossaplatz in Cologne seen from the 17th floor of the TausendFenster-Turm on 18 January 2005. This is the busiest tram junction in Cologne (as long as only lines running on the surface are considered) with seven lines running in different directions. Line 6, 12 and 15 run from the northern ring line (upper left corner, next station Zülpicher Platz) to the southern ring line (lower right corner, next station Eifelstraße). Line 18 and 19 come from the city center tunnel (upper right corner, next station Poststraße) and proceed along the Luxemburger street (lower left corner, next station Eifelwall). Line 16 and 17 do also come from the city center, but turn left towards the southern ring. All platforms are located on the north side (towards the northern ring respectively the city center), so a train using the connection at the lower edge of the picture would not pass a platform. The train waiting at the upper left corner consists of low-floor cars of 4000 series, so it is line 12. The livery with the "125" on the first car was applied in 2002, when the Kölner Verkehrsbetriebe (KVB) were 125 years old. A train of 2300 series cars is just crossing the area towards Luxemburger street, this could be a line 18 or 19. The green car entering in the opposite direction belongs to the Stadtwerke Bonn (SWB). It is similar to the 2000 series of Cologne, but in Bonn another numbering scheme is used. As this train comes from Bonn, it must be line 18. The 5100 series car in the lower right corner is waiting to proceed to the northern ring, so it is line 15, as line 6 uses the old eight-axled cars of 3100 and 3200 series. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)

kvb_catxing1.jpg (81596 bytes)

At the crossing of Aachener Straße and Gürtel in Cologne, there are these rectangular crossings of the tram catenary. The diamond shaped frames keep the contact wires at the same level. Picture taken on 15 June 2002. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

kvb_eifelstr1.jpg (101065 bytes)

Some signals at the tram station Eifelstraße in Cologne seen on 13 July 2002. The red board with the numbers is a Sh2. It says that tramcars of 2000, 4000 and 5000 series are not allowed to proceed to the right onto the southern branch of line 12. The reason is that the turning loop in Zollstock is to tight for six-axled cars. Above the board is the switch indicator which is dark at the moment. If the switch is activated automatically by the tram or manually with a key at the box below, it shows if it leads to the right (Wn9) or to the "left" (Wn10) (in fact, this is the straight direction). Above the traffic light are the F signals for each branch, they act like traffic lights for the trams. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

kvb_eifelstr2.jpg (98025 bytes)

Some signals at the tram station Eifelstraße in Cologne seen on 17 November 2002. For some weeks now the line 12, the only line proceeding to the right here, is operated with six-axled cars of 2000 series instead of eight-axled cars of 3000 series. The turning loop in Zollstock was replaced by a switch connection, as the six-axled cars have two cabs. On the Sh2 forbidding 4000 and 5000 series to turn right, the 2000 was covered with tape. Another Sh2 with a 3000 on it was added. The sign below it advises the drivers to switch the motors only serial, not parallel, as this would draw to much current from the catenary on this branch. The yellow switch indicator shows Wn10, the switch leads to the "left" (which is in fact the straight direction). It was activated by a tramcar of line 17 that is just approaching. In the background two Bonn tramcars disappear towards their hometown on line 16. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

kvb_eifelstr3.jpg (99836 bytes)

Some signals at the tram station Eifelstraße in Cologne seen on 26 August 2003. Only the Sh2 for 3000 series cars is still present, as 4000 and 5000 series are by now approved for the line to Zollstock. However 5000 series (as well as 2200 and 2300 subseries) cars would not be able to board passengers from street level, what is required on this line. It is planned to put 4000 series low-floor trams into service here in the future. The hint to draw not to much current ("Nur auf Serienschaltung") is still present, but works to upgrade the catenary are going on. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

kvb_f0_ts1.jpg (131816 bytes)

An old F signal of the Kölner Verkehrsbetriebe (KVB) at the station Tacitusstraße (the box with the two white lights between the two traffic lights). It shows F 0 (stop). Seen on 30 August 2002, the last day the line was in service. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

kvb_loop_ws1.jpg (137343 bytes)

This seems to be some kind of induction loop for communication between a stationary tramcar and the signalbox. Like this one at the new station Weiden Schulstraße in Cologne, I saw these things only at places where a tram starts it's trip after changing the direction. Picture taken on 15 June 2002. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

kvb_masts_zs1.jpg (118779 bytes)

Two catenary masts of the Cologne tram seen on the Zollstock branch of line 12 on 26 August 2003. On the left is the old mast, a new one was errected on the right. The catenary is upgraded for higher currents, to allow unrestricted operation of 4000 series low-floor trams. In the background, there are catenary and feeding lines of the DB line Südbrücke-Eifeltor, with a high voltage line of DB Energie above them. So this is in fact a "3-current-picture" (750 V DC, 15000 V AC and 110000 V AC). Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

kvb_masts_zs2.jpg (114842 bytes)

Some catenary masts of the Cologne tram seen on the Zollstock branch of line 12 on 26 August 2003. The concrete masts are old, the steel masts are new. The catenary is upgraded for higher currents, to allow unrestricted operation of 4000 series low-floor trams. Note that the masts on the left side are higher, maybe the will carry feeding lines. In the background the catenary of the DB line from the Südbrücke to the western ring is visible. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

kvb_sign_eg1.jpg (61378 bytes)

A sign warning of a tram catenary of the Kölner Verkehrsbetriebe (KVB) seen on 4 September 2002. First one wonders how high their pantographs must be, but if you look hard, you see that the catenary is 4.0 meters high, not 40 meters. The sign is located on the Ehrenfeldgürtel, but the arrow points into the Hüttenstraße. So I think it does not relate to the catenary of the line 13, but to the one of the line 5 running on the Subbelrather street. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

kvb_sptrack1.jpg (115740 bytes)

This is a special kind of track, seen on the new part of the tram line 1 in Cologne on 15 June 2002. It is used to avoid that vibrations from the trams disturb the nearby TV studios of RTL. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

kvb_west1.jpg (147931 bytes)

The West depot of the Kölner Verkehrsbetriebe (KVB) seen from the 18th floor of the DKV building on 26 June 2004. The line leading out is visible in the lower right corner. Some office buildings of different age can be seen in the foreground. On the right side in the background several trams are lined up. Further away on the left work vehicles and materials (rails, sleepers and so on) are stored. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)

kvb_west2.jpg (148356 bytes)

The West depot of the Kölner Verkehrsbetriebe (KVB) seen from the 18th floor of the DKV building on 26 June 2004. At the lower edge of the picture a washing facility is visible, above is an area spanned by a stationary crane where rails and other materials are stored. Behind that you can see special cars for rail grinding and other purposes, locomotives, flatcars and a dual mode crane (parked behind the end of the tracks). Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)