Now For Something Completely Different

The capital of Norway retains a vibrant tram operation with distinctive pale and dark blue fleet colours. All of the locally built Norwegian trams have given way to low floor units from multinational suppliers - so the unique flavour of this system has been subsumed into the standard light rail format common to other European operators. All Images by Jessica Meyer-Rassow October 24 2015

Fortunately the Oslo transport operator assigned an old tram depot (sounds familiar) to the local preservation group and donated a considerable number of trams both from the Capital's earlier fleet as well as suburban lines. Now managed by Norwegian transport enthusiasts an impressive line up of trams (and some buses and a trolleybus) fill the depot tracks. Most are restored but a few remain in as withdrawn condition. Lessons for Rigby Road Museum perhaps ?

My daughter visited Oslo last week with her travel allowing an hour inside the depot to record the varied lineup of trams and format of the museum displays. As Norway and Oslo don't feature too often in tram heritage coverage a few highlights of the collection will feature in blogs this week.

Of especial interest are the 1930s' streamlined four axle cars which were a very distinctive design unique to Oslo. With their swept backs, they immediately gained the nickname 'goldfish cars' and appeared in the same period as Blackpool's own 'Brush' cars. Two examples are fortunately retained in the collection. The Museum operates examples from this impressive display on special 'tram tours' over the system each month, but nothing on the scale of Blackpool's heritage operation.

Contrasting designs of interurban cars running into the Capital - fat and thin ?

More images from Oslo's amazing heritage tram collection to follow.