"Tatra T3": design features and photos

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Modern models of trams run along the tram lines of today's cities, which attract attention not only with their stylish appearance, but also with their technical characteristics, which are actually impressive. They drive silently, quickly, efficiently, they are literally filled with comfort, so in most cases old trams are abandoned in cities. This is how trams of the Tatra T3 model gradually disappear from the streets of Russian cities. But once they were considered cult. Fortunately, they are still used in smaller cities, so you can plunge into nostalgia and remember the times of the Soviet Union, when such trams were everywhere.

However, have you thought in detail about the history, design features and similar topics regarding, for example, the Tatra T3 model? Very few people travel by public transport and at the same time think about what are the design features of a particular model. Therefore, if you are interested, in this article you will find all the necessary information about this tram. It contains a large amount of a wide variety of information: starting with the modifications that have already been mentioned above, and ending with the design features and technical characteristics.

What is this?

So, Tatra T3 is a model of tram cars that has been produced since 1960. The production of these trams ended only in 1999. As a result, more than fourteen thousand wagons were produced during this time, which were modified depending on the purpose of the delivery. The modifications will be discussed a little later, but for now it is worth focusing on general information regarding the Tatra T3 trams. As a matter of fact, these cars were made all this time in Prague, but an impressive part of them went to the Soviet Union, as well as to other socialist countries. On the territory of Western Europe, you are unlikely to find such cars - except perhaps in East Germany.

Modifications

You already know that the Tatra T3 tram was produced in Prague, respectively, the main market for it was domestic. Most of the trams of this model were produced and used on the territory of Czechoslovakia. As for export, in this case it was more than active. This is already evidenced by the fact that each destination country created its own modification, which did not differ much from the original, but still had some other details and elements.

This was also reflected in the name of the car model. For example, the second in terms of the number of copies produced was the T3SU model, which was supplied to the Soviet Union (SU from Soviet Union). The main difference between these particular cars and the original ones was the absence of a central door, and additional seats were installed on the liquidated aisle. Also, the service ladder was located at the back of the car, and not in the middle, which was due to the lack of a middle door. There were other small differences that made this model stand out from the base one.

Where else was the Tatra T3 tram supplied? There was a separate modification for Germany, for Yugoslavia and for Romania, and since 1992 T3RF trams began to be produced, which were intended for the formed Russian Federation. It is also worth noting the tram model T3SUCS - these are the cars that were produced on the basis of those intended for the Soviet Union, but at the same time supplied to the domestic market. The fact is that the original model ceased production in 1976, but in the eighties there was an urgent need to replace many outdated cars. It was then that the production of this modification began.

History of the tram

What was the history of this car, as well as its modifications, such as the most popular among them - "Tatra T3SU"? It should be clear to everyone that, based on the name, this was not the first car in the line - T2 cars were produced before, not only for Czechoslovakia, but also supplied in large quantities to the Soviet Union. These cars had their shortcomings, which were eliminated in the new version.

Already in 1960, the first prototype was ready, which was tested and approved. Then mass production began, and the first tram of the new model drove through the streets of Prague in the summer of 1961. However, in the spring of 1962, the trams were taken out of service due toshortcomings that were eliminated within a year and a half. As a result, the final date for the launch of this tram into operation was the fall of 1963. In the same year, deliveries of specialized cars to the Soviet Union began - their percentage was maximum, even in Czechoslovakia there were not as many cars of this model used as Tatra T3SU trams were used. Deliveries of these trams to Soviet cities took a very long time and stopped only in 1987.

Recent history

Deliveries resumed, as you understand, in the early nineties, when T3RF cars began to be delivered to the Russian Federation. They were supplied to the Russian Federation until the last moment, when their production was already stopped, that is, until 1999. However, the end of supplies did not mean the end of use: in total, about eleven thousand trams were delivered to the USSR, and many of them have been modernized over the past fifteen years to extend their service life. In many cities, these trams run by tens and hundreds, so their era will definitely not end in Russia in the near future.

Two-door specifications

"Tatra T3" two-door was the main model supplied to the Soviet Union. It is about her that you need to talk about in the first place. She has 38 seats, and the passenger capacity is as much as 110 people. It has four TE 022 engines, each of which has a power of 40 kilowatts. The design speed of the model is 72 kilometers per hour, whileas the real maximum speed is 65 kilometers per hour. The length of such a car is 14 meters, the width is two and a half meters, and the height is three meters. Its mass is approximately sixteen tons. When two cars are combined, a train 30 meters long is obtained. If we talk about what is inside, then it is worth noting the height of the cabin, which is 2 meters 40 centimeters, as well as the width of the doorway, which is 1 meter 30 centimeters. These are the main technical characteristics that the Tatra T3 tram car has. His salon, as you can see, is very large and roomy, and the car itself has good dimensions.

Specifications of the three-door model

However, the two-door model was not delivered to the Soviet Union all the time - later orders for three-door Tatra T3 cars began to arrive in Czechoslovakia. The photographs show that the difference between these cars was not too great, but still there was. Therefore, it is necessary to take a closer look at the technical specifications for this car, as well as compare them with the previous version.

So, the number of seats has been reduced due to the appearance of the middle door - in such a car there are 34 of them, not 38. The passenger capacity has also decreased, which now amounted to 95 people, that is, fifteen passengers less. The engines remained exactly the same, their number did not change, so the speed remained the same. Dimensions also have not changed, in fact, as well as the mass of the entire car. Howyou see, there really were not so many differences, even the width of the doorway remained the same.

Design features

The next thing you should pay attention to when considering such a vehicle as the Tatra T3 tram is components and assemblies, body and bogies, electronics and brakes, and much more. Simply put, now we will talk about the design features of this tram. And the first feature worth paying attention to is the complete absence of pneumatic equipment. This means that all equipment in this tram is mechanical or electrical. However, this is a characteristic of the entire line of cars.

What's new in the design appeared specifically in the model "T3"? The side and roof remained all-metal, but the ends of the car were made of self-extinguishing fiberglass, a special polymer material that has a much lower mass and greater streamlining. Thus, the use of this material made it possible to reduce the overall weight and improve the aerodynamic properties of the car. Also, to control the movement of current through the motors, a complex electrical device was used, which was called an accelerator. In the cabin, fluorescent lamps and heaters were installed, which provided passengers with the maximum level of comfort. The model of the Tatra T3 tram was significantly superior in technical features to its predecessor, the T2 model.

Case

"Tatra T3" - rolling stock, which is still in usethroughout Russia, and this means that at one time these cars were made at the highest level. But if you look into the past, you can understand that in 1963 this model was something incredible. The absence of any pneumatics, the presence of fluorescent lamps and high-quality heating, as well as other features of the hull made this tram a real curiosity. Particularly distinguished were the polymer elements of the body, as well as the curved windshield. In general, this tram was considered by many to be ahead of its time, and that is why it is still so popular in such a huge country as the Russian Federation. Of course, the scale of supplies also affects: why get rid of eleven thousand trams if they can be modified and used further?

Trolleys

This tram has always had a lot of problems with bogies. Firstly, due to the reduced mass, the car often could not stop as quickly as desired, especially when the action took place on wet or frozen rails. Moreover, this caused not only the need to slow down earlier, but also the rapid grinding of the wheels, which gradually acquired a square shape and began to make a lot of noise.

However, this was not the only problem, these cars also began to wear out the rails they traveled on due to the fact that they used single-stage bogie suspension technology. Most likely, this was done to reduce the price, since two-stage suspension, which did not leave such marks on the rails, was already known and actively used in other models.trams.

As a result, the Voronezh plant even began to produce special grinding trams that leveled the rails. After all, if you leave them in this form, then in the end it can lead to severe damage. Moreover, such rails caused a lot of noise even for trams of other brands and models.

Electrical equipment

These cars had very advanced electrical equipment, which provided smooth running and many other positive factors, but there were also serious drawbacks. For example, these trams are famous for not the highest reliability, as well as the “disease” of a sticky accelerator finger, due to which accidents often occur. In some cases, they simply lead to delays on the lines, and sometimes it is even necessary to remove the tram from the line in emergency mode.

Brakes

As for the braking system, it was not one - there were three of them at once. These systems work independently of each other - the electrodynamic system is the main, electromechanical, used for re-braking, as well as the magnetic rail system, which is used for emergency braking, as well as for holding the car when driving down hills and driving into them.

Flaws

The main disadvantages of this model can be considered the noise of the cabin due to the operation of the motor-generator and the above-mentioned sticking of the accelerator fingers. It is also worth paying attention to the comfort of passengers - the half-car is located too high, and the windows are too low. Also, the work of the tram is often accompanied by creaks - they creak like doors when they are opened andclosing, and the cars themselves on the turns.

Popularity

No one will be surprised that these cars are still very popular on the territory of the Russian Federation. However, they are also known outside the country. For example, you can get the Tatra T3 tram for Trainz 12, the popular train and tram simulator. This game is unique in its kind and allows you to travel on a wide variety of trains. And the 2012 version has a Tatra T3 model for Trainz, so if you don't want or can't ride a real tram, you have the chance to drive a virtual one.