Straßenbahnmuseum Chemnitz
Volunteer-run museum of the Straßenbahnfreunde association in a 1908 tram shed: Chemnitz narrow-gauge railways and local transport history.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
In August 1987, when the end of Chemnitz's last narrow-gauge street tramway was in sight, tram enthusiasts founded the "Arbeitsgemeinschaft Straßenbahnfreunde" (tram enthusiasts' working group). Their aim was to preserve some of the vehicles with the unusual track gauge of 925 millimeters for future generations. The association still works on a volunteer basis today and is financed mainly by membership fees and donations.
The museum is located at the Kappel depot on Zwickauer Straße, which is no longer used for scheduled service. In the newest tram shed of the depot, which dates back to 1908, an exhibition shows the technical and historical background of Chemnitz local transport. It has been officially recognized as a museum since October 2008. The historic objects include, for example, the salvaged body of a summer trailer car from 1899, which later served as a garden arbor, and a standard-gauge T57 railcar bought back from Dresden in 1999.
Several of the historic vehicles, built between 1909 and 1973, have been restored. Since 2002, a short stretch of track on the outdoor grounds has let visitors experience the atmosphere of the old narrow-gauge railway. The association also runs city tours with historic trams in cooperation with the transport operator, and a working group for historic buses is part of club life.
Highlights
- Historic 1908 tram shed at the Kappel depot
- Narrow-gauge vehicles with a 925 mm track gauge
- Hands-on stations such as a driving controller and fare box
- Track section on the outdoor grounds
- Historic running days and special trips
Permanent exhibition
- Chemnitzer Nahverkehrsgeschichte – Historic narrow- and standard-gauge vehicles, technical exhibits such as controllers, traction motors and bogies, plus explanations of the 925 mm track gauge and the horse tram.
- Operated by
- Straßenbahnfreunde Chemnitz e.V.
- Director
- Uwe Niezel
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Students, trainees, people with severe disabilities (with proof) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and schoolchildren up to and including age 17 enter free. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €4People with severe disabilities, with proof. |
| Students & apprentices | €4Students and trainees, with proof. |
| Group tour for adults (up to 20 people) | €10Tour fee in addition to the regular admission, per person. |
| Tour for children and school classes (per child) | €1Tour fee per child. |
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Hands-on stations
Visitors can operate a controller and try out a fare box. Children and schoolchildren up to and including age 17 enter free, and there are guided tours for school classes.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Am Feldschlößchen
Tram line 1 from the Zentralhaltestelle toward Schönau.
The museum lies west of the city center, close to the Industriemuseum, along the Industrieroute on Zwickauer Straße.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Museum shop with brochures, postcard series, souvenirs and models.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours are only possible if booked in advance with the museum director (tel. +49 371 4006060). Several times a year there are historic running days and special trips with old trams. |
