TMG 1907

The Mercédès-Électrique-Stoll trolleybus was one of the first examples of electric mass transport in Europe. In 1907, it connected the Austrian town of Gmünd with the railway station, which today lies in České Velenice. The 2.2 km route replaced a conventional tram, which would have been too expensive at the time. Local officials opted for an innovative solution — an electric vehicle powered by overhead wires.

The trolleybus line, powered by 440V from the local power station, was unique not only in Austria-Hungary but also in all of Central Europe. The first vehicle carried 18 passengers and even had a small postal compartment. The second vehicle, without the postal area, could carry up to 24 people. A wooden platform was used for overhead wire maintenance, showing the impressive level of technical development at the beginning of the 20th century. (Photo from https://www.koridory.cz/)

• 0: Era: 4–7
• 1: Maximum speed: 45 km/h
• 2: Power: 80 hp
• 3: Price: 20 wooden tokens
• 4: Capacity: 15 people
• 5: Operating cost: 1 coin
• 6: Car coupling: NO
• 7: Hi-Poly: 6850 triangles
• 8: Low-Poly: 675 triangles

The route ran from the railway station via Litschauer Strasse to the town hall on Gmünd’s square, with an original length of 2.2 km, extended to 3.3 km in 1909. The trolleybus made 16 round trips daily from 5:40 a.m. to 8:50 p.m. A ticket cost 20 heller, and regular passengers could buy a pass for fifty rides. However, due to financial losses, the operation ended in 1916.