Tatra T3
| Tatra T3 | |
|---|---|
T3 in Prague
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Interior of T3D
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| Manufacturer |
 ČKD Tatra
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| Constructed | 1960–89, 1998–99 (T3RF) |
| Number built | 14,113 |
| Capacity | 23 seats 87 standing |
| Specifications | |
| Train length | 14,000 mm (45 ft 11 in) |
| Width | 2,500 mm (8 ft 2 in) |
| Height | 3,050 mm (10 ft 0 in) |
| Doors | 3 |
| Bogies | 2 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in), 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in), 1,524 mm (5 ft) |
The T3 is a famous type of tramcar produced by Tatra. During its period of production, between 1960 and 1999, 13,991 powered units and 122 unpowered trailers were sold worldwide, mostly in Central and Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Well maintained tramcars of this type are very reliable, a late 2000s survey conducted in Prague tram system has shown 98.9% reliability, best of the Prague tram system fleet.
The design of the T3 had to meet difficult specifications. The car should have the same capacity as its predecessor (the Tatra T2), but be easier to build. In order to achieve this goal for example the vehicle walls were thinner and were fitted with laminate seats instead of cushioned leatherette seats the T2 used. The T3 was delivered to all tramway companies in the former Czechoslovakia. It was most numerous in Prague, where over 1,000 vehicles were delivered. The T3 still forms (mostly in various modernised versions) the backbone of the Czech tram fleet.
(SU for Soviet Union)
As with the T2SU the first T3SU was delivered with the modification of removing the middle door and replacing it with seats. Later cars, however, were delivered with the third door in place. Again the vehicles had a closed operator's compartment and were adapted for the harsh climate. Altogether 11,368 T3SU were delivered, making it worldwide the largest production of a single type of streetcar. But because so many of one type were made, their replacement by more modern cars was slow.
The T3SU was delivered from 1963, first to Moscow and later to 33 further Soviet cities.
(SUCS for Soviet Union-modified Czechoslovakia)
Originally the production of the T3 was stopped 1976 and production was concentrated on newer vehicles. The Slovak city Košice, however, ordered two motor coaches, as an exception. Starting from 1985 the production of the replacement type KT8D5 should start, however this was by then obsolete. Further production of T3 would have been too expensive, so instead vehicles of the type T3SU were re-imported and adapted. The closed operator's cab was maintained, the vehicles had all three doors in place and differed from the original T3 only in few details. These vehicles can be, and sometimes are, formed into sets.
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Wikipedia