Oslo Trams & Metros Trikken AS - formerly Oslotrikken AS & Oslo
Sporvognsdrift AS
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Oslo Trams
Høka Trams - Class MBO
50/55/56 - later S53
The Høka S53 trams 4-axle bogie trams were ordered in three batches in
1950/55/56 and delivered in 1952-53, 1957 and 1958. They operated for more
than 40 years on the Oslo Tramway system. A number of Høka trams were later
rebuilt and became known as S83 trams. The trams were based on the Swedish
Mustang trams, and were delivered with Swedish electronics. The Høka trams
gained a reputation and legacy as very reliable and successful. Between 1982
and 1983, the trams were converted to one man operation. The Høka trams were
retired between 1990 and 1997.
The first batch of 30 Høka trams were built between 1952 and 1953, numbered
204-233. These were originally designated MBO 50. The second batch of 12
trams was built in 1957, designated MBO 55, and numbered 234-245. The final
batch, numbered 246-253 was built in 1958, and designated MBO 56. The
designations were later revised to SM53/I, SM53/II, and SM53/III
respectively. The trams were 14.7 metres long, 2.5 metres wide, and had a
weight of 16.9 tons. They had four Hågglund motors totalling 180 kW. A
number of Høka trams are preserved at the Oslo Tramway Museum (Oslo
Sporveismuseet).
Eleven Høka trams were rebuilt between 1985-91 with new cabs and other
improvements and became known as Class S83 (SM83 from 1992). Trams rebuilt
were 221, 243, 222, 205, 206, 225, 219, 223, 214, 223 and 248 (in order of
rebuilding). They were renumbered 261-271 in 1991 and then 201-211 in 1994.
40 six-axle trams of type SL79, numbered 101-140. These are
single-articulated, and operate in one direction only. They were delivered
in two batches, the first batch, with 25 trams, started arriving in 1982,
the second batch of 15 trams arrived in 1989. The two batches are fairly
similar, but with different interiors, and the rear door of the second batch
is double. The first ten trams were produced by Düwag of Germany, the rest
were produced by ABB at Strømmen, east of Oslo. The trams are 22.18 metres
long, 2.50 metres wide, 3.41 metres tall and weigh 32.8 tons. The tram can
take 163 passengers, 71 of which are seated.
32 eight-axle trams of type SL95, numbered 141-172 and delivered in
1998-2006. These are three-section, double-ended, partly low-floor trams.
They can therefore operate on the Ullevål line to Rikshospitalet which does
not have a turning circle. However, the large turning radius and heavy
weight of the tram makes it unsuitable for some of the lines to Majorstuen,
which have poor tracks and sharp turns. The SL95s were delivered by the
Italian company Ansaldo/Firema, now Ansaldobreda. The SL95 is 33.12 metres
long, 2.6 metres wide, 3.62 metres tall and weighs 64.98 tons. The tram has
a capacity for 212 passengers, 88 of which are seated.
- Simplon Ship Postcards
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