The GTW 72 (GTW = "Gelenktriebwagen" or articulated railcar) is a suspended monorail train type operated by Wuppertaler Stadtwerke on the Wuppertal Schwebebahn from 1972 until 2018.
Technical specifications
Each set consists of three sections.[1] The trains have welded aluminium car bodies, and are powered by four chopper-controlled motors, which power the two wheels of each bogie.[2]
Interior
Seating accommodation consists of transverse seating.[2]
Regular operations ended in November 2018 with the suspension of Schwebebahn services following problems with the power supply. The last set was removed from the tracks on July 11, 2019.[4] After their withdrawal from service, 21 units were sold, and three were donated under the condition that they stay within Wuppertal. Set 15 remains with Wuppertaler Stadtwerke. Set 6 was scrapped in early 2019.[4]
Preserved examples
Set 2: preserved on the premises of Lang AG in Lindlar[5]
Set 8: preserved at Kinder-Tisch Vohwinkel e.V. in Wuppertal[4]
Set 27: sold in November 2019; to be preserved in Plettenberg[6]
References
^Schleife, Hans-Werner; et al. (1992). Metros der Welt [Metros of the world] (in German) (2nd ed.). Berlin: transpress Verlagsgesellschaft. pp. 377–379. ISBN3-344-70715-9.
^ abPabst, Martin (2006). S-Bahn- und U-Bahn-Fahrzeuge in Deutschland [S-Bahn and U-Bahn vehicles in Germany] (in German) (2nd ed.). GeraMond. pp. 88, 89. ISBN3-7654-7366-9.
^Schlickowey, Sven (December 15, 2016). "Ein letztes Mal schweben" [Suspended for the last time]. bergischerbote.de (in German). Verlag am See GmbH. Archived from the original on November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
^Besche, Thomas (November 13, 2019). "Wuppertaler Ebay-Schwebebahn erfolgreich verkauft" [Wuppetal Ebay-Schwebebahn successfully sold]. t-online.de (in German). Ströer Content Group. Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to WSW GTW 72.