My first time... at the Tram Museum

Editor Eva Hediger

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It’s a brief journey back in time – to a Zurich where people were warned about sharp hat pins and a public transport ticket cost just a few centimes.

At weekends, Line 11 towards Rehalp is often filled with excited passengers. They seem particularly interested in the tram – and all get off at the ‘Burgwies’ stop. That’s where the Tram Museum is located. A place for public transport enthusiasts and young children. Or is it?

From the outside, the Tram Museum in the old depot looks rather unassuming. And the entrance area is just as ordinary as its exhibits: the museum shares this space with a Migros branch. I often shop there. But today I want to visit the Tram Museum for the first time.

I enter via the museum shop. This confirms my nerdy preconception. There is a wide range of literature on rail transport for sale here. But also a poster of an old ticket machine. I wonder how many ZVV fans have this hanging in their living room?

I paid the admission fee straight away. There aren’t many visitors on a Monday afternoon, so I wandered undisturbed through the 1,600 m² exhibition space. I’m allowed to get inside most of the original vehicles. The oldest dates from 1897. It’s like a brief journey back in time – to a Zurich where people were warned about sharp hat pins and a public transport ticket cost just a few centimes.

At the far end of the hall, I finally spot a group of children. A few boys are setting the ‘Cobralino’ in motion – a mini version of the Cobra tram. Families are having their afternoon snack at various tables. On a weekend with bad weather, the place is probably teeming with little passengers.

I take another stroll through the depot, looking at historical uniforms and photographs. I press the buttons on a traffic light and find it surprisingly fun. Then I leave the museum. I wait for the tram at the stop. As I step on board, I think to myself, disappointed: “Your great-grandmother was prettier.”

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Published from Eva Hediger on June 05, 2025.