Asia’s oldest operational tram transport system, Kolkata’s trams complete 152 years on Feb 24 and have silently witnessed transformation
With stance like a pink panther, this tram was manufactured by Burn Standard Company Ltd in 1984 and is parked at Nonapukur Workshop, Kolkata, for refurbishment
Originally built in 1918 as a rail scrubberto clean Kolkata’s tramlines, this decorated tram was later converted into a heritage passenger tram car
Trams appeared in Kolkata in 1873, introduced by the British as a horse-drawn system connecting Sealdah Railway Station and Armenian Ghat of Hooghly River
By mid-20th century, Trams became an inseparable part of Kolkata’s identity
By 1902, they became electric-powered. Over the next few decades, the network expanded rapidly
Photo : IANS
For many, a tram ride is more than just a shuttle — it’s an enriching experience that needs to be endured and enjoyed
Trams now fights for relevance, caught between nostalgia and modernity. For tram enthusiasts, they are living history
Photo : CTUA
Indian cinema has a rich history of featuring trams. A few films include: Apur Sansar (1959), Mahanagar (1963), Parineeta (2005), Calcutta News (2008), Barfi (2012).
Will the trams be recommissioned as an enduring symbol of heritage, or will they fade into history like so many other relics of the past?