Karia HM V
Encyclopedia
HM V is a class of two-bogie four-axle (Bo'Bo' wheel arrangement
) tram
operated by Helsinki City Transport
on the Helsinki tram
network. All trams of this type were built by the Finnish
tram manufacturer Karia in 1959.
The first trams of this type were withdrawn from service in 1993. As of 2008 six trams (numbers 9, 11–14 and 175) remain in operational condition. Of these, two have been extensively repaired and are occasionally used in normal service (numbers 9 and 12), one has been converted into a restaurant tram (former no. 15, now no. 175 "Spårakoff
") and one is used as a non-passenger carrying advertisement tram (no. 14).
, were the last development in a series of five near-identical tram types produced by Karia and Valmet for operations on the Helsinki and Turku tram
network during the 1950s (the previous types being HM IV and RM 1 for Helsinki and RM 2
for Turku).
HKL ordered the HM V type trams from Karia, a daughter company of Suomen Autoteollisuus, in 1957. The series designation stands for Helsingin moottorivaunu, viides sarja (Helsinki motor tram, series five). Karia built the bodies and assembled the trams, while Sisu
(another daughter company of Suomen autoteollisuus) supplied the bogies and Strömberg
the electronics.
Originally the HM V trams were built for two-person operations, with a separate driver and conductor. Between 1978 and 1982 they were converted to one-person operations, with the driver also acting as the ticket seller.
The first HM V units to be withdrawn from service were numbers 5 and 6, withdrawn in 1993, with number 7 following in 1994. In 1994 work also begun on converting number 15 into a pub tram. These works were completed in 1995, when number 15 was renumbered into number 175 in honour of the 175th anniversary of the Sinebrychoff
brewery, who also paid the conversion work of the tram. In addition to be being renumbered, the tram was named Spårakoff
(from Helsinki slang , tram, and "Koff", a beer brand brewed by Sinebrychoff). Also during 1995 number 11 was rebuilt as a "NAC protype" by ABB, with new traction motors and control devices.
During the latter half of the 1990s HKL ordered 40 low-floor Variotram
s, which were projected to replace the HM V and RM 3 types in their entirety. During the early 2000s three HM V trams were withdrawn from service, with number 4 withdrawn in 2000, and numbers 1 and 2 during the following year. However, due to persistent technical problems of the Variotrams, some other units in the class remained in service. In 2004–2005 number 12 was in Tallinna Trammi- ja Trollibussikoondis (TTTK) depot in Tallinn
for large-scale repair/renovation process. Similar renovation were carried out at TTTK on number 9 in 2005–2007. Number 11 received smaller-scale renovation in 2007. While these three trams were restored, numbers 3, 8 and 10 were withdrawn from service in 2006–2007, leaving six HM V trams in existence.
During the extensive repairs at TTTK in Tallinn, number 9 and 12 have been painted with a modified version of the original livery, with added silver decorative stripes; one running between the yellow and green fields, and another near the bottom of the carriage.
up to 31, while the standing capacity was downsized to 57 plus an additional 44 during the rush hour. Following conversion into the Spårakoff, tram number 175 (ex-15) has a capacity of 24 all-seated passengers.
Wheel arrangement
In rail transport, a wheel arrangement is a system of classifying the way in which wheels are distributed beneath a locomotive.. Several notations exist to describe the wheel assemblies of a locomotive by type, position, and connections, with the adopted notations varying by country...
) tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
operated by Helsinki City Transport
Helsinki City Transport
Helsinki City Transport or HKL is the official city-owned public transport company in Helsinki, Finland. It operates the Helsinki metro, Helsinki tram and ferry boat traffic...
on the Helsinki tram
Helsinki tram
The Helsinki tram network forms part of the Helsinki public transport system organised by Helsinki Regional Transport Authority and operated by Helsinki City Transport in the Finnish capital city of Helsinki. The trams are the main means of transport in the city centre. 56.6 million trips were made...
network. All trams of this type were built by the Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
tram manufacturer Karia in 1959.
The first trams of this type were withdrawn from service in 1993. As of 2008 six trams (numbers 9, 11–14 and 175) remain in operational condition. Of these, two have been extensively repaired and are occasionally used in normal service (numbers 9 and 12), one has been converted into a restaurant tram (former no. 15, now no. 175 "Spårakoff
Spårakoff
Spårakoff is a HM V type tram converted into a bar in Helsinki, Finland. Known as the pub tram, the bright red vehicle does circular tours of Helsinki picking up passengers for an additional fee during summer months....
") and one is used as a non-passenger carrying advertisement tram (no. 14).
Concept and construction
The HM V type trams, alongside the near-identical RM 3 type produced at the same time by ValmetValmet
' was a Finnish state-owned conglomerate. Valmet was formed in 1951, when the state of Finland decided to group their various factories working on war reparations to the Soviet Union under one company...
, were the last development in a series of five near-identical tram types produced by Karia and Valmet for operations on the Helsinki and Turku tram
Turku tram
The Turku tramway network was the first—and as of 2008, second to last—tram system to be operated in Finland. It was operated as horse tramway from 1890 until 1892, and as an electrified tramway from 1908 until 1972...
network during the 1950s (the previous types being HM IV and RM 1 for Helsinki and RM 2
Valmet RM 2
RM 2 was a class of two-bogie four-axle tram operated by Turku City Transport ; ), popularly known as "ghost cars". They were the last trams acquired for the Turku tram network prior to its closure in 1972, built by the Finnish metal industry corporation Valmet in 1956...
for Turku).
HKL ordered the HM V type trams from Karia, a daughter company of Suomen Autoteollisuus, in 1957. The series designation stands for Helsingin moottorivaunu, viides sarja (Helsinki motor tram, series five). Karia built the bodies and assembled the trams, while Sisu
Sisu Auto
Sisu Auto is a Finnish truck company. Its name comes from the Finnish word sisu meaning guts, grit and determination.Sisu Auto subsidiary company SISU Defence produces high mobility tactical vehicles for military use.-History:*Sisu established in 1931...
(another daughter company of Suomen autoteollisuus) supplied the bogies and Strömberg
Stromberg
-People:*Lyndon Stromberg, American sculptor and designer*Karl Stromberg, the villain in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me*Joseph R. Stromberg, historian with the Ludwig von Mises Institute*Glenn Strömberg, Swedish soccer player...
the electronics.
Service history
The first HM V tram, number 1, was delivered to the HKL on 1959-04-27, with number 15 delivered last in the series on 1959-10-23. Coinciding with the delivery of these new trams the HKL had decided to reset their numbering scheme. Therefore the HM V trams were numbered starting from one and not from 376, as they would have been had the old numbering been continued. The HM V trams were built to be compatible with the HP II type trailers that had been constructed in 1958–1959, also by Karia. The usage of trailers in Helsinki ended in 1983, although the couplers needed for hauling trailers were retained in the HM V type trams for many years afterwards, number 14 being the last tram to have one, with the coupler removed only in 2006.Originally the HM V trams were built for two-person operations, with a separate driver and conductor. Between 1978 and 1982 they were converted to one-person operations, with the driver also acting as the ticket seller.
Sinebrychoff
Sinebrychoff Brewery is a Finnish brewery and soft drinks company. It was founded in 1819 in Helsinki, Finland by Russian colonist Nikolai Sinebrychoff , and is one of the largest breweries in Finland today. It has since become part of Carlsberg Breweries A/S....
brewery, who also paid the conversion work of the tram. In addition to be being renumbered, the tram was named Spårakoff
Spårakoff
Spårakoff is a HM V type tram converted into a bar in Helsinki, Finland. Known as the pub tram, the bright red vehicle does circular tours of Helsinki picking up passengers for an additional fee during summer months....
(from Helsinki slang , tram, and "Koff", a beer brand brewed by Sinebrychoff). Also during 1995 number 11 was rebuilt as a "NAC protype" by ABB, with new traction motors and control devices.
During the latter half of the 1990s HKL ordered 40 low-floor Variotram
Variotram
Variotram is a German-designed articulated low-floor tram model. Since its introduction in 1993, the Variotram has been manufactured variously by ABB, Adtranz, Bombardier Transportation, and since 2001 by Stadler Rail. As of 2009, 254 trams have been ordered, with an additional 110 on option...
s, which were projected to replace the HM V and RM 3 types in their entirety. During the early 2000s three HM V trams were withdrawn from service, with number 4 withdrawn in 2000, and numbers 1 and 2 during the following year. However, due to persistent technical problems of the Variotrams, some other units in the class remained in service. In 2004–2005 number 12 was in Tallinna Trammi- ja Trollibussikoondis (TTTK) depot in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
for large-scale repair/renovation process. Similar renovation were carried out at TTTK on number 9 in 2005–2007. Number 11 received smaller-scale renovation in 2007. While these three trams were restored, numbers 3, 8 and 10 were withdrawn from service in 2006–2007, leaving six HM V trams in existence.
Liveries
Originally all HM V trams were painted in the traditional yellow/green livery used in HKL trams, with the top half of the carriage painted yellow and the bottom half green. In 1995 on conversion into the Spårakoff pub tram, number 175, ex-15, received a new all-red livery advertising Koff beer. Numbers 8, 9 and 15 had occasionally been used as advertisement trams during the 90s, and from 2005 onwards number 14 has been used as an advertisement tram, covered entirely in adverts of various companies.During the extensive repairs at TTTK in Tallinn, number 9 and 12 have been painted with a modified version of the original livery, with added silver decorative stripes; one running between the yellow and green fields, and another near the bottom of the carriage.
Interior layout and design
In the original interior layout with a separate conductor and driver the HM V trams had capacity of 29 seated passengers and 69 standing passengers. During the rush hour this could be exceeded by an additional 50 standing passengers. On conversion to one-person operation during the late 70s and early 80s, the conductor's seat was replaced with two additional seats, bringing the seating capacitySeating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
up to 31, while the standing capacity was downsized to 57 plus an additional 44 during the rush hour. Following conversion into the Spårakoff, tram number 175 (ex-15) has a capacity of 24 all-seated passengers.
Names
The nicknames , , and have been used the HM V trams. Below are some of the explanations that have been offered for these nicknames.- ("stick-") and ("stick-")—reportedly after the stick-like controlling device in the trams combined with the name and location of the manufacturer in KarisKarisKaris is a former Finnish town and Finnish municipality in Finland. On January 1, 2009, it was consolidated with Ekenäs and Pohja that formed the new town of Raseborg....
. - (roughly "thing from LaihiaLaihiaLaihia is a municipality of Finland, founded in 1576 through a separation from Isokyrö and Korsholm.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is a part of the Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
"), (joint of )—in Finnish folkloreFolkloreFolklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
, the inhabitants of the municipality of Laihia are believed to be extreme miserMiserA miser, cheapskate, snipe-snout, penny pincher, piker, scrooge, skinflint or tightwad is a person who is reluctant to spend money, sometimes to the point of forgoing even basic comforts and some necessities...
s, while an articulated tram is in FinnishFinnish languageFinnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
referred to as , literally "jointJointA joint is the location at which two or more bones make contact. They are constructed to allow movement and provide mechanical support, and are classified structurally and functionally.-Classification:...
ed tram". These nicknames are said to refer to the changes made to the trams when they were converted to one-person operations. At the same time they were also refitted with door controllers similar to the newer Nr IValmet Nr INr I is a class of articulated six-axle , chopper-driven tram operated by Helsinki City Transport on the Helsinki tram network...
type articulated trams, making the HM V units into "a miser's articulated tram". An alternative explanation for the name is that the removal of the conductors made them "stripped models" and the nickname was used to describe the lack of conductors.