Tram Museum and Oldie Bus Association open on Sunday

Tours with the oldest tram and vintage buses

This coming Sunday, July 13, 2025 , the Dresden Tram Museum Association is inviting fans of all ages to a “special opening day.” In addition to the long-planned opening days on selected weekends, the members have decided at short notice to present their treasures on an additional day during the summer holidays. From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., visitors can take a close look at the witnesses to Dresden’s public transport history in the museum halls at Trachenberger Straße 38. The Oldie Bus Association, which is based in the same building, will also be opening its doors on this day. Highlights include numerous special trips on historic trams and buses. Admission to the museum costs five euros, and children aged 6 to 14 receive a reduced admission price of three euros. For the whole family with two adults and up to four children, the family ticket for twelve euros is the best value.

Triebwagen Union 937 (c) Straßenbahnmuseum Dresden e. V.

Local transport history at your fingertips

Anyone who enters the Tram Museum in Trachenberge can practically feel the history of Dresden's "electric" trams. Old transmission parts, control switches, and cardboard stop signs are stored among the trams, many of which are still built with a large amount of wood. The association's members are happy to tell the story of their unique exhibits. It's a labor of love for the volunteers. Hands-on experience with the vintage trams is expressly permitted. On Sundays, however, there's more to see than just the historic vehicles. Those feeling daring can try out the tram driving simulator, the successor to which regular student drivers of the Dresden Transport Company (DVB) practice. On opening day, little ones can build their own cardboard tram for their children's room. Those who know a lot about public transport can win delicious prizes in the tram quiz. For a break, the museum café "Schiebebühne" offers sweet or savory treats from its own kitchen. It is also worth taking a look at the neighboring workshop of the Dresden Local Transport Association for Historic Vehicles, where vintage buses of various generations, from Büssing to H6 and Ikarus to Mercedes, are maintained and refurbished.

Tours with Dresden's oldest tram

Dresden's oldest still-operating tram, the "Berolina Train," departs from the museum every half hour from 10:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. for a mini tour to the Wild Man. The tram was built in 1901 and, as a museum car, is still permitted to carry passengers today. The driver must stand during the ride. Outside! This gives passengers a good idea of the conditions under which the drivers had to do their jobs back then—in all weathers.

From 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the historic Tatra train runs to Neustädter Markt and back every hour on the hour. The "Lottchen" children's train also travels around Dresden, offering child-friendly entertainment. Departures are at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.

The Oldie Bus Association offers a special visual highlight: a red and white Ikarus 180 articulated bus from Chemnitz is making a quick visit to Dresden. From 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., interested parties can take a round trip to Boxdorf and back every hour. In addition, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Dresden H6B bus runs from Trachenberge to Dresden city center every hour on the hour. Those who prefer a countryside outing can take the Ikarus 250 to Moritzburg and Radeberg. Departures are at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.

An additional fee is charged for all special trips. It is usually five euros for adults and three for children. Only for trips over land is it ten euros.

33 years of voluntary tram maintenance

On June 2, 1992, around 33 years ago, the Dresden Tram Museum Association was founded. Its members took over the historic trams and some of the DVB's equipment and have been caring for the vintage vehicles ever since. Initially, there were just 15 members, but their number has grown to around 170 today. But there's room to grow. The fact that most of these well-maintained witnesses to Dresden's local public transport system are still in working order is the result of hours of volunteer work. In return, the vintage trams regularly become eye-catchers as they roll through the Saxon capital. Today, the museum's fleet includes 19 railcars and work vehicles, as well as 22 trailers and trailers. The situation is similar with the Dresden Local Transport Association's Historic Motor Vehicles Association. The members also work on the vintage buses exclusively in their free time.

All proceeds from admission, tours, and special tours go directly to the museum's coffers and are used exclusively for the preservation of the historic vehicles. Details about opening days, the vehicles, and how to rent them, as well as donation options, can be found at www.strassenbahnmuseum-dresden.de and www.historische-kfz-ddvb.de .