Wiener Linien Nostalgia Calendar 2027

Cover

Image: Lines D, EK, J, N and 65, Karlsplatz – Vienna State Opera, 1912

Where traffic lights regulate traffic today, navigating Vienna’s streets once required above all courage and attentiveness. As early as 1900, the area in front of the Vienna State Opera was one of the city’s busiest transport hubs. The scene was so lively that the Lumière brothers filmed modern Vienna here in 1896.

Few places illustrated the transformation of urban transport more clearly. Electric trams had already become a defining feature of the cityscape, while horse-drawn carriages remained part of everyday life. At the same time, the first automobiles began appearing on Vienna’s streets. For several years, three different eras of transportation shared the same intersection. The situation was especially challenging for pedestrians. Crosswalks did not yet exist, and anyone wishing to cross the street had to find a gap in the traffic. Although Vienna counted only around 4,000 cars in 1914, people were already complaining that the city was “choking on traffic.”

Above the bustling scene stood the famous Pegasus sculptures of the State Opera, winged horses that seemed almost symbolic as they watched over the flow of traffic below. It was not until 1926 that the Opera intersection received its first traffic light. Operated manually, it marked the beginning of a new era in traffic management.

January

Image: Dresdner Straße, Traisengasse stop, 1987

When even Vienna’s trams began to slip, everyone knew that winter had firmly taken hold of the city. With temperatures dropping to as low as minus 21 degrees Celsius, passengers and transport operators alike battled snow, ice, and bitter cold. Service on Line N had to be partially restricted, and trams were unable to complete their full route, terminating early at the Matthäus loop.

Such extreme weather posed enormous challenges for public transport. Frozen tracks, snowdrifts, and severe cold put considerable strain on vehicles and infrastructure. Nevertheless, Vienna’s transport operators worked hard to keep services running as smoothly as possible, often under extremely difficult conditions.

The image not only tells the story of an exceptional winter but also captures the streetscape of the 1980s. Alongside the tram stands a Volkswagen Golf I, the model that became one of Europe’s most successful cars. It was designed by renowned Italian automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, who later created the legendary DeLorean featured in Back to the Future. Less well known is the fact that his design studio also contributed to various bus and rail vehicle projects.

February

Image: Corner of Ringstraße, Wollzeile and Weiskirchnerstraße, 

This location was not only a crossroads of tram routes but also of centuries of Viennese history. Around the Main Customs Office, one of Vienna’s most important transport hubs emerged. Since 1899, the Vienna Stadtbahn had connected this area with other parts of the city, turning it into a vibrant centre of urban life.

The distinctive building in the background formed part of the Central Market Hall and Main Customs Office complex in 1958. For decades it shaped the cityscape and stood directly beside the tracks of both the Stadtbahn and tram network. In the early 1970s, the historic complex was demolished and replaced by the modern Wien Mitte/Landstraße transport hub and the Hilton Vienna Park Hotel, which opened in 1975.

Yet the history of this site stretches back much further. In 1461, an important chapter of Vienna’s history was written here. After Emperor Frederick III’s forces defeated the troops of his brother Albrecht VI, Vienna was granted the right to display the double-headed eagle in its coat of arms. This photograph therefore depicts far more than a tram scene. It tells the story of a place where transport, urban development, and history have been closely intertwined for centuries.

March

Image: Hotel Continental, Praterstraße, Schwedenbrücke, around 1912

From horse-drawn carriages to electric trams, Vienna’s transport revolution began more than a century ago. While the famous “Viennese Fiaker Song” still celebrated fast carriage rides, electric trams and the Vienna Stadtbahn had already become dominant features of the cityscape by 1912. Every day, they transported thousands of passengers between the outer districts and the city centre, helping make Vienna one of Europe’s most modern transport cities.

An important meeting point along this busy route was the “Golden Lamb” inn in Leopoldstadt. Known since 1635, this historic establishment served travellers as a resting place for centuries. Wherever large numbers of people gathered, traffic management soon became a concern. As early as 1755, one of the first known regulations against speeding was introduced. Military guards monitored traffic, directed it with hand signals, and were later authorised to stop vehicles.

Some modern traffic issues are older than one might think. Hit-and-run incidents were already a concern at the time. The introduction of vehicle identification numbers was intended to help authorities identify offenders more easily. With the establishment of the Vienna Security Guard in 1869, traffic-related responsibilities were further expanded.

April

Image: Major construction site at Praterstern, Ausstellungsstraße, 1955

A simple reach out of the window was all it took for a tram driver to switch the tracks. What seems unimaginable today was once part of everyday tram operations in Vienna. Beside the driver’s window was a long switch lever, allowing drivers to manually change points without leaving the vehicle.

The Nordbahnhof (Northern Railway Station) was once the most important railway station of the Habsburg Monarchy. From here, the Emperor Ferdinand Northern Railway connected Vienna with the major cities of the Empire. Built between 1859 and 1865, the station was one of the most magnificent transport structures of its time and a central hub for passenger and freight traffic. The area around the station buzzed with activity as trams, the Stadtbahn, and long-distance trains carried workers, travellers, and visitors into the growing metropolis.

Today, little remains of this once imposing building. The modern Nordbahnviertel district, including the expansive “Freie Mitte” recreation area, now occupies the former site. Yet the history of the area remains a reminder of how closely Vienna’s development has always been linked with public transport.

May

Image: Karlsplatz, 1930s

Around Karlsplatz, Vienna revealed itself as a city in transition. Trams had already become an essential part of daily life, making the area one of the city’s most important transport hubs. Passengers arrived from all directions while a variety of transport modes shared the streets, ranging from traditional horse-drawn wagons to the first motor trucks.

The photograph captures this fascinating period of change. Alongside trams, which formed the backbone of public transport, motorised vehicles increasingly became part of urban life. Companies such as Vereinigte Brauereien already relied on trucks and their own railway wagons, making the movement of goods faster and more efficient. Together, public transport and increasing motorisation transformed the face of the city.

Visible in the background is the Brahms Memorial in Ressel Park. Unveiled in 1908, this monumental tribute to composer Johannes Brahms remained a familiar landmark of Karlsplatz for many decades. It was only with the construction of the Vienna Underground in the 1970s that the entire area underwent major redevelopment.

June

Image: Schwedenbrücke, 1958

First came the tram, then the automobile, and suddenly crossing the street became a challenge. Following the Second World War, traffic in Vienna increased rapidly. More and more cars and trucks shared the roads with trams, while pedestrians had to find their place within the growing traffic flow.

A simple yet effective solution arrived from Great Britain: the zebra crossing. Vienna followed suit and introduced its first pedestrian crossing on Mariahilfer Straße in 1954. In doing so, the city adapted to a modern transport environment in which public transport, private vehicles, and pedestrians were all competing for space. Hard to imagine today, but wearing helmets only became mandatory for motorcyclists and moped riders in Austria in 1985.

In the background of the image stands an elegant residential building dating from 1912. Designed by architect Jakob Reitzer, it combines Neo-Baroque and Secessionist elements and serves as a reminder of Vienna’s grand pre-war architectural era.

The photograph tells the story of a city in transition: new traffic regulations, increasing mobility, and the ongoing effort to ensure the safe coexistence of trams, vehicles, and pedestrians.

July

Image: Schmerlingplatz 11 (Palace of Justice), 1950s

Anyone travelling past the Palace of Justice by tram could hardly ignore a building that commanded respect from afar. Rising between Ringstraße, tram tracks, and busy city traffic, it was one of the most magnificent structures of Vienna’s Ringstraße era and a daily landmark for thousands of passengers.

Inside the Palace of Justice stands Emanuel Pendl’s monumental marble sculpture of Justitia. Remarkably, she gazes directly ahead without a blindfold. In ancient times, clear sight was considered essential for fair judgement. Only centuries later did the blindfold become a symbol of impartiality.

Also characteristic of everyday life around the Palace of Justice were the many tobacco shops along the tram routes. The Austrian term Trafik derives from the Italian word traffico and has referred to licensed tobacco retailers since the 18th century. Many passengers used the short walk between the tram stop and their workplace to purchase newspapers, tobacco products, or tickets.

The image therefore tells not only the story of an impressive building but also of vibrant urban life along Vienna’s tram routes. Between the Palace of Justice, Ringstraße, and the Trafik, public transport and daily city life were closely intertwined.

August

Image: Tegetthoff Monument at Praterstern, 1974

Where the underground network dominates the scene today, trams and buses once shaped daily life at Praterstern. The photograph shows tram line BK passing in front of the Tegetthoff Monument in one of Vienna’s most important transport hubs.

Beside the tram stands a distinctive minibus from 1972. Built on a Mercedes-Benz chassis, it offered remarkable levels of comfort for its time, including air conditioning, double glazing, and high-quality interior fittings. It was designed by Ernst Auwärter, one of Europe’s most influential bus designers. His innovative ideas laid the foundation for the later NEOPLAN brand, now renowned worldwide for modern coach travel.

Praterstern also holds secrets beneath the surface. During redevelopment work in 2008, previously unknown barrel-vaulted chambers were discovered beneath the pedestal of the Tegetthoff Monument. Standing approximately 2.3 metres high, these spaces remind us that fascinating stories are hidden not only above ground, but beneath one of Vienna’s most historic transport intersections.

September

Image: Rustenschacherallee near Rotundenbrücke, 1925

Creaking horse trams, uneven wooden roadways, and visitors heading to the Prater: the Rotundenbrücke was once one of Vienna’s most important transport links. Built in 1871/72 to replace the Sophienbrücke and constructed by the Witkowitz Ironworks, the bridge featured a roadway made of oak blocks with tar-filled joints, considered highly modern for its time.

From 1873 onwards, horse trams also crossed the bridge, making it an important component of public transport. However, its success came at a cost. The increasing weight of traffic soon exceeded what the structure could comfortably handle, requiring restrictions on vehicle loads. Plans for a replacement bridge failed in 1914 due to war and financial constraints. Instead, the bridge received its now familiar name, derived from the nearby Rotunda. Extensive repairs carried out in 1927 ensured its continued operation.

The bridge was not shaped by traffic alone. From 1904 onward, a popular municipal bathing facility operated above it. At the same time, repeated flooding caused significant damage, resulting in multiple repairs and renewals. Its history reflects an ongoing struggle between human mobility and the forces of nature.

October

Image: Urania, Julius Raab Square, Aspern Bridge, 1930s

From the Danube to the Urania, Vienna’s transport routes connected not only people but also culture and entertainment to generations of Viennese children. Trams, buses, and later the Stadtbahn made journeys into the city convenient and helped shape everyday life in the growing metropolis.

One important link was the Aspern Bridge, which crossed the Danube Canal from 1864 onwards. Pedestrians, horse-drawn vehicles, and later public transport relied on it every day. The bridge was richly decorated with sculptures symbolising war, peace, glory, and prosperity, watched over by four stone lions. When the original bridge was demolished in 1913, the sculptures were lost, but the lions survived and found new homes elsewhere.

Only a few decades later, countless Viennese children travelled by tram or bus to the Urania. There, Hans and Marianne Kraus delighted young audiences with their puppet theatre performances. What began as small productions grew into the famous Vienna Urania Puppet Theatre, attracting around 200,000 visitors each year by the mid-1950s. The adventures of Kasperl and Pezi reached radio audiences from 1953 onward and made the leap to television in 1957. To this day, the Vienna Kasperl Theatre is regarded as the world's longest-running children's programme.

November

Image: Praterstraße, 1937

Much of the Prater’s transport infrastructure can be traced back to the Vienna World’s Fair of 1873. The major event led to the construction of numerous new tracks and transport connections, making it easier for visitors to reach the exhibition grounds. At the heart of the exhibition stood the famous Rotunda, one of the most impressive buildings in the world at the time.

In 1937, the magnificent structure was completely destroyed by a devastating fire. Vienna lost not only an architectural landmark but also an important venue for culture, social gatherings, and international events. The transport links created for the World’s Fair, however, remained in place and continue to influence public transport in the Prater to this day.

Another characteristic feature of historic Vienna was the famous flower baskets attached to lamp posts. These colourful arrangements brightened the city by day, while the lanterns illuminated the streets at night. First installed along Ringstraße and Schwarzenbergplatz in 1905, the flower baskets became so popular that they remained a permanent part of the cityscape. By 1926, Vienna boasted 83 of these floral landmarks, making it, alongside Barcelona, one of the few European cities to maintain this special tradition.

December

Image: Ringstraße, Burgring, near Volksgarten, 1980s

From defensive wall to transport artery: until 1857, Vienna’s historic centre was surrounded by a vast city wall and the wide glacis that protected it. With the imperial decree famously beginning “It is My Will,” Emperor Franz Joseph I ordered the demolition of the fortifications. In their place arose Ringstraße and, with it, the Burgring, which later developed into one of the city’s major transport routes.

Trams played a particularly important role. Running on two tracks positioned in the centre of the boulevard, they carried thousands of passengers through the city centre every day. Public transport, horse-drawn vehicles, and later cars and buses all shared this vital urban corridor, creating a vivid picture of a growing metropolis.

The Burgring was also the stage for ambitious imperial plans. It was intended to form part of the monumental Kaiserforum, which would have connected the Hofburg and the museums with grand gateway structures spanning Ringstraße. Only parts of the project were ever completed. Today, the Outer Castle Gate (Äußeres Burgtor), the sole surviving gateway from the former city fortifications, serves as a reminder of Vienna before the creation of Ringstraße.