Liepāja has been operating the only tram track snow plough in the Baltic States for 72 years, with origins dating back more than a century. It was built in Germany as a passenger vehicle, but was later used for peat production in Latvia. This winter, “Sniegbaltīte” (Snow White), as the locals call it, is a great help in Liepāja, TV Kurzeme reports.
To ensure that the tram arrives on time in the morning, this old snow tram, affectionately known as “Snow White,” will have already done its job during the night when it snows. Roberts Ruskulis knows “Snow White” like the back of his hand, because it is his knowledge that will determine whether the machine will be able to clear the snow from the tram tracks.
“This control panel is still German, dating back to when the tram was manufactured. This [switch] was installed during the Soviet era for the brushes; it only turns on the rotating brushes at the front,” explained Ruskulis.
Built in Cologne in 1899, the tram initially served as passenger transport, later being used at the Kuldīga peat factory, but since 1954 it has belonged to Liepāja, where local craftsmen converted it into a snow plough.
You also have to know how to drive it – Liena, who has been a tram driver for nine years, recently learned how to drive it, but this experience is completely different. In addition, a mechanic always accompanies her – in case “Snow White” needs any help.
“At first, I was scared, but now I’m not anymore. It’s become part of my daily routine,” said tram driver Liena Ezermale.
“We’ve done everything we can. I’ve been working here for 15 years, and we practically maintain it so that it’s always in working order, so to speak,” added Ruskulis.
The “Snow White” mainly works at night when there is less traffic and fewer people on the streets, because the rotating brushes can throw snow and stones up to five meters away. In Liepāja, tram tracks are cleaned only with this machine.
“We are currently carefully maintaining our existing snow plough, Snow White. Of course, we are looking for new snow ploughs, but they are very difficult to find because, first of all, they are very, very expensive. Such a snow plough costs about a million,” said Evija Timbra, representative of SIA “Liepājas tramvajs.”
Liepāja says that the services of “Snow White” will be needed for a long time to come, not only for practical reasons, but also to attract the attention of tourists and residents.
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