On June 26, 2019, Czech Post issued a postage stamp commemorating the 150th anniversary of the horse-drawn tram.
Brno was the first city in what is now the Czech Republic to introduce horse-drawn trams. In 1868, several proposals for tram lines were submitted to the city council. By February 23, 1969, the plans were approved, and construction began on seven interconnected tram lines and three depots, which were intended to connect the city's main districts and the surrounding suburbs. The construction and operation of the horse-drawn tram in Brno was handled by the Brünner Tramway Gesellschaft für Personen- und Frachten Verkehr (Brünner Tramway Gesellschaft für Personen- und Frachten Verkehr).
On August 17, 1869, the first horse-drawn tram line opened, making Brno the fifth city in the Austro-Hungarian Empire to be equipped with this new form of public transportation. This same horse-drawn tramway line became the first tram system in what would become Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic.
During 1869 and 1870, construction of new lines continued in accordance with the approved design, with the last to be built being the freight line leading to the railway station. The total length of the line was 14.15 km. Remarkably, upon reaching the end of the route, the horses were uncoupled and recoupled, but on the other side. The driver also moved to another cab, and the tram began its journey in the opposite direction. Trams ran from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with intervals ranging from 15 to 30 minutes depending on the time of day. The fare was 15 cents per ride; children under 10 could buy tickets for 7.5 cents.
At first, especially during the summer and on weekends, city residents frequently used horse-drawn trams, not only for travel around the city but also for leisure and recreation. However, ridership gradually declined. By 1874, the company was experiencing financial problems, and due to unprofitability, tram lines closed one after another, eventually abolishing the service.
The second phase of horse-drawn trams in Brno dates back to 1876-1880, when the Brünner Tramway-Unternehmung transport company restored one of the main lines. However, just a few years later, in 1884, a steam tram was launched in Brno, and horses pulling trams disappeared from the city streets forever.
Previously, the first Czech horse-drawn tram could only be seen by visitors to the Transport Museum, but now many more people will be able to see it thanks to a new postage stamp designed by artist Milan Bauer.
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