In 1894, Oslo was the first city in the Nordic region to have an electric tram line. The route ran from Jernbanetorget across Briskeby to Majorstuen, and was soon extended with a branch line to Skarpsno. Previously, Oslo had trams pulled by horses.

The first electric trams were called trams - or blue trams, because of their colour. Kristiania Elektriske Sporvei started in 1894 with 7 trams and 5 trailers supplied by AEG in Berlin. You can see one of the first trams on the "square" in the museum's communications hall.

The trams had 16 seats and 12 standing places. The average speed was around 15 km/h. It is said that a tram driver on the Briskeby line who drove over the speed limit of 18 km/h received the country's first speeding fine.

In the exhibition, you can also hear the animated characters Bædi & Børdi tell about the tram in an entertaining and exciting way.

"Tram ride in Kristiania" by Hans Berge, 1916 (2 min)

Hans Berges film av en trikketur fra Solli plass til Stortinget i 1916 er en riktig perle. Filmen gir et levende inntrykk av trikkens lange historie som en del av bybildet i Oslo – eller Kristiania, som byen het tidligere. Se den her!

Berge (1877-1934) was Norway's first cinematographer. He made documentary recordings in Oslo and many other places in Norway - including in Bergen and at Kongsberg and Notodden. Several hundred rolls of film have been preserved after him.

The film was shot from the back of a tram. The route passes the National Library at Solli plass, Slottsparken, the National Theater and the Theater Cafe, before the film ends at the Storting.

In 1916, the First World War was underway, and petrol was rationed. Several of the cars in the film therefore have gas balloons on the roof.

Hans Berge Film.
Filmen vises også på «torget» i museets kommunikasjonshall, med støtte fra Kollektivtrafikkhistorisk råd i Oslo og Akershus / Ruter.