GÉRARDMER, Vosges, France. The electric tram to the Schlucht (1910s)

GÉRARDMER
The electric tram ascending to the Schlucht.

Postcard published by A. Largeron, Nº 77. (1910s)

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Schlucht pass (at 1,139 meters above sea level) served as the border between France and the German Empire. On 29 June 1904, an electric tram line was inaugurated from Gérardmer, and on 13 May 1907, on the German side, another tram line was put into service from the Alsatian city of Munster. At the top of Schlucht there were, therefore, two tram stations, and both passengers coming from France and those arriving from Germany had to get off and walk a few meters if they wanted to continue their journey towards the neighboring country: the journey between Gérardmer and Munster took two hours and a half. To change lines, passengers had to go through customs. Both services were interrupted during the First World War and resumed in the 1920s, until they were permanently suspended on 28 August 1939 and replaced by a bus line.

Traveler's collection.