Mödling and Hinterbrühl Tram, first electric tram with overhead wire

Background. The Mödling and Hinterbrühl Tram, also known as the Mödling and Hinterbrühl Local Railway, was an electric tramway in Austria. It ran 4.5 km from Mödling to Hinterbrühl, located in the southwest of Vienna. The line was built and operated by the Südbahngesellschaft, a private Austrian railway company that managed the main line from Vienna to Trieste.

Priority Claim. The tram is recognized as the first tram and railway in the world to run with electricity delivered by an overhead line in permanent service. This distinction separates it from earlier systems like the Gross-Lichterfelde tramway, which initially drew current from the rails, with overhead wire being installed there only in 1883.

Operational History. Regular service began on October 22, 1883, following a test on October 18. The line was initially restricted to the section between Mödling and the Vorderbrühl Valley. In 1884, authorities required a steam engine for emergency traction in the narrow valley. The line was extended to Hinterbrühl in 1885, completing the full 4.5 km route.