The Tram di Opicina, or "Tram de Opcina" in Trieste's dialect, is a tramway unique of its kind present in Trieste since September 9, 1902.
The tramway draws its name from the locality it reaches and is a means of transport used for an original tour along a charming and panoramic route.
The route starts in Piazza Oberdan and reaches Opicina up a steep slope. For this reason, after travelling on the first stretch normally, the tramway is hitched up to some engines that push it (uphill) and hold it back (downhill) following the funicular stretch.
The route of the Opicina Tramway features a length of little more than 5 km, with a difference in height of 329 metres above sea level. The maximum gradient is of 26%. In 1928 the traction system was changed from "rack railway" to "funicular railway" and is still in good working order (line no. 2).
A curious fact: one of Trieste's most famous songs, "El tram de Opcina", is dedicated to the Opicina Tramway. The song amusingly recounts an event occurred on October 10, 1902, when an engine ran off the rails due to a brake failure.
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