Lóvasútaktól

Lóvasútaktól, meaning "horse-drawn railway" in Hungarian, refers to a historical mode of public transportation that utilized horse-drawn carriages running on rails. These systems were precursors to modern electric trams and were particularly prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Lóvasútaktól offered a more efficient and comfortable way to transport people through urban areas compared to horse-drawn omnibuses, as the rails reduced friction and allowed for smoother travel.

The first horse-drawn railway was established in England in 1807, and the concept quickly spread across Europe and North America. Cities like Budapest, Vienna, and Prague saw significant lóvasútaktól networks develop. These lines typically followed fixed routes, connecting important districts, stations, and commercial centers. The carriages, often referred to as trams or streetcars, were pulled by one or more horses, with the number of horses depending on the gradient of the track and the weight of the carriage.

The operation of a lóvasútaktól system involved a driver (the "kocsis") who steered the horses and a conductor who collected fares. The infrastructure consisted of iron or steel rails laid on the street surface, often embedded in cobblestones or asphalt. While a significant improvement, lóvasútaktól had limitations. The speed was dictated by the horses' pace, and maintenance of the tracks and the well-being of the animals were ongoing concerns. The rise of electric traction in the late 19th century gradually led to the phasing out of horse-drawn railways, as electric trams offered greater speed, power, and reduced operational costs.