The most famous of Moscow tram routes is, of course, the A route. The Muscovites
name this route 'Annushka', that is equal to 'Annie' in English. This route
was initially opened in 1911 as a circular line along the whole arc of ten central
boulevards of Moscow (Bulvarnoye Koltso, or Boulevard Ring) and three central
embankments of Moskva river, namely Pretchistenskaya, Kremlyovskaya and Moskvoretskaya
ones. This configuration had existed until 1936 when tracks on the embankments
were lifted. Two more years the route remained circular making use of provisional
bypass tracks, but finally the circle was broken because of the started reconstruction
of bridges across Moskva river and Annushka became an ordinary linear route.
In the following decades the route underwent a number of changes caused by
the constant closures of lines in the central and western districts of Moscow.
Trams left forever the western part of Boulevard Ring in 1949, and more redirections
and shortings followed. Finally, in 1971 the only parts of the once great route
were tracks in three boulevards and the line in Novokuznetskaya Street. However,
this short route, the whole length of which was also shared by two more routes
(#3 and #39), existed unchanged until 1991, when suddenly the reversing loop
in Zatsepa Square used by Annushka was closed. The reason for this closure was
that the loop encircled a religious building that had been restituted to the
Russian orthodox church and her representatives claimed that trams produced
untolerable noises. Thus, Annushka just could not celebrate its 80th birthday
that year, and the route imperceptibly disappeared from the map...
But the wheel of history had made another turn, and Annushka returned to Moscow
streets in 1997. That year Moscow was celebrating its 850th birthday, and some
clever person realized that the city lacks the tram route that had became indivisible
with the image of Moscow. Today Annushka continues its service along busy streets
of the central Moscow, and this route is worth riding if you wish to travel
along the only line that still exists in the heart of the huge megapolis that
is Moscow today.
Since April 5, 1971, the Boulevard tram line ends beside the Metro station
Kirovskaya (now it is called Chistye Prudy - the Clear Ponds).
And in this picture one can see the real attraction - the Café
'Annushka' on the rails.
March 2000.
The Café 'Annushka' was repainted in a rather ugly way in 2002.
I strictly dislike this 'livery'.
December 31, 2002.
The Annie in Yauzskiy Boulevard. The Boulevard line is probably the nicest
one; and the boulevards are very cosy.
April 2000.
The A route is not a entertainment for tourists. It carries people, and
they like it. Here you can see the tram stop close to the Metro station
Novokuznetskaya and a crowd of passengers just left the tramcar.
March 2000
An old district of Moscow - Zamoskvorechye (the name might be
translated as "over the Moskva river"). The Annie in Novokuznetskaya
Street.
April 2000.
Trams of this route were repainted in even nicer livery in 2000/2001. Probably,
the original old tramcars would look better on this historical line, but it
would be a madness to let unique still preserved vehicles run in the streets
with chaotic motorcar traffic.
The tramcars of this route have a special look, stylized to 1910's. Of
course, the trams are modern - it would be impossible to use the original
old cars on the line shared by three more routes with high patronage.
May 4, 2001.
This is one of multiple versions of Annushka's livery, the closest one
to the classic colours of Moscow tramcars. For many long decades trams
of Moscow were painted in this way, and this tradition was interrupted
only one or two decades ago.
December 31, 2002.
If you ever come to Moscow to ride Annushka, the following information might
be useful: this route operates Monday-Friday. The best place to take it is at
the terminus at Chistye Prudy or Turgenevskaya metro stations and then ride
to the end. You will go by the boulevards, cross Moskva river, ride along a
typical 'Old Moscow' Novokuznetskaya Street, cross Sadovoye Koltso beside Paveletskiy
Vokzal (railway station), and then, after a short trip across an industrial
district, you will suddenly see domes of gold of Danilov Monastery, Shukhov
radio tower, another boulevard in Serpukhovskiy Val... And in the end you will
come right to the gates of Apakov tram depot close to Kaluzhskaya Square (Oktyabrskaya
metro) where you can take metro or trolleybus to return to the city centre,
or go to walk in Gorky Park, or... In other words, this route is worth seeing
and riding!
