Imagine a journey through time. Right here before you stands the Klub Miłośników Komunikacji Miejskiej in Warsaw. This isn’t just a club it’s a living testament to Warsaw’s vibrant transportation history.
The Klub Miłośników Komunikacji Miejskiej or KMKM Warsaw began its journey on April 11 1980. A small group of enthusiasts gathered thanks to Leszek Pohoryles’s letter. Their first meeting was at a community center on Ochota. This humble beginning marked the birth of a passion that would shape the club’s destiny.
Initially operating informally KMKM Warsaw gained patronage from the Museum of Technology in 1981. Meetings took place at the Palace of Culture and Science. Witold Jeleń led the club’s first official board. Membership quickly grew to around 60 members including many from Łódź. The enthusiasm spread leading to the creation of a similar club in Łódź. Martial law in 1981 briefly halted their activities but KMKM Warsaw persevered.
After severing ties with the Museum of Technology in 1995 KMKM found new patronage with the Warsaw Public Transport Authority ZTM. Meetings continued at the ZTM headquarters. Under the leadership of Dariusz Walczak and the initiative of Jacek Piotr Cegiełka KMKM officially registered as an association on April 26 2002.
The connection to ZTM proved invaluable. It fueled the club’s ambitious project to create a collection of historic vehicles. Working with Warsaw Trams they restored tram cars A number 43 from 1908 and C number 257. A 2001 award from the city of Warsaw enabled the purchase and restoration of a Jelcz 272 MEX city bus.
The collection of vintage buses grew rapidly. By 2019 they boasted 22 buses and by 2020 this number had increased to 32. A highlight was the restoration and premiere run of the Chausson AH48 bus number 395 from 1950 on September 16 2013. Purchased from enthusiasts in Belgium the Chausson is now considered one of the most valuable automotive relics in Poland unique even in Europe.
The KMKM’s historic trams and buses have become symbols of Warsaw. They play a vital role in promoting the city’s history. KMKM’s mission is to promote public transport. This involves collecting memorabilia and collaborating with other transport enthusiasts nationally and internationally. They actively work towards establishing a Museum of Public Transport. Future projects include restoring an Ikarus 620 and a Saurer 4TIILM trolleybus. They also plan to restore one of the K-type trams.
KMKM’s involvement extends beyond preservation. They’ve organized various events including the popular tourist tram line T launched in 1996. The line initially a one-off event became a permanent fixture due to high demand. The line’s route generally starts at Plac Narutowicza. In 1997 and 2003 it ran to Plac Starynkiewicza. A K-type tram joined the service in 1997. Today a rotating selection of Warsaw Tram’s historic fleet serves the line. The line has become a Warsaw icon carrying huge numbers of passengers every year.
The bus line 100 a collaboration with ZTM restarted in 2018 after a nine-year hiatus. It was incredibly successful. Jelcz 043 and Ikarus 260 buses from KMKM’s collection were used. The line resumed in 2019 with Jelcz 272 MEX and Jelcz PR110 buses. The KMKM also organises special lines for events and anniversaries.
The Night of Museums has become a highlight. KMKM launched it in 2004. It combined with the International Rally of Historic Buses in 2006. The event has grown enormously attracting large crowds. In 2018 38 buses from across Poland participated. The club’s buses have appeared in music videos films and advertising campaigns. They are a significant part of Warsaw’s cultural landscape. This is the story of the KMKM Warsaw a testament to passion preservation and the enduring appeal of public transport.