Association of Friends of the Tram

The Asociación Amigos del Tranvía y Biblioteca Popular Federico Lacroze (AAT y BPFL) is an Argentine non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in Buenos Aires on 16 July 1976 by a group of tram enthusiasts led by architect Aquilino González Podestá. Its mission is to conserve, restore and return to service historic tram and subway cars that would otherwise be lost, and to study and promote the modern tram as a clean, fossil-fuel-free and space-efficient urban transport mode. It is funded through voluntary contributors and run largely by volunteers. The association's best-known undertaking is the Tramway Histórico de Buenos Aires, a living museum of restored trams that has operated every weekend and public holiday since 1980 in the Caballito neighbourhood. The free ride covers a 2 km route departing from the corner of Emilio Mitre and José Bonifacio, lasts about 20 minutes, and is driven by volunteers. The service began on 15 November 1980 with car 258 "Lacroze", a 1927 Porto tram rebuilt to resemble the Lacroze company cars that once ran in Buenos Aires. Beyond the tramway, the AAT maintains a popular library, the Biblioteca Popular "Federico Lacroze", a documentation centre specialising in urban transport, located at its headquarters on Thompson 502 in Caballito. It also runs a monthly cycle of free audiovisual lectures and publishes the magazine "9 Puntos". Its collection includes historically significant vehicles such as Line A subway cars Nos. 2 and 3 and the Coche F.M. (No. 3361), the last tram model to run in Buenos Aires, fully reconstructed by members. The association celebrated its 50th anniversary (Bodas de Oro) in 2026, marking half a century of volunteer work rescuing, restoring and returning Buenos Aires' tram heritage to the rails. It remains active on social media and welcomes visitors to its historic rides and library.

The Asociación Amigos del Tranvía y Biblioteca Popular Federico Lacroze was founded in Buenos Aires on 16 July 1976 by a group of tram enthusiasts led by architect Aquilino González Podestá, who served as its president until 2015. Its founding purpose was to preserve the city's tram heritage at a time when trams had been withdrawn from service and their memory was fading. The association was conceived as a non-governmental, non-profit entity funded by voluntary contributions and run by volunteers. In 1980 the association launched the Tramway Histórico de Buenos Aires, a living museum of restored trams. The inaugural service ran on 15 November 1980 using car 258 "Lacroze", a 1927 Porto tram rebuilt by members to resemble the Lacroze company cars that had operated in Buenos Aires. The service has run every weekend and public holiday since, offering free rides along a 2 km route in the Caballito neighbourhood, departing from Emilio Mitre and José Bonifacio. Over the decades the AAT expanded its fleet through restoration and donations. Car 652, also acquired in Porto and built in 1927, was rebuilt to represent the "Belgian" trams of the Anglo Argentina company and entered service on 26 November 1983. Car 9069, built in Brussels in 1961, was donated by the Brussels transport authority STIB and incorporated on 28 May 1988. The association also recovered historically significant subway cars, including Line A cars Nos. 2 and 3, and the Coche F.M. (No. 3361), the last tram model to run in Buenos Aires, which was fully reconstructed over five years and entered service on 18 November 2000 during the 20th-anniversary celebrations of the historic tramway. In February 2010 the association received the "Milestones of Urban Transit" distinction from the international magazine "Tramway & Urban Transit" for 30 years of free service operating in the tram's natural habitat, the city streets. On 20 November 2010 it celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Tramway Histórico with a large public festival. In 2015, founding member Franklin H. Romero succeeded González Podestá as president. The association continued its cultural activities, including its popular library, lecture series and magazine "9 Puntos". In 2026 it marked its 50th anniversary (Bodas de Oro), celebrating half a century of volunteer work rescuing, restoring and returning Buenos Aires' tram heritage to the rails.

• 2026

  Celebrated 50th anniversary (Bodas de Oro).

• 2015

  Franklin H. Romero succeeded Aquilino González Podestá as president.

• 2010

  Received "Milestones of Urban Transit" award in February; celebrated 30th anniversary of the historic tramway on 20 November.

• 2000

  Coche F.M. (No. 3361) entered service on 18 November after five years of reconstruction.

• 1988

  Car 9069 donated by Brussels STIB and incorporated on 28 May.

• 1983

  Car 652 incorporated into the historic service on 26 November.

• 1980

  Tramway Histórico de Buenos Aires inaugurated on 15 November with car 258 "Lacroze".

• 1976

  Association founded in Buenos Aires on 16 July by Aquilino González Podestá and other enthusiasts.

A volunteer-driven heritage and cultural organization preserving Buenos Aires' tram history and promoting modern tramways as sustainable urban transport.

• Tramway Histórico de Buenos Aires

  Free weekend and holiday tram rides in Caballito using restored historic cars, operated by volunteers.

• Biblioteca Popular "Federico Lacroze"

  Public library and documentation centre specialising in urban transport, located at the association's headquarters.

• Revista "9 Puntos"

  Magazine published by the association with information on the past, present and future of the tram.

• Ciclo de Conferencias-Audiovisuales

  Monthly free audiovisual lectures on tram and urban transport topics.

1. 1Amigos del Tranvía · 50 Años · Bodas de Orotranvia.org.ar
2. 2Asociación Amigos del Tranvía - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Asociación Amigos del Tranvía - Wikipedia (Spanish)es.wikipedia.org