TA 6-1

TA 6-1

TA 6-1

063008

About

Some people have only two lives, but this bus has had the chance to be reborn four times.

Each time the bus has gained a feature and so by today the model is called TA 6-1.

History

History

It is a very cultured bus – TA 6-1 is first and foremost a symbol of Estonian technological culture and during acceleration, the unsynchronised third gear sounds like something Arvo Pärt himself has created.

The first time this bus rolled out from the car repair test shop in Tartu in 1957, it looked somewhat different. It had smaller from windows and the model was called TA 6. Later the bus underwent thorough repairs in the same shop in 1985 and 1992. The last complete rebirth took place in 2014, of course, in Tartu.

If you are a person who fancies carrying a brown portfolio and you find the pretzel crumbs between your terry socks and sandals tickling, then you are definitely one of those who have been riding this bus over the past fifty years. TA 6-1 was a proper bus for those who did not care for big city lights and fancy carrot-orange Ladas. Although, the big city had nice things to offer too, like plays at the Drama Theatre, but only the departments’ best workers got to wear a tie and take the bus to the city.

And when the students came from the city to pick potatoes, this very bus dropped them off right at the edge of the field. They were, of course, driven back also. Often someone from the local cultural centre called to ask if the bus was riding – the best folk dancers of the sovkhoz wanted to visit the neighbouring village's dancers and perhaps even compete.

Technical data

The bus has non-adjustable seats for 25 people whose only baggage is a sandwich in the pocket and a kissel tin with a plastic wrap and a rubber seal handmade from bicycle's inner tube to keep the lid on tight.

The latter is necessary to keep the product from spilling – other passengers want to reach their destination in clean clothes, too.

  • The bus has extremely uncomfortable seats for someone who is used to riding in a luxurious SUV. But for a person in rubber boots carrying a rake, who uses the bus to get to the parish centre quicker after a long workday, the seats seems like cosy armchairs.
  • The bus has two windows which can be opened, but for this purpose it is advisable to ask the bus driver’s help. He will stop the bus and try and open the windows in the cabin over the sweating passengers. If it should get chilly again then the bus driver can stop the bus once more to close the windows. The main thing is not to pull the glasses too hard. Someone with more experience might remember how these windows open and they can help out.
  • There is no use in taking luggage with you to this bus. You can put your bag next to the bus driver, on the other side of the engine. At the office, you can rent rakes and watering cans so you do not have to take these along either.
  • You cannot stand up in the bus, because during breaking the passenger standing up might accidentally suffocate another passenger with their chest. You have to sit properly like you would in any culture centre while enjoying the show – because the show will not last long.