Fate After Withdrawal From Service
TuKL negotiated with several existing tram operators about the sale of the RM 2 trams, only 16 years old when withdrawn, including Helsinki City Transport (HKL), the sole tram operator in Finland after the closure of the Turku network. Although the RM 2 trams were similar to the HM IV, RM 1, HM V and RM 3 trams used in Helsinki, they were narrower, which would have necessitated modifications to utilize them in Helsinki. Additionally HKL was about to take delivery of 40 state-of-the-art articulated trams during 1973-1975, which meant they had little use for trams based on older technology.
After not finding a purchaser, the city sold the RM 2's for scrap at a loss. Five of the eight trams were sold to Laihon romuliike, where they were scrapped. The remaining three were given to different societies for preservation; 52 to Merimieslähetysseura, 53 to the Finnish Tramway Society and 55 to the Museum of Technology, Helsinki. All three were stored outdoors in different locations and were so badly vandalised that they were scrapped in the 1970s and 1980s.
Read more about this topic: Valmet RM 2
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