Seilbahn Lauterbrunnen–Grütschalp
| Seilbahn Lauterbrunnen-Grütschalp | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Original car on grand viaduct (before 1893)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other name(s) | Seilbahn Lauterbrunnen-Grütsch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Ceased operation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren AG | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Bernese Oberland, Switzerland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Connecting lines | Grütschalp–Mürren, Bernese Oberland line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Funicular | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Route number | 313 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 14 August 1891 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Concession | 1887[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification, extension | 1 June 1902 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Removal of rack rail | 1949 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closed | 23 April 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 1,372 m (4,501 ft) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of tracks | 1 with passing loop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rack system | 1891 - 1949: Riggenbach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | 1902 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum incline | 60% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Opened in 1891, the Seilbahn Lauterbrunnen–Grütschalp was a 1.4 km[note 1] long funicular railway between Lauterbrunnen and Grütschalp in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. From Grütschalp, the Lauterbrunnen–Mürren mountain railway continues to Mürren.[4][2][3] The line had a difference of elevation of 674m at an incline of 41-60%.[note 2][4] The longest viaduct on the line was 220m.[3] The funicular closed on 23 April 2006, and was replaced by an aerial cablecar in December 2006.
Water-counterbalanced line (1891 - 1902)[edit]
From line's opening in 1891 until 1902, the line was water powered. The downward car on each trip would be filled with 7m³ of water, sourced from the Staubbach, which counterbalanced the weight of the upward car. During this period, the track had three rails except at the upper station where there were four.[5]
The rope, manufactured by Felten & Guillaume, had a diameter of 32.6mm and consisted of 125 wires of 26.3mm diameter externally and 72 wires of 1.3mm diameter internally. It had a breaking strength of 62,000 kg and a weight of 3.5 kg/m.[4][1][3] By 1892 it had run approximately 5000 km and stretched by 15m in length.[1]
Electrified line (1902 - 2006)[edit]
In 1902, Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works and Joh. Jakob Rieter electrified the line and replaced the cars and cable. A power plant was built at Staubbach, 1.35 km from the upper station. The new cars had 6 compartments for 62 passengers including 54 seats, floor set to be horizontal at 52% incline, 2 axles and total weight of 7950 kg.[5]
In 1949, the Riggenbach rack was removed and the track changed from 3 to 2 rails.[7]
The rope, also manufactured by Felten & Guillaume, had a diameter of 33.6mm and consisted of 6 stands of 16 wires each (7 wires 1.85mm in diameter, and 9 of 2.65mm diameter) around a fiber core. It had a breaking strength of 63,000 kg and a weight of 3.75 kg/m.[5]
Gallery[edit]
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Lauterbrunnen station and tracks -
Funicular at Lauterbrunnen in its final years
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Strub, Emil (March 1893), "Specialbahnen, insbesondere die Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren", Schweizerische Bauzeitung (in German), 21 (12/13): 72–76 (Seilbahn Lauterbrunnen-Grütschalp), 80–84
- ^ a b Lauterbrunnen-Mürrenbahn at Zeno.org. Article by: Viktor von Röll (ed.): Enzyklopädie des Eisenbahnwesens (Encyclopaedia of the Railway), 2nd edition, 1912–1923, Vol. 7, p. 71
- ^ a b c d e Smallenburg, F.W. (13 August 1892), "Die Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren", Schweizerische Bauzeitung (in German), 20 (7): 41–46
- ^ a b c d e Strub, Emil (1892), "Unsere Drahtseilbahnen", Schweizerische Bauzeitung (in German), 19 (12/13/16): 77–81, 85–88, 110–111, 113
- ^ a b c d e Abt, Siegfried (4 March 1905), "Umbau der Seilbahn Lauterbrunnen-Grütschalp", Schweizerische Bauzeitung (in German), 45 (9): 107–111
- ^ "Chemin de fer de Lauterbrunnen à Murren", Bulletin de la Société vaudoise des ingénieurs et des architectes (in French), 15 (1): 135, 1889
- ^ Wägeli, Hans G., Schienennetz Schweiz, Reseau ferré suisse (in German and French)