Giessbach Funicular

Giessbachbahn

Looking down the Giessbachbahn, showing car and passing loop
Technical
Track length 363 metres (1,191 ft)
Track gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)
Maximum incline 32%
Giessbachbahn car
Poster advertising the line circa 1880

The Giessbachbahn (GbB) is a historic funicular in the Swiss canton of Berne and municipality of Brienz. It links a landing stage on Lake Brienz, served by shipping services on the lake, to the Grand Hotel Giessbach and Giessbach Falls above. The funicular is owned by the hotel, but since 1983 has been operated by a preservation foundation.[1][2][3]

The funicular, opened in 1879, was the first Swiss funicular to be built specifically for the transport of tourists. It has a length of 345 metres (1,132 ft) and overcomes a vertical distance of 104 metres (341 ft) with a maximum gradient of 32%. There are two wooden cars dating from 1879, operating on a single track of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge track with a central passing loop and a Riggenbach rack rail for braking purposes. Originally operated by water ballast, the funicular is now electrically operated and a single journey takes 2 minutes.[1]

The line has the following parameters:[4]

Number of cars 2
Number of stops 2
Configuration Single track with passing loop
Track length 363 metres (1,191 ft)
Rise 98 metres (322 ft)
Maximum gradient 32%
Track gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)
Speed 1.9 metres per second (6.2 ft/s)
Journey time 4 mins
Capacity 40 passengers per car; 480 persons in each direction per hour

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Green, Richard (February 2007). "Railways in the Berner Oberland - Part 3". Today's Railways Europe. Platform 5 Publishing Ltd (134).
  2. ↑ map.geo.admin.ch (Map). Swiss Confederation. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
  3. ↑ "Die Giessbachbahn". Seilbahn-Nostalgie (in German). C. Gentil. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  4. ↑ "61.019 Giessbachbahn, Giessbach, Standseilbahn". Swiss Inventory of Ropeways (in German). Swiss Confederation. Retrieved 2010-11-03.

Coordinates: 46°44′06″N 8°01′21″E / 46.7349°N 8.0225°E / 46.7349; 8.0225


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