Reisszug

Reisszug

The Hohensalzburg Castle, with the lower route of the Reiszug picked out by two parallel vertical walls, whilst the gateways on the upper route can just be seen
Overview
Type Funicular
Locale Salzburg, Austria
Coordinates 47°47′43″N 13°03′01″E / 47.795388°N 13.050162°E / 47.795388; 13.050162Coordinates: 47°47′43″N 13°03′01″E / 47.795388°N 13.050162°E / 47.795388; 13.050162
Termini Nonnberg (lower station)
Festung (upper station)
Stations 2
Operation
Opened c. 1500
Technical
Line length 191 metres (627 ft)
Track gauge 1,300 mm (4 ft 3 3⁄16 in)
Maximum incline 67%
The Reisszug car
View of the route from below

The Reisszug (also spelt Reißzug or Reiszug) is a private funicular railway providing goods access to the Hohensalzburg Castle at Salzburg in Austria. It is notable for its extreme age, as it is believed to date back to either 1495 or 1504.

The Reisszug should not be confused with the Festungsbahn, a funicular that provides public access to the Hohensalzburg Castle, and which dates from 1892.[1]

History

Early history

The line was first documented in 1515 by Cardinal Matthäus Lang, who would later become Archbishop of Salzburg. These dates make it the oldest known funicular in the world, and possibly the oldest existing railway.[1][2][3]

The Reisszug still traces its original route through the castle's fortifications. It starts from the grounds of the Nonnberg Abbey, below the eastern walls of the castle. It then rises up at a gradient of 65% to the central courtyard of the fortress, on its way passing through five concentric defensive walls. At the point where the line passes through each wall is a gateway, each of which can be closed by a sturdy wooden door. The presence and obvious age of the gateways serves to confirm Cardinal Lang's description of the line.[3][4]

Recent history

The line may have originally used sled-style runners, but wooden rails and wheels were soon adopted. Haulage was accomplished by a hemp rope. Until 1910 the line was operated by human or animal power. Over the years the line has been modified and rebuilt several times, most recently between 1988 and 1990. Today it uses steel rails and a steel cable. Traction is provided by an electric motor, and a closed circuit television system is used to monitor its operation.[3][4][5]

Technical parameters

In its current incarnation, the line has the following technical parameters:[2][4]

Configuration Single track
Mode of operation Manual
Length 190 metres (620 ft)
Height 80 metres (260 ft)
Maximum Steepness 67%
Stations: 2 Nonnberg (47°47′44″N 13°03′02″E / 47.795571°N 13.050654°E / 47.795571; 13.050654, lower)
Festung (47°47′45″N 13°02′55″E / 47.795817°N 13.048546°E / 47.795817; 13.048546, upper)
Cars 1
Capacity 3 passengers/2,500 kilograms (5,500 lb)
Gauge 1,300 mm (4 ft 3 3⁄16 in)
Maximum speed 0.5 metres per second (1.6 ft/s)
Journey time 5 minutes 45 seconds
Traction Electricity

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Der Reiszug - Part 1 - Presentation". Funimag. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  2. 1 2 "Der Reiszug". Funiculars.net. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  3. 1 2 3 Kriechbaum, Reinhard (2004-05-15). "Die große Reise auf den Berg". der Tagespost (in German). Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  4. 1 2 3 "Der Reiszug - Part 2 - History and Description". Funimag. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  5. ↑ "Reiszug zu Salzburg" (in German). www.seilbahngeschichte.de. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
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