Schmid Peoplemover

The Schmid Peoplemover (German: Schmid-Peoplemover), an elevator capable of crossing an obstacle (a road, a railway, a river, etc.), designed by the company Schmid-Maschinenbau from Sonnenbühl, Germany,^[1] invented by Emil Schmid.^[2] Currently ThyssenKrupp Aufzugswerke GmbH is in charge of its maintenance.^[3]

Operation

• 
  Peoplemover in Pfullingen, Germany
• 
  Entrance door of Pfullingen Peoplemover

A cabin with passengers, including handicapped in wheelchairs, first moves vertically upwards, then horizontally, thus bridging an obstacle, and finally vertically down. Vertical and horizontal trips are connected by a wide, smooth arc. The company claims that its construction is significantly cheaper than an overpass or underpass, occupies less space and it may be installed in 2-3- days from parts fabricated according to different specifications as to height, span and visual design style.^[4]

Schmid Peoplemovers were installed in Pfullingen (across Route B 312), Altbach,^[5] and at the Berlin-Rummelsburg Betriebsbahnhof station^[6] in Berlin. Eventually the Pfullingen Peoplemover operation stopped due to economic reasons.^[2] In 2015 it was announced that the nearby city of Reutlingen decided to purchase it and install it at the city hall.^[7] Next day it was revealed to be an April Fool Day prank.^[8]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pfullingen People Mover.