Budapest Cog-wheel Railway

The Swabians mountain railway (Hungarian Fogaskerekű Vasút ) is a single-track standard gauge rack railway in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. It runs from near the city center Városmajor (city - Grange ), near the Szell Kálmán tér ( 1951-2011 Moszkva tér ) and the Southern Train Station ( Deli palyaudvar ), on the 420 meter high Schwabenberg ( Svábhegy ), with the terminus Széchenyi Hill. At the end point can be seen in the twelve -kilometer children's railway Gyermekvasút, a former pioneer railway, change. The Swabians mountain railway is integrated as a line 60 to the line number system tram Budapest.

History, operating

The concession of Schwabenberg web at furnace was from the Royal Hungarian Ministry of Commerce of the International Society for Mountain railways in Aarau based on the Eisenbahnconcessions Act for a period of 40 years granted (with a tax exemption for 15 years ).

The construction of the (originally 260 m altitude absolutely be overcome ) train was headed by Swiss engineer Francois Cathry Szaléz ( 1834-1901 ) in the summer of 1873 started. With the opening on 24 June 1874, the cog railway is the third oldest in the world. In their technical features, they essentially corresponded to the Vienna Kahlenberg web. The standard gauge track systems are fully equipped with Riggenbach rack. Since there were no cog railway turnouts at the time of opening, sliding platforms were installed to track change. The locomotives were built by the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works in Winterthur, the wagons in the wagon factory Hernals in Vienna.

In May 1890, the line was extended to the Széchenyi Hill. On January 1, 1895, was sold by the already since 1876 in liquidation corporation to a Viennese company. These planned to introduce the electrical operation and to extend the line to the parts of the district Budakész and Hidegkút until after Zugliget ( Auwinkel ). First, however, the winter was in 1910 because of increased demand introduced. The actual electrification with 550 volts DC took place only in 1929. In September 1949, the cog railway to a part of the urban public transport was.

1973, the entire fleet was renewed. The standing still in service seven double railcars were of Simmering -Graz -Pauker (vehicle ) and BBC Austria ( electrical equipment) built. Since then, the train runs at 1500 volts DC.

Steam train, 1896

Electric train in the terminus Széchenyi hegy before 1973