Cable car (railway)

A cable tram, also called short cable railway, is a cable car traveling on rails in the function of a tram. It is technically related to the funicular, but which is built mainly to overcome height differences for passenger and cargo transportation on its own route and thus is one of the cable cars. In contrast, the cable tram ( cable car english ) riding on grooved rails and is integrated into the course of roads, also have flat portions and the operation is usually carried out within a city. Cable trams emerged towards the end of Pferdebahnära and before the development of electric trams, they were steam driven around this time usually. An essential feature are constantly circulating ropes to which the vehicles Hitch and for stopping or to go to the next section of cable, disconnect again.

Dissemination

In the United States cable trams bridged in some larger cities the period increased urban transport at the end of the 19th century. Around 1890, there were approximately 800 kilometers of cable tram routes. In Europe such routes have been built only in individual cases, such as in London and Paris, and soon set out again. Since the system is particularly safe for winter, were in some European cities cable trams until 1900 in operation.

Worldwide, there are only a cable car route of its kind in San Francisco, California, where three lines of the San Francisco Cable Cars run. The vehicles can be coupled with the ongoing running cable under the road. In its construction, the rope was not electric, but driven by steam engines.

Related systems

People Mover

The classic cable trams in the late 19th century, new cable -driven railway systems have been in the late 20th century developed - the cable-drawn cabs or gondolas for urban passenger transport are mostly like funiculars coupled fixed to the rope, but there is also an engine concepts like the Mini Metro whose vehicles can be coupled with the continuous cable.

Funicular railways in the road

In some cases, funiculars was furnished in a very steep road sections in cities whose external appearance is reminiscent of cable street cars where the cabins are, however, firmly attached to the rope. In two cities such webs are still in operation:

• Llandudno (Wales, UK), Great Orme Tramway The Great Orme Tramway Llandudno has two funicular railways; while the upper panel has an exposed cable like most mountain railways in the lower path of the cable passes under the road surface, causing the impression of a tram. Because of the grooved rails the cars have normal wheel flanges and no Abtschen course be used.
• Lisbon ( Portugal), several lines of funiculars in Lisbon The cables of the three still in operation funiculars are below a pavement, and the connecting cable of the opposing vehicle is not being driven in one station but serves only the mass balance of uphill and downhill driving car. The drive is like a tram through the traction motors in the vehicles. The closed road surface and the upper lines of the impression of a tram, which can overcome the strong tendency arises.