Funiculaire de Pau
The funicular Pau (French: Funicular de Pau) is a funicular railway in Pau in the Pyrénées -Atlantiques, in southwestern France. Your opening took place in 1908. Since then, has twice been completely renovated. The funicular heard for some time to the landmark of the town near the Pyrenees.
History
The Funicular de Pau in 1908 opened on Saturday, February 15th at 7:00 in the morning solemn clock. It connects the Boulevard des Pyrénées (height above sea level: 206 meters ) at the Place Royale in downtown with the Château de Pau ( 180 m) at the train station in the valley. The first two vehicles possessed a car body made of wood.
The web was created as a single-track line of 105 m length with a gauge was 1000 mm ( meter gauge ). A Abtsche crossover without moving parts near the valley station allows an evasion of the vehicles. Virtually the entire path is built on a steel frame. The drive of the hauling cable takes place via an electric motor, which is installed below the upper station.
The fare was ten centimes, a bicycle could be transported with the passengers for the same amount again. The car episode was two minutes the departure signal was given up to the date of the first adjustment via a horn, which the older inhabitants of the town is still well known. The railway functioned largely trouble- free according to reports.
The current light blue painted cabins of the train are from 1961 and consist entirely of steel. They replaced the previous car with wooden body that were ruined after 53 years of operation. Even in the new car was still always a motorman with who operated among others the doors.
The since the 1960s rather chaotic running and heavily loss-making operation was terminated on January 2, 1970 because of serious safety deficiencies now until further notice. Only in the second half of the 1970s a revision of the plants was tackled. On 16 February 1978, the completely renovated funicular was reopened.
In 2005 the railway was again temporarily suspended after another 27 trouble-free years, to perform maintenance and adjustments to the current standards. It also derived from the 1961 all-metal vehicles were overhauled. The resumption of the operation was carried out after about a year, on 25 November 2006.
Since the first re-opening in 1978 no fee is charged for the ride. The car transports per year, on average, about 500,000 passengers and has long heard of the landmarks of the city. Even today, the car train with a departure every three minutes is very dense.
Operating times
The operation is based in each case on December 25, 1 January, 1 May and during racing events at the Circuit de Pau.
Gallery
Funicular in Pau at the passing loop at Bd des Pyrénées
Funicular in Pau at the mountain station at the castle at night
Specifications
- Length: 105 meters
- Difference in altitude: 26 meters
- Greatest slope grade: 30 %
- Gauge: 1000 mm ( meter gauge )
- Capacity: 30 people per car