Schiefe Ebene

The inclined plane is a railway line with a strong tendency in the course of the Ludwig South - North Railway from Bamberg to Hof (Saale) in the district of Upper Franconia in the German state of Bavaria.

Location

It is located in the district of Kulmbach, just east of the station 's New Market Wirsberg and ends in Marktschorgast. The route is double track extended and not electrified. On the following on the steeply inclined section between Marktschorgast and Stammbachstrasse the second main track has since been dismantled. The ramp overcomes on the way to the Fichtelgebirge to 6.8 kilometers 157.7 meters and has an average gradient of 23 ‰. It was built in 1844-1848 in the course of the Ludwig South - North Railway and opened on 1 November 1848. Because of the numerous retaining walls, cuttings and stone dams shall be deemed technical achievement of its time. The cost was 917 318 guilders. An initially planned steep section with a stronger inclination and the use of stationary steam engines was changed in favor of a more elongated lower, flatter track alignment.

History

The track was a challenge for locomotives and locomotive times people. Most trains had to be pushed by strong shift locomotives. These were stationed in the famous Bahnbetriebswerk New Market Wirsberg. Among them were the famous locomotives of series 95 and 96, as well as locomotives of series 57 and 50

The track was the beginning of the 1970s, one of the last locations of the series 01 of the German Federal Railroad.

To the east of the station 's New Market Wirsberg called Schlömener curve was established for the rapid tilting traffic in 2001. Thus, a bypass this station is possible on the way from Bayreuth to court.

In the years 2001 to 2004, the inclined plane by modern ICE - TD railcars ( DB class 605) was traversed with tilting technology. Today the route is navigated by tilting railcar of the DB Class 612 alternating the regional express lines farm - yard Würzburg and light rock as well as the inter-regional express line Nuremberg -Hof Dresden operate hourly.

Misfortune in 1944

On 27 December 1944, a serious railway accident occurred. At that time a military train derailed in New Market train station after could not degrade enough speed on an incline, the brakes of the train. The exact causes are unknown; the train was drawn by a locomotive of series G 12 (58 in 2813 ). In the accident, the heater, the engine driver and a sergeant were killed. Furthermore, there were several heavy and light injuries.

Museum

At the foot of the ramp in the old engine shed of the railway station New Market Wirsberg in New market, is the German Steam Locomotive Museum. In addition to its static exhibition held at irregular intervals, usually in collaboration with other museums and locomotive operators, special trips with steam locomotives on the inclined plane.

In the mountain station, in the former waiting room of the station Marktschorgast, there is a small museum and information center on the history of the inclined plane; there is free admission.

The Marktschorgast station is the starting point of a railway historical trail, which runs along the inclined plane and on display boards tells the story of the track. The walk ends at the entrance of the steam locomotive museum. The trail should be committed with sturdy shoes and can be managed in a few hours (length 7-8 km, mountainous terrain ). An information board is located on the street side of the market choir Gaster station to the trail, the first poster is located on the street side of the former goods shed, about 20 m northeast (towards the courtyard) next to the station building.