Turmbergbahn

The Tower Mountain Railway is a funicular that runs from Karlsruhe- Durlach from the tower hill (256 m above sea level. NN ). It was opened in 1888 and is the second oldest funicular in Germany.

At a distance of 315 m the train overcomes a height difference of 100 m with a maximum gradient of 36.2 %.

History

The tower mountain railway was put into operation on May 1, 1888. The drive was carried out by gravity with water ballast, that is a tank in the valley bandwagon was filled with the required amount of water and pulled the uphill moving upward. The meter gauge track was originally double track, they also possessed an additional Riggenbach rack for braking the vehicles.

At the beginning of the Second World War, the driving was briefly interrupted, but resumed soon. Fatal damage to the goods, so that the web until the spring of 1946, to go back by fighting in 1945.

The sheet was extensively remodeled in 1966. Here, the water ballast drive has been replaced by an electric drive, new cars purchased and the double track turned into a single track with passing loop lying in the middle Abtschen. The station building at the valley and mountain stations have been replaced by new buildings. Multiple, most recently in 2004, the drive cable was renewed. Considerations for extending the cable car to the tram stop at the foot of the tower hill were not pursued.

Oldest funicular railway in Germany

The tower mountain railway is the oldest still operating funicular in Germany. There were only two old tracks, but have adjusted both its operation: the cable car was opened in 1877 in Zeitz and the 1887 Malberg web. However, no vehicles or infrastructure are located in the tower cable car in original condition. The original construction is similar to the same time built and technically very similar Nerobergbahn in Wiesbaden. There, the water ballast drive and the shape of the track structure has been preserved until today. However, it was completed five months later.

Destination

The tower mountain is a popular destination and - on a clear day - an estimated viewpoint overlooking the Rhine valley, the Palatinate Forest and the Alsace. On the tower hill lies sports school Schoeneck, in which, inter alia, the World Cup Self prepared from 1954 under Sepp Herberger to the World Cup, and the gourmet restaurant of star chef Sören Anders.

The tower mountain railway is not Suitable for wheelchairs ( access via steps, also very narrow doors ).

Specifications

Track

  • Operating Opened: May 1, 1888
  • Track length: 315 m
  • Track width: 1,000 mm
  • Difference in altitude: 100 m
  • Max. Gradient: 36.2%

Pull rope

  • Diameter: 26 mm
  • Calculated breaking load: 43,05 t

Car

  • Max. Crew: 21 people

Speed

  • 7.2 km / h (2 m / s)

Turmberg tower

Mountain station with vehicle

Tower mountain railway in 1900

Metre gauge Grade (slope)
786885
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