Gerschnialpbahn

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Gerschnialpbahn
TalstationTitlisbahn 2015-05.jpg
View from lower station (2015)
Overview
Other name(s)Standseilbahn Engelberg-Gerschnialp
Drahtseilbahn Engelberg-Gerschnialp
StatusIn operation
OwnerBergbahnen Engelberg-Trübsee-Titlis AG (since 1992); Drahtseilbahn Engelberg-Gerschnialp AG (1913-1981), Bergbahnen Engelberg-Gerschnialp-Trübsee AG (1982-1992)
Locale Engelberg, Switzerland
Coordinates 46°48′52″N8°23′39″E / 46.8145°N 8.3941°E / 46.8145; 8.3941
Termini
Stations2
Service
Type Funicular
Route number2533 [1]
Operator(s)Bergbahnen Engelberg-Trübsee-Titlis AG (short: Titlis Bergbahnen)
Rolling stock2 for 75 persons each (new in 1950)
History
OpenedJanuary 21, 1913 (1913-01-21) [2]
Technical
Line length512 m (1,680 ft)
Track length528 m (1,732 ft)
Number of tracks1 (with passing loop)
Track gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electrification change from AC to DC in 1964
Conduction systemcontrols automated in 1964
Operating speed3.2 metres per second (10 ft/s)
Highest elevation1,262 m (4,140 ft)
Maximum incline 68%
Route map

Gerschnialpbahn

Contents

BSicon KBHFa.svg
BSicon GNDC.svg
0.000
Engelberg (Talstation Titlis)
1000 M
BSicon STR.svg
aerial cablecar to Trübsee-Stand-Titlis
BSicon tSTRa.svg
88 m
BSicon tKBHFe.svg
BSicon exGNDC.svg
0.512
Gerschnialp
1262 M
aerial cablecar to Trübsee

Gerschnialpbahn is a funicular railway in Obwalden, Switzerland. The line leads from Engelberg at 1000 m to Gerschnialp at 1262 m on the slopes of Titlis (3239 m). The funicular with two cars has a single track with a passing loop and a tunnel (88 m) at upper end. Journey time is 5 minutes. It operates all year. [3]

Different ways lead from Gerschnialp to Trübsee at 1800 m, the intermediary station to the summit station of Titlis (3028 m). In 1927, an aerial cableway had been built, earlier a hiking path used. [4] Since 1984, the lower station of the funicular is next to the direct aerial cableway Engelberg-Trübsee and, until 2015, the lower section ran parallel to the funicular. At Untertrübsee, near Gerschnialp, there is the aerial cableway Älplerseil Untertrübsee-Trübsee.

A bus line links the base station to Engelberg railway station, 800 m away.

History

On request of the municipal council of Engelberg, the Swiss Federal Assembly granted a concession for the funicular on 8 March 1912. Initial duration was 80 years. [5] [6]

The funicular opened on 21 January 1913. [2] It was constructed by Bell Maschinenfabrik, Kriens.

In 1950, new cars increased the capacity from 40 to 70 passengers per car. The cars are still in use.

In 1964, AC drive was replaced with a DC system leading to a performance increase from 140 to 250 hp. Also automatic controls were installed.

A new base station was inaugurated in 1978.

In 1995, drive and controls were renewed.

Titlis Cliff Walk was inaugurated in December 2012 to commemorate its 100th anniversary.

During the reconstruction of the aerial cableway in 2015/2016, the funicular was again the only transport in direction of Trübsee.

Drahtseilbahn Engelberg-Gerschnialp AG

The company Drahtseilbahn Engelberg-Gerschnialp AG was founded in 1911 to build and operate the funicular.

From 1913 to 1960, the company generated a cashflow of 1.15 million Swiss francs.

In 1982, the company merged with Luftseilbahn Gerschnialp-Trübsee AG and became Bergbahnen Engelberg-Gerschnialp-Trübsee AG. In 1992, another merger led to the current Bergbahnen Engelberg-Trübsee-Titlis  [ de ].

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References

  1. 2533 Engelberg-Gerschnialp (PDF), archived (PDF) from the original on 3 February 2023, retrieved 2 February 2023
  2. 1 2 Mathys, Ernst (1942), Hundert Jahre Schweizerbahnen, historisch und technisch dargestellt, 1841-1941; Les chemins de fer suisses au cours d'un siècle, aperçu historique et technique, 1841-1941 (in German and French), Bern, pp. 26, 67, 88, 254{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. "Timetable". Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  4. Switzerland, Together with Chamonix and the Italian Lakes (26th ed.), Leipzig: Karl Baedeker, 1922, p. 136, OCLC   4248970, archived from the original on 3 February 2023, retrieved 2 February 2023, To the Gerschni Alp (4263'), cable railway from the Rohr, 10 min. S.W. of Engelberg station, in 7 1/2 min (fare 1fr. 20, descent 60 c., return-ticket 1 fr. 50 c.). The tramway, 749 yds in length, ascends with a gradient of 42-68:100, finally threading a tunnel of 90 yds. A the top is a good restaurant, the Waldhaus Gerschni; bobsleigh-run in winter. Hence a path ascends, ..
  5. "Botschaft des Bundesrates an die Bundesversammlung, betreffend Konzession einer Drahtseilbahn von Engelberg nach der Gerschnialp. (Vom 18. Dezember 1911.)", Schweizerisches Bundesblatt (in German and French), no. 5, pp. 271–280, 1911
  6. "Fortsetzung der Wintersession 1911/1912", Übersicht über die Verhandlungen der Schweizerischen Bundesversammlung (in German), pp. 1, 7, 1912, X d. (259). s Engelberg-Gerschnialp

Further reading