Reichenbachfall Funicular

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Reichenbachfall Funicular
Reichenbachfall-Bahn 244.jpg
The lower station
Overview
Statusin operation
Owner EWR Energie
Locale Bernese Oberland,
Canton of Bern,
Switzerland
Termini
Stations2
Service
Type Funicular
Operator(s) Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG
Rolling stock2 for 24 passengers each
History
Opened8 September 1899
(124 years ago)
 (1899-09-08)
Enhancements1999
Technical
Track length714 metres (2,343 ft)
Number of tracks1 with passing loop
Track gauge Metre (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electrification from opening
Operating speed2 metres per second (6.6 ft/s)
Highest elevation843 metres (2,766 ft)
Maximum incline 61%

The Reichenbachfall Funicular (German : Reichenbachfall-Bahn; RfB) is a funicular in the Bernese Oberland region of the canton of Bern, Switzerland. It links Willigen, near Meiringen, with the uppermost of the Reichenbach Falls, famous as the site of the apparent death of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional hero, Sherlock Holmes. On its route the line follows and crosses the lower falls of the Reichenbach. [1] [2]

Contents

The funicular was opened in 1899, and was rebuilt in 1999 to the original design. Between 1912 and 1956, it was linked to Meiringen by the Meiringen–Reichenbach–Aareschlucht tramway. Today it is owned by the EWR Energie company, which operates the adjacent hydroelectric power plant, but is maintained by the neighbouring Kraftwerke Oberhasli company, which also operates several other lines in the area. It has the following parameters: [1] [2] [3] [4]

FeatureValue
Number of cars2
Number of stops3
Configuration Single track with passing loop
Track length714 metres (2,343 ft)
Rise242 metres (794 ft)
Maximum gradient 61%
Track gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) metre gauge
Capacity24 passengers per car
TractionElectric
Speed2 metres per second (6.6 ft/s)
Journey time7.5 mins

The funicular operates only between May and mid-October. During this period it operates every 15 minutes from 09:00 to 17:00.

The lower station is some 20 minutes walk, or a 6-minute bus ride, from Meiringen station on the Brünig railway line. [1] [5] It is 500 m from the Alpbach station.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Richard Green (2007). Railways in the Berner Oberland - Part 3. Today's Railways Europe: Issue 134: February 2007. Platform 5 Publishing Ltd.
  2. 1 2 "61.036 Reichenbachfallbahn, Meiringen, Standseilbahn", Schweizer Seilbahninventar = Inventaire suisse des installations à câbles = Inventario svizzero degli impianti a fune (in Italian, German, and French), Federal Office of Culture, 2011, retrieved 24 April 2014
  3. "Grimselwelt - Transport Lifts". KWO. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  4. "Kraftwerke übernehmen Betrieb der Reichenbachfall-Bahn". bernerzeitung.ch. Berner Zeitung. 16 January 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  5. "Meiringen RfB–Reichenbachfall" (PDF). Bundesamt für Verkehr. Retrieved 24 April 2014.

46°43′10″N8°11′16″E / 46.7195°N 8.1877°E / 46.7195; 8.1877