The Thunersee–Beatenberg Funicular (german: Thunersee–Beatenberg Bahn; TBB) is a
funicular
A funicular (, , ) is a type of cable railway system that connects points along a railway track laid on a steep slope. The system is characterized by two counterbalanced carriages (also called cars or trains) permanently attached to opposite en ...
in the
Swiss
Swiss may refer to:
* the adjectival form of Switzerland
* Swiss people
Places
* Swiss, Missouri
* Swiss, North Carolina
*Swiss, West Virginia
* Swiss, Wisconsin
Other uses
*Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports
*Swiss Internation ...
Canton of Berne
The canton of Bern or Berne (german: Kanton Bern; rm, Chantun Berna; french: canton de Berne; it, Canton Berna) is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. Its capital city, Bern, is also the ''de facto'' capital of Switzerland. ...
. It links a jetty, at Beatenbucht in the municipality of
Sigriswil
Sigriswil is a municipality in the administrative district of Thun in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
History
Sigriswil is first mentioned in 1222-23 as ''Sigriswile''.
Archeological remains dating from the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age ...
and on the shores of
Lake Thun
Lake Thun (german: Thunersee) is an Alpine lake in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland named after the city of Thun, on its northern shore. At in surface area, it is the largest Swiss lake entirely within a single canton.
The lake was created af ...
, to the village of
Beatenberg
Beatenberg is a municipality in the Interlaken district of the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
History
Beatenberg is first mentioned in 1275 as ''super rupes''. In 1281 it was mentioned as ''ob den fluen'' and in 1357 as ''Sant Beaten berge ...
, situated on the plateau above at above sea level.
[Richard Green (2007). ''Railways in the Berner Oberland - Part 3''. ''Today's Railways Europe: Issue 134: February 2007''. Platform 5 Publishing Ltd.]
At Beatenbucht, the funicular connects with shipping services, run by ''
BLS AG'', and bus services, run by ''
Verkehrsbetriebe STI
Verkehrsbetriebe STI (Steffisburg-Thun-Interlaken) is a bus operator in the Swiss canton of Bern. It is a private company based in the city of Thun, and operates bus services in that city, as well as routes linking Thun with the neighbouring towns ...
''. Both shipping and bus services connect Beatenbucht to
Interlaken
, neighboring_municipalities= Bönigen, Därligen, Matten bei Interlaken, Ringgenberg, Unterseen
, twintowns = Scottsdale (USA), Ōtsu (Japan), Třeboň (Czech Republic)
Interlaken (; lit.: ''between lakes'') is a Swiss town and mun ...
and
Thun
, neighboring_municipalities= Amsoldingen, Heiligenschwendi, Heimberg, Hilterfingen, Homberg, Schwendibach, Spiez, Steffisburg, Thierachern, Uetendorf, Zwieselberg
, twintown =
, website = www.thun.ch
Thun (french: Thoune) ...
. At Beatenberg, the funicular connects with the
Seilbahnen Beatenberg-Niederhorn, a
gondola lift
A gondola lift is a means of cable transport and type of aerial lift which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of steel wire rope that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate supp ...
which runs to the summit of the
Niederhorn
The Niederhorn (elevation 1963 metres) is a peak of the Emmental Alps in the Bernese Oberland near Beatenberg. It is the peak farthest west in the Güggis ridge. From its summit Lake Thun and the entire Bernese Alps can be seen.
An aerial c ...
.
History
The funicular was built in 1888 and 1889, and opened on 21 June 1889, by the ''Drahtseilbahn Thunersee–Beatenberg'' company. The funicular was converted to electric operation in 1911, and the following year it commenced year round operation. The onward connection to the summit of the Niederhorn by cable car was first opened, by a separate company, in 1946.
The line was completely reconstructed between October 2004 and July 2005, and new modern style cars were provided. In 2014, the funicular and cable car companies were merged, to create the current ''Niederhornbahn AG'' company. In the autumn of 2016, a new motor and electronic control system was installed.
[
Previous company names:
*1889–1906: ''Drahtseilbahn Thunersee-St. Beatenberg''
*1906–1947: ''Drahtseilbahn Thunersee-St. Beatenberg (Beatenberbahn)''
*1947–2010: ''Drahtseilbahn Thunersee-Beatenberg (Beatenbergbahn)''
*2010–2014: ''Beatenbergbahn AG''
]
Operation
The funicular has a length of and overcomes a vertical distance of with an average gradient
In vector calculus, the gradient of a scalar-valued differentiable function of several variables is the vector field (or vector-valued function) \nabla f whose value at a point p is the "direction and rate of fastest increase". If the gradi ...
of 34.6% and a maximum of 40%. The line comprises a single track
Single may refer to:
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Songs
* "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004
* "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008
* "Single" (William Wei song), 2016
* "Single", by ...
of gauge
Gauge ( or ) may refer to:
Measurement
* Gauge (instrument), any of a variety of measuring instruments
* Gauge (firearms)
* Wire gauge, a measure of the size of a wire
** American wire gauge, a common measure of nonferrous wire diameter, es ...
with a central passing loop
A passing loop (UK usage) or passing siding (North America) (also called a crossing loop, crossing place, refuge loop or, colloquially, a hole) is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at or near a station, where trains or ...
. There is one intermediate stop, at Birchi.[
The two modern style cars each accommodate 90 passengers and operate at either or , depending on demand. The journey time is either 10 or 6 minutes, depending on the speed selected, with cars operating every 20 minutes or more frequently. The line has a theoretical maximum capacity of 700 people per hour.]Verkehrsbetriebe STI
Verkehrsbetriebe STI (Steffisburg-Thun-Interlaken) is a bus operator in the Swiss canton of Bern. It is a private company based in the city of Thun, and operates bus services in that city, as well as routes linking Thun with the neighbouring towns ...
''.[
]
Further reading
*
*
See also
* List of funicular railways
This is a list of funicular railways, organised by place within country and continent. The funiculars range from short urban lines to significant multi-section mountain railways.
A funicular railway is distinguished from the similar incline eleva ...
* List of funiculars in Switzerland
This is a list of all funiculars in Switzerland, commercially operated according to a timetable.
See also
*List of funicular railways
*List of heritage railways and funiculars in Switzerland
*List of aerial tramways in Switzerland
*List of moun ...
Gallery
Thunersee–Beatenberg Funicular 2018-09-05 18.55.36.jpg, lower station seen from the lake (2018)
Beatenbergbahn Postcard.jpg, Funicular with Niesen
The Niesen is a mountain peak of the Bernese Alps in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland. The summit of the mountain is in elevation.
It overlooks Lake Thun, in the Bernese Oberland region, and forms the northern end of a ridge that stretches north ...
in the background (postcard sent 1933)
Drahtseilbahn Thunersee-St.Beatenberg 1889.jpg, share certificate of 1889 for ''Drahtseilbahn Thunersee-St.Beatenberg''
References
External links
*
**
Thunersee Beatenberg Bahn page from FunimagNiederhornbahn AG web site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thunersee-Beatenberg railway
Beatenberg
Beatenberg is a municipality in the Interlaken district of the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
History
Beatenberg is first mentioned in 1275 as ''super rupes''. In 1281 it was mentioned as ''ob den fluen'' and in 1357 as ''Sant Beaten berge ...
Bernese Oberland
1200 mm gauge railways in Switzerland
Transport in the canton of Bern
Railway lines opened in 1889
Beatenberg
Beatenberg is a municipality in the Interlaken district of the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
History
Beatenberg is first mentioned in 1275 as ''super rupes''. In 1281 it was mentioned as ''ob den fluen'' and in 1357 as ''Sant Beaten berge ...