Gaustabanen
Gaustabanen (part: funicular) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Train in the lower station of the funicular
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gauge : | ? mm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Gaustabanen are two railways that run exclusively inside the Gaustatoppen mountain in the province of Vestfold og Telemark in Norway . Technically separated, but organizationally inseparable, one of these two is a funicular that only runs inside the mountain.
history
An idea was developed in 1953 to open up the Gaustatoppen for tourism. The idea of a mountain railway inside the mountain was, however, taken over very quickly by the Cold War by the army and secret services, who built this railway by 1959. Public use was not considered until 2004; from 2004 to 2007 the railway was renovated and provided with appropriate safety equipment. In 2008 an agreement was signed with the Norwegian Armed Forces and the railway opened to the public in 2010. It is only operated a few weeks a year.
technology
The mountain railway consists of two parts. It begins in Longefonntippen in the municipality of Tinn at the end of the side road that branches off from Fylkesvei 651 between Rjukan and Tuddal. At 1170 m , a horizontal track, similar to a tram, runs in the mountain . After a journey of 850 meters there is a transfer stop inside the mountain. From there, a funicular begins , which overcomes an altitude of 650 meters over a length of 1050 meters. The mountain station is located at 1,800 m , 82 meters below the mountain hut, at the end of a tunnel that leads into the mountain. The funicular itself has an incline of 39 °.
Web links
- Homepage of the Gaustabanen (English). Retrieved January 26, 2016.
Coordinates: 59 ° 51 ′ 13.2 " N , 8 ° 41 ′ 5" E