Thunersee-Beatenberg Railway
The Thunersee-Beatenberg-Bahn is a funicular in the canton of Bern that runs from Beatenbucht on Lake Thun to the village of Beatenberg above the lake . It was opened on June 21, 1889.
It is now set up as a single-track system with a central turnout. When the plant opened, it was still a three-rail system with a central turnout and a brake gear. It has a tunnel with a length of 67 meters.
Technical specifications
- Company: TBB (Thunersee-Beatenberg-Bahn)
- Valley station: 561 m above sea level M.
- Mountain station: 1121 m above sea level M.
- Length: 1706 m (driving length 1695 m)
- Difference in altitude: 553 m
- Incline: 28-40%
- Track width: 1 meter
history
The runway, built on June 21, 1889, was initially operated with water ballast and brake gear according to the Riggenbach system and only operated in summer. In 1911 the system was rebuilt, the brake gear was removed and the track system was fitted with an Abt switch . Since then, the Beatenbergbahn has also had an electric drive and can run all year round. The car bodies from the early days were replaced by aluminum ones in 1953. In 1967 the electric drive was renewed.
On July 2nd, 2005, the comprehensively renovated runway with the new panorama car was put back into operation. The two cars now run without staff, this is only necessary in the stations. The cycle is now only 20 minutes compared to the previous 30 minutes.
The valley station is served by bus line 21 of the STI transport company, which in turn replaced the Thun – Beatenbucht trolleybus that ran between 1952 and 1982 . From 1913 to 1952 the Steffisburg – Thun – Interlaken tram ran on the section , which has ended at Beatenbucht since 1939.