Wartensteinbahn was a funicular railway in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland. The line led from Bad Ragaz at 520 m to Wartenstein (part of Pfäfers) at 747 m. It was built in 1892 for tourists in the resort Ragaz to access the viewpoint and restaurant at Wartenstein.[1] The line with a length of 790 m had a difference of elevation of 206 m at a maximum incline of 30%.[2][1] The single-track line with a passing loop used water counterbalancing.[2][1]
| Wartensteinbahn | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Other name(s) | Drahtseilbahn Ragaz–Wartenstein |
| Status | ceased operation |
| Owner | Actien-Gesellschaft Drahtseilbahn Ragaz-Wartenstein |
| Locale | Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland |
| Termini |
|
| Stations | 2 |
| Service | |
| Rolling stock | 2 for 28 passengers each |
| History | |
| Opened | 1 August 1892 |
| Concession | 1890 |
| Closed | 25 October 1964 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 788 m (2,585 ft) |
| Track length | 796 m (2,612 ft) |
| Number of tracks | 1 with passing loop |
| Rack system | Riggenbach |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) |
| Electrification | No |
| Highest elevation | 747 m (2,451 ft) |
| Maximum incline | 30.3% |
The funicular was owned and operated by Actien-Gesellschaft Drahtseilbahn Ragaz-Wartenstein.
The line was closed in 1964.
From 2018 to 2022, the association Förderverein Wartensteinbahn attempted to rebuild the funicular. A project with an estimated cost of 9.5 million CHF was developed. The pandemic and a change of ownership of the hotel at the upper station led to the cancellation of the project.[3]
Remains of tunnels, viaducts, the passing loop are still visible.[4] The lower station was converted into a residential building.
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share certificate issued 1892 of Actien-Gesellschaft Drahtseilbahn Ragaz-Wartenstein -
lower station (2016) -
St. Niklausen Tunnel (2016) -
Wartenstein Tunnel (2016) -
viaduct (2013)
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References
edit- ^ a b c Walloth, Karl (1893), "19. Die Drahtseilbahn Ragaz – Wartenstein", Die Drahtseilbahnen der Schweiz, Ergebnisse einer auf Veranlassung des kaiserlichen Ministeriums für Elsass-Lothringen unternommenen Studienreise (in German), Wiesbaden: C.W. Kreidel, pp. 80–82, Tafel 10
- ^ a b Strub, Emil (1892), "Unsere Drahtseilbahnen", Schweizerische Bauzeitung (in German), 19 (12/13/16): 77–81, 85–88, 110–111, 113
- ^ Wartensteinbahn (in German), Förderverein Wartensteinbahn
- ^ Rupp, Susan (2018), "Schlittelstürze im Schlossrank und eine rasante Teefahrt, Erinnerungen von Einheimischen ans "Wartaschtaibähnli"", Terra plana (in German), no. 4, pp. 29–36
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