Types of funiculars. Rail cable car. Tram in San Francisco - a model for the funicular in Vladivostok
Funiculars are not only one of the most impressive types of transport in terms of panoramic views from the windows, but also allow you to organize the transportation of people and goods along the steepest routes. We will tell you about fourteen of the most amazing lifts.
(Total 13 photos)
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1. Duquesne and Monongiela funiculars (Pittsburgh, USA)
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, travel in the Rust Belt area of Pittsburgh was carried out on inclined railroads, which, in the absence of safe regular roads, served to transport goods and residents. Today, only two of Pittsburgh's iconic cable cars are still in service. They both summit on the south side of Mount Washington. These include the super-cool 193-meter Monongiela (1870), the oldest cable car in the United States, and the 242-meter Duquesne (1877), which was restored by local residents after it closed in early 1960. Both are owned by the city of Pittsburgh, but Duquesne is operated by a nonprofit organization. Both cable cars are listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. These vehicles now attract quite a few tourists, especially the Duquesne, which leads to a small museum, gift shop and observation deck at the very top of Mount Washington. Most Pittsburghers can show you many ways to admire the "Steel City." But to see it in all its glory, you will have to ride an ancient cable car at a speed of 10 kilometers per hour to climb to the top of Mount Washington. Even acrophobes can handle it.
2. Funicular "Artillery" (Valparaiso, Chile)
Those who have been to the colorful Chilean city of Valparaiso can say that without a funicular you will not be able to get to the Paseo 21 de Mayo observation deck. This crazy bohemian paradise by the sea is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003. The city has many inclined railways that go around neighborhoods located on steep slopes. Although Valparaiso has almost 30 funiculars (most dating back to the 1890s and early 1900s), only a small fraction of these famous "asensores" (elevators) are in active use today. Many of them have been declared national treasures. So which one should you choose? Let's look at the Artillery funicular (1893). It is not the oldest (Concepción and Cordillera were the first) and not the longest in the city (the round trip lasts only 80 seconds), but nevertheless it has become the best place for photographs in Valparaiso. Perhaps this popularity is due to its brightly painted wooden carriages or the fact that Paseo 21 de Mayo offers the best view of the city. Unfortunately, it seems that Artillery will soon fail, but there are other alternatives besides it.
3. “Flight of Angels” (Los Angeles, USA)
Colorful and artsy, downtown Los Angeles isn't known for its cable cars, except for Angels Flight (1901), the last of the incline railways in a city that once had plenty of them. Built on a steep but short slope, it connected Hill Street and Olive Street in Bunker Hill, a central Los Angeles neighborhood. In 1969, after 68 years of service, the 90-meter funicular and its two carriages, Sinai and Olivet, were dismantled to make way for the ongoing redevelopment of the area. Almost 30 years later, in 1996, Angels Flight was finally remembered and restored near its original location. And then problems began: in 2001, as a result of an accident on the funicular, a person died and several others were injured. After an investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board determined that this was due to glitches in the new transportation system. In 2010, when Sinai and Olivet repaired and replaced the faulty system, Angels Flight resumed operations. It was briefly taken out of service in 2011 for restoration work, and then closed again indefinitely in September 2013 after one of the carriages derailed (this time no one was killed). Meanwhile, Los Angeles has been forced to rebuild the lift again, leaving anyone wondering when the iconic railroad will welcome passengers again. After the latest closure, the Los Angeles Times published an article in which they reported the following: Angels Flight is one of the few remaining cable cars in the country and is a historical landmark in the city. In 1901, people traveled up and down for pennies. Today, a trip of one minute and four seconds is still cheap - 50 cents. As long as it's safe, let's keep driving."
4. “Carmelite” (Haifa, Israel)
While most of the cable cars on our list offer unique views as you climb up the mountainside, the Carmelite is different. This completely underground inclined railway has earned the honorary title of the smallest metro in the world. Carmelit is the only underground transport in Israel. The tunnel through which traffic goes is built in Mount Carmel. Its construction began in 1956, and the first passengers were accepted in 1959. From 1986 to 1992, a large-scale reconstruction was carried out, after which the funicular was opened again. The line has four cars (two for each train) and six stations. The top station "Gan A-Em" is located at an altitude of 274 meters above sea level. "Kikar-Paris" is the lower station where the depot and repair shops are located. A trip along the Carmelite from top to bottom takes about eight minutes.
5. "Flybanen" (Bergen, Norway)
The 850-metre Fløybanen funicular transports visitors to the top of Fløyen, one of the seven mountains surrounding the Norwegian city of Bergen. Many people would like this short (8 minute) trip up to the heights with three stops along the way to last forever. The views from the panoramic windows of the two carriages (blue and red) with glass ceilings are simply beyond description. If weather permits and you have enough time, be sure to rent a canoe to paddle around Skoemackerdike ("Shoemaker's Ditch"). Bring a map for your hike and stroll along forest paths or enjoy traditional Norwegian seafood dishes at a restaurant 300 meters above sea level.
6. Fourth Street Elevator (Dubuque, Iowa, USA)
The Fourth Street Elevator, also known as the Fenelon Elevator, was built because one rich guy really wanted to go home on his lunch break, but couldn't spend the entire 30 minutes riding in a horse-drawn carriage to get there every time. The home of J. C. Graves (a banker and former senator) was located at the top of a steep cliff, and in 1882 he began traveling back and forth in a kind of cable car. Although fares have increased greatly since then, the funicular is still in operation. In 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
7. Central Funicular (Naples, Italy)
If you are planning to visit Italy's third largest city with its hilly landscape, be sure to take a ride on the Metropolitana di Napoli and one of the four famous funiculars - Chiaia (1889), Montesanto (1891), Central (1928) and "Mergellina" (1931) - or for everyone in turn. Due to the chaotic landscape of the city and constant congestion, most residents prefer to ride the Central Funicular, which connects the four most important stations. This is the busiest and largest (1219 meters) inclined railway. The journey from Piazza Fuga station at Chichi Vomero to Augusteo takes just over 4 minutes. Speaking about the funiculars of Naples, it is worth mentioning the defunct (guess why) Vesuvius funicular, built in 1800.
8. "Johnstown" (Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA)
An hour and a half drive east to Cambria County Airport, you'll find "the world's steepest driveway." With a total length of 273 meters, the system's spacious cable cars lead up the slope of Yoder Hill at an incredibly steep angle (70.9 degrees), reaching an elevation of more than 487 meters. During major floods in 1936 and 1977, the path was used for its intended purpose - for evacuation from the city. The rest of the time it is very popular among tourists - a round trip costs $4.
9. Lookout Mountain (Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA)
Dubbed "America's Most Wonderful Mile," Lookout Mountain (1895) stretches just over a kilometer from Chattanooga's historic St. Elmo neighborhood to the summit of Lookout Mountain. Those with a fear of heights may find themselves squeezing their eyes shut throughout the 15-minute ride up and down, but that's simply unforgivable given the scenic panoramic views from the windows of the 42-seater carriage. Considering that a round trip costs $15, only tourists use this technical miracle. The funicular is especially popular with visitors interested in the American Civil War who are eager to get to Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Park.
10. Montmartre (Paris, France)
The 108-metre Montmartre funicular in the 18th arrondissement is one of the most recognizable funiculars in the world and carries more than 2 million passengers a year. In 1991, the system became fully automatic and began to attract visitors with its ultra-modernity. The Montmartre funicular is considered part of the Paris metro system and provides an alternative to the 300-step staircase leading to the Sacre Coeur Catholic Church. The current "Montmartre" is no longer a funicular in the traditional sense, but an inclined elevator, given that it now operates independently, without using the inclined technology of lifting with counterweights, as do classic funiculars. The entire trip takes 90 seconds.
11. "Nisenbahn" (Bern, Switzerland)
The Niesenbahn, a funicular railway in the Oberland region of the Swiss Alps, connects the village of Mälenen to the summit of the Swiss Pyramid. It is neither the oldest funicular in Switzerland (the oldest is the Giesbach, opened in 1879), nor the steepest (its maximum inclination angle is 68 degrees, while the Helmerbahn reaches 106), but it is the Niesenbahn that is the most long - 2.2 kilometers. Next to this funicular, the longest staircase in the world was built, which consists of 11,767 steps.
12. Funicular tram (Hong Kong)
Taking tourists to Victoria Peak (1364 meters), this funicular tram begins its journey from a site next to Hong Kong Park. It plays the role of an attraction for tourists, the ride on which costs about $5 in both directions. At the final station there is a shopping and entertainment center with many restaurants with observation decks. The trip to the Peak Tower - the very top of Victoria Peak - lasts 15 minutes, during which the cable car covers a distance of 3 kilometers at an angle of up to 45 degrees.
13. Wuppertal Cableway (Dresden, Germany)
The 1,448-metre-long Wuppertal Cable Car is a monorail tram system on elevated tracks. This is one of the oldest monorails. Most of it passes over the Wupper River at an altitude of 12 meters, and the train moves along it at a maximum speed of 60 km/h. Nowadays, the entire system has been modernized, but tourists are offered a ride on a real Kaiserwagen - the train that transported the emperor in 1900. Dresden also has a second cable car, but this time it is above ground. It leads from Körnerplatz to the Weißer Hirsch quarter. Along the 547-meter-long route, the funicular passes through two tunnels, and the maximum gradient of this road is only 29 degrees.
The cable-driven funicular system in Vladivostok has been operating since 1962, built on the initiative of N. S. Khrushchev and has no analogues in the Far East.
The idea to build a funicular in Vladivostok arose from the then head of the USSR after a business trip to the USA, and specifically to San Francisco. Inspired by the views of the relief streets of the coastal American metropolis and finding in it similarities with Vladivostok, he decided to make the latter a “second San Francisco”. This is how the creation of the “Greater Vladivostok” project began. Which, by the way, was never completed, but they still managed to build the funicular.
Initially it was planned to build two funiculars. According to the project, the second route was supposed to run from Nagorny Park to Gaydamak. But these plans were not destined to come true - construction stopped as soon as it began.
The mountain tram in Vladivostok attracts many tourists, including stunning views of the bay and the famous cable-stayed bridge. It’s especially colorful here in the evening, when the city lights and the bridge across the bay are illuminated.
Local residents use the funicular as regular public transport. Despite the short duration of the journey, it greatly facilitates the climb up the mountain for people with limited mobility. The funicular is most popular among students of the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), whose educational buildings are located near the end stations of the funicular.
The length of the Vladivostok funicular tracks is 183 meters, the height difference is 70 meters. The duration of the trip in the trailer is 1.5 minutes.
The tracks pass over Vsevolod Sibirtsev Street. The lower station is located on Pushkinskaya Street near the theater, the upper station is on the Eagle's Nest hill, near the viewing platform and the Funicular bus stop. From the height of the platform a panorama of the city center and the Golden Horn Bay opens up.
There are two cable cars running along the route. The rail tracks are single track with a siding in the middle. The carriages were brought from Leningrad, and the lifting mechanism was brought from Donetsk. The capacity of each carriage is up to 40 people.
In the mid-2000s, a major overhaul of the Vladivostok funicular was completed, and the cars were painted in different colors - blue and red. Before the renovation, they were painted white with horizontal stripes - green on one car and red on the other.
The Vladivostok funicular is maintained by Electric Transport OJSC. Head: Maxim Dubrovsky.
There are two operating funiculars in Russia - in Vladivostok and Sochi. The peculiarity of the Far East lies in the “historical” carriages that have survived to this day since their launch in the 60s.
Excursions are organized for tourists. Groups of 10 people or more can visit the turbine room, where they will talk in detail about the principles of operation of the funicular and show the internal structure and mechanisms. Polite and positive carriage drivers will tell you about the history of construction, answer any questions and even let you into the driver’s cabin.
The Vladivostok funicular is a real landmark of the Far East and all of Russia. It will be interesting for both adults and children to get to know her.
There is even a song “Funicular” dedicated to the Far Eastern mountain tram, performed by the group “Foggy Moan”.
An alternative to climbing the hill by cable car is a staircase with 368 steps located parallel to the tracks. It was built earlier than the funicular - in 1957. Taking into account the difference in altitude on the way to Orlinaya Sopka, the climb up the stairs is very steep, and only a few tourists use it, mostly preferring the funicular. Now it is used mainly at night, or on those days when stations are closed for repairs and annual maintenance. Citizens often call it the “cable car staircase” or the “health staircase”.
Funicular operating hours in Vladivostok in 2020
The Vladivostok funicular serves passengers all year round, from 7:00 to 20:00. There are two carriages - red and blue, the duration of parking at the stations is up to 3 to 5.5 minutes. The climb is short, the view from the trailers is beautiful, but still inferior to the view from the platform.
Planned maintenance and equipment repairs are carried out during June - the funicular is closed throughout this month.
Ticket price for the Vladivostok funicular
Ticket price: 14 rubles, payment at the entrance. There are no benefits or discounts. Before the start of the summer season, you need to check prices.
How to get to the funicular in Vladivostok
You can get to the funicular by public transport. Buses run from Vladivostok railway station to the ski lift. The average travel time is 15 - 20 minutes.
From Central Square you can walk or drive a couple of stops along Svetlanskaya Street towards the bridge to the Polytechnic stop (FEGTU). The drive is about 10 minutes.
You can easily get there by bus from all over the city. But it will be most convenient to use a personal car, or by calling a taxi through one of the applications: Yandex.Taxi, Maxim, Gett, Taxi Vostok. Primorye" and others.
You can approach the upper station from Sukhanova Street, and the lower station along Pushkinskaya Street.
Lower station, panorama
Video (side view)
If you watch old films about the future, they almost always show taxis, buses and cars that do not drive on the road, but fly in the air. And if you think about it, we actually have this type of transport now - it’s funiculars. And although this transport cannot be called new and revolutionary, because the first prototypes appeared back in 1854 in Italy and Austria, but, nevertheless, these carriages floating in the air evoke a feeling of awe. But, over time, their main function has changed a little, and instead of delivering its passengers to their destination, despite the difficult and impassable paths, the funicular has become one of the indispensable tourist features of the 21st century.
Let's take a virtual tour of the best cable cars in the world and try to find out what is so interesting to see in them.
Venezuela
The longest cable car in the world is located in Venezuela, and not somewhere in Switzerland and America, as one might think. Is it open? funicular I was there quite recently, in the summer of 2014. You can ride it for just 43 cents. Cable car passes at an altitude of 3200 to 4000 meters above sea level! The travel time is 10 minutes, and you can get in this way from the city of La Paz to the city of Alto. During the trip, you can get a good look at these towns, dotted with colorful houses, which from a bird's eye view resemble a goosebump. Passengers will also be able to admire the beautiful and majestic snow-capped mountain peaks Ilmani.
India
The Indian one can also compete for the title of the tallest funicular in the world. Gulmarg. Its trailers take tourists directly to the largest ski resort in the Himalayas. The cable car has been operating since 1998, and can lift its passengers to a height of up to 3100 meters, although its second part was recently opened, which surpassed the Venezuelan funicular with a height of 4114 m. You can ride this funicular for only $2.7, and get colorful emotions for millions, because there are few places where you can see all the beauty of the Himalayas so close and so clearly.
China
It is here that you can find another leader, which differs in the length of the road (7.5 km) and the duration of the trip (40 minutes).
But, if we are talking about panoramic views, then here “ Road to Heaven" (as the Chinese informally call it), the undisputed winner. After all, the funicular ride itself goes through Zhangjiajie National Park, right above the mountains Tianmen.
This cable car got its romantic name due to the fact that as it rises, the funicular from time to time disappears in thick fog and it seems as if it is floating among the clouds.
Brazil
See Rio and statue of Christ the Redeemer and the bay in all its glory is possible precisely thanks to the modern funicular, which is located at an altitude of approximately 400 m above sea level. But no less interesting is another cable car in Rio, located in the most disadvantaged areas of the city (including Alemao), where crowds of bandits and drug addicts live and walk the streets, so it’s not very safe to see these places in any other way.
And, although for now this transport serves more as a means of transportation and not as a tourist attraction, it is worth a ride here, because from above the Brazilian slums look very interesting. By the way, the fare is only $0.5.
Israel
View from the funicular window Masada, somewhat reminiscent of photographs from Mars - yellow earth cracked from the heat and harsh rocks. But this has its own charm; it all looks especially beautiful at sunset. You can see and appreciate all the beauties using the funicular, which takes its tourists directly to the top of the plateau, where the ancient Masada fortress. And although the maximum height of the cable car is 257 meters, this does not prevent you from admiring the endless desert and appreciating the beauty of the Dead Sea. But the round trip fare is $19, which is a little expensive compared to other funiculars.
France
This is probably the most unusual cable car in the world, because the cars are shaped like huge glass balls, which the French themselves call “bubbles”. The road was opened back in 1934, but it was the most ordinary cable car that served as a means of transportation for the townspeople, but in 1976 the old cars were replaced with these very “bubbles” and the cable car turned into a famous tourist attraction, which makes it possible to admire the city in very comfortable conditions.
You can ride there and back for 6.8 euros.
Malaysia
You can fly over the jungle and watch monkeys climb trees in Malaysia, namely in the city Genting. This is one of the first high-altitude resorts in Malaysia, where the gambling business is also thriving. So there are a lot of tourists here. And in order to surprise and amaze them even more since 1997, it has been working here cable car, which is considered one of the fastest in the world - the speed of the funicular is 6 meters in seconds, and the price of a round trip is only $3.
Ukraine
There are funiculars in Ukraine, of course, they are not the most panoramic, or fast and high, but you don’t have to travel far. quite famous, and you can ride it from Podol to the Upper Town to admire the old part of the city and the view of the Dnieper. You can also take a ride over the city in Kharkov. Kharkov cable car was opened in 1971 and still remains not only a tourist attraction, but also a means of transportation for city residents.
Maybe this article will inspire you to travel to one of these countries, where, in addition to other attractions, you will also ride a cable car, and then share your impressions and photos with us.
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Residents of some cities around the world can boast that their small homeland has such a landmark as a funicular. This is not just a vehicle. It can confidently be called an attraction in which the utilitarian function of lifting is combined with entertainment.
How does the funicular work?
The fundamental structure of the funicular is characterized by its name (the word “funicular” is translated as rope from Latin and Italian). It consists of a traction system and trailers, usually moving in opposite directions. This scheme allows you to balance the load. The engineering structure also includes rails, gearboxes, electric drives and a braking system, including an emergency one, which is activated automatically if the rope breaks or another emergency situation arises. The designs of funiculars are varied; in each city they were built according to their own design, with a unique station architecture and rolling stock design.
Revived Odessa Funicular
For example, in Odessa, next to the Giant Staircase (later renamed Potemkin Staircase), a funicular railway operated since 1902, the first in the Russian Empire. In the 60s of the 20th century, an escalator, similar to those that operate in the metro, was installed in its place. increased, but the overly modern appearance did not fit well with the historical appearance of the southern city. Eventually, the modern “moving staircase” wore out, and now the funicular began operating again in its original location. This building enjoys well-deserved success among Odessa residents and guests of the city; it offers a wonderful view of the port and harbor, and it also makes the path to Primorsky Boulevard easier, because climbing 192 steps is tiring for some people, especially the elderly.
Tram in San Francisco - a model for the funicular in Vladivostok
The funicular in Vladivostok was conceived as one of the measures to transform this wonderful seaside city into a “Soviet San Francisco”. During a visit to the United States in 1959, First Secretary N. S. Khrushchev was impressed by the urban transport system of this Californian metropolis, which has no equal in the whole world. Like Vladivostok, San Francisco is located in an area with difficult terrain, and walking along it is quite difficult, you have to climb and descend steep slopes. Some of these ascents might not be possible for ordinary city transport, and then an interesting decision was made. All San Francisco streetcars run on rails with a cable running between them. To stop the car, the driver must open the connecting device and press the brake, and the movement begins when the reverse action is performed. It’s difficult to even determine exactly whether it’s a funicular or a tram, but this system works great, and the rolling stock uses restored old carriages without motors, brought from different countries, which gives any trip the character of a fun adventure.
Funicular - attraction "Vladika"
It is possible that the funicular in Vladivostok, commissioned in 1962, is inferior in scale and ramifications to the American one, but it is also very good. The only one in the Far East, it connects the bay with the Orlina hill along V. Sibirtsev Street. Students love to use it to get to the Higher Technical School, tourists certainly visit this attraction, and city residents climb the steep hill if they don’t want to go up the “thousand and one steps” stairs (in fact, there are 368 of them, but that’s also a lot). The ascent by cable car to a height of 70 m lasts one and a half minutes, during which time it covers 183 m of the path. Thus, the average slope exceeds 22 degrees, which is quite a lot.
Funiculars in Prague - a road for lovers
Unlike the modern funicular, which is extremely useful for locals, the railway to Mount Petrin is an exclusively entertainment attraction, and it is also quite old - it began operating in 1891. At the same time, another famous funicular was opened in Prague, on Letna Hill. The route is romantic and picturesque. Along its 510-meter length, the carriage passes through a small tunnel under the wall of the old fortress, and at the final stop, in addition to the observation tower, a sculpture dedicated to the kiss awaits visitors. This is a favorite meeting place for young Prague residents.
Barcelona funiculars
Tibidabo is the oldest funicular in Barcelona (there are three in total). Its route leads to the top of the mountain after which it is named, another station is located on Dr. Andreu Street. There is another cable train to Tibidabo - the Vaividrera, which departs from the Peude station, but it is much smaller, accommodating only fifty passengers. The lift height of both funiculars is approximately the same, more than 160 meters, but the length is different (1152 and 729 meters, respectively), which means that the movement occurs at different slope steepnesses. Therefore, the flatter Tibidabo, despite its venerable age (it has been in operation since 1901), carries four hundred passengers, and its younger brother Peude - eight times less.
Montuica funicular - urban transport and attraction at the same time
The third funicular - "Montuica" - is part of the municipal transport of Barcelona, it is automatic and high-speed. Its purpose is to connect the local one with the Parallel metro station. The track is very beautifully located, its 758-meter route passes through lush thickets and takes passengers to a height of 76 meters. The desire of the Barcelona city administration to ensure that the attraction brings as much money as possible to the treasury is worthy of emulation. The tourist pilgrimage is facilitated by a developed infrastructure, full of restaurants, cafes and other entertainment venues, which create all the conditions for enjoying the beautiful views from Mount Montuica. The funicular was built in Barcelona on the occasion of the world exhibition held there in 1929, but its excellent technical condition allowed it to be used as an Olympic facility more than six decades later.
Kyiv funicular - idea and implementation
The funicular in Kyiv is one of the symbols of the city. He had to endure many historical upheavals. Revolution, civil war, directory, Makhnovshchina, Austrian intervention, Ukrainian republic, devastation, the Great Patriotic War and a couple of “Maidans” - this is just an incomplete list of events that the Kiev cable car went through. And its life began in 1905, when, after two years of construction, the Belgian Joint Stock Company accepted it into operation. The authors of the project, Russian engineers N.I. Baryshnikov and N.K. Pyatnitsky, planned a length of a quarter of a kilometer, but the owner of one of the houses at the bottom of the route refused to sell his property to the city authorities, and the plan had to be revised, shortening the path by fifty arshins. However, the general task, namely making life easier for Kiev residents who were forced to climb from Podol along paths and stairs with hundreds of steps, was solved. The tram could not pass along the steep Kyiv hills. After Odessa, Kyiv became the second city in Russia whose improvement system included such an electromechanical miracle as the Mikhailovsky Rise (as this technical innovation was originally called).
The rebirth of the Kyiv funicular
The Kiev funicular operated in its original form until 1928, when during routine maintenance one carriage broke down, which, rolling along the rails, smashed the second. Fortunately, there were no casualties in this incident, but the structure required serious reconstruction. The cable lines and braking system were replaced. In addition, the lower station was finally moved and the route was extended by another 38 meters. The power unit, consisting of two Swiss-made DC electric motors (65 hp each, manufactured in 1903), as well as the rope drive pulley, served until 1984.
In 1986, the third major reconstruction, which the Kiev funicular has undergone in its history, was completed. This structure now lifts a carriage with a hundred passengers to a height of 75 m at a speed of 2 m/s. The power supply has increased significantly; the power of the installed engine is 100 kW. The total length of the rail track reached 222 m. Cars depart every seven minutes. Every day, approximately 15 thousand passengers use this convenient type of transportation.
Work to improve the funicular is carried out regularly, they relate to increasing safety and improving passenger awareness. Much attention is also paid to the aesthetic side, because this building has long become part of the historical appearance of the Ukrainian capital.
The name "funicular" has Latin roots, "funiculus" is a rope or rope. In its classic form, a funicular consists of two trolleys connected by a long cable, one of which is at the top and the other at the bottom. Rails are used as the road surface for the funicular. This is done for two reasons - firstly, the coefficient of rolling friction on rails is lower than in other types of movement, and secondly, rails eliminate the need to choose the direction of movement. The only significant limitation for the funicular is its length. Usually cable cars are short in length, no more than two hundred meters. This is determined by the specific elasticity of the traction rope, which, if long, can break under its own weight.
Device
To propel the funicular, an electric winch is usually used, installed at the top. Before the invention of the electric drive, the funicular was driven by filling the tank of the upper car with water, which was emptied after lowering down. In some ways, the principle of its operation is similar to the operation of a conventional elevator, the movement of the cabin of which is accompanied by the movement of a counterweight in the opposite direction. To increase the capacity of the funicular, the counterweight to the raised car is the lowered car. This type of ground transport is discrete in its operating principle. Each of its working cycles has different directions of movement.
Since a classic funicular consists of two cars, they are usually classified according to the number of rail tracks. There can be four of them - two for each car, three, when the cars on the right and left sides move along one rail, and two, when there is only one track for each car. Three and double track funiculars are equipped with siding tracks controlled by switches. The funicular is always designed for each specific case. This is determined, in particular, by the fact that the cargo or passenger platform must have a strictly horizontal position.
Advantages
The funicular, as a lifting device, allows us to solve the problem of delivering passengers and cargo in areas with large differences in altitude with maximum efficiency and minimal costs. It is not as heavy-duty as conventional wheeled vehicles, but there is no need to build a road for it, causing harm to the environment. At the same time, its support on rails makes its carrying capacity significantly greater than that of an aerial cable car. Its demand allows many companies, such as Optima Lift, to build their business on the design and creation of cable cars.
The Optima Lift company designs and creates both classic funiculars and devices similar in operating principle. For example, funiculars with one carriage resting on a monorail. This technical solution allows you to create a lift with minimal costs and damage to the environment. A further development of funiculars was rack railways, in which a rack is used instead of a traction cable. Optima Elevator produces rack railways of any configuration, including those with an individual cabin that has its own drive mechanism. Such railways make it possible to create a path to a vacation spot that fits into the surrounding nature as much as possible.