Fichtelberg Cable Car
The Fichtelberg Cable Car (German: Fichtelberg Schwebebahn) is a German cable car in the Ore Mountains in Saxony that runs from the town of Oberwiesenthal to the Fichtelberg mountain top. It is the oldest cable car in Germany,[1] leading from the valley station at an altitude of 905 metres above sea level to the top station at 1,208 metres above sea level, having a length of 1,175 metres and a maximum upward gradient of 50 per cent. The Fichtelberg Cable Car is equipped with two carrying and two hauling cables.
| Fichtelberg Aerial Tramway | |
|---|---|
 View of the Fichtelberg with its cable car | |
| Overview | |
| Status | Operational |
| Character | Elevated |
| Location | Oberwiesenthal, Saxony, Germany |
| Termini | Oberwiesenthal Fichtelberg |
| No. of stations | 2 |
| Open | December 29, 1924 |
| Technical features | |
| Aerial lift type | Cable car |
| Line length | 1,175 m (3,855 ft) |
| Notes | 302.9 m (994 ft) Electric motor powering cable bullwheel |
Operations began in December 1924. The Fichtelberg Cable Car temporarily ceased operation in 1948 due to lack of maintenance during World War II. After a major overhaul, it reopened in 1956. Another major renovation took place in 1984, when one of the support towers were removed and the others where relocated.
References
- Fichtelberg Schwebebahn at europeforvisitors.com, Imboden, Durant and Cheryl. Accessed on 27 Dec 09.
Sources
- Mario Schatz: Seilbahnen der DDR. transpress VEB Verlag für Verkehrswesen, Berlin 1987, ISBN 3-344-00159-0.
