Funimag photoblog

Author: Funimag

  • Lauterbrunnen- Grütsch Funicular in Jeopardy !!

    Lauterbrunnen, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, April 2005.This is not a scoop… the funicular Lauterbrunnen- Grütsch is in Jeopardy! When I visited it in July 2000 it was already in Jeopardy. The ground is unstable and moving. _Consequently, the track is distorted as you can see_ on the picture below.

    September 2005, I went back again to visit it… the ground is still moving ! The death threat is stronger than in 2000!

    A solution must be agreed upon by the end of 2006.

    Three options are being examined :

    – a new surface funicular instead of the present one (CHF 29 Millions),

    – a new underground funicular on another site (CHF 47 Millions),

    – an aerial cable car on the same site as the present funicular (CHF 20 Millions)… The top station would be the same Grütsch station.
    It means that the extraordinary machine which presently takes charge of the freight transshipment between the funicular and the Grütsch – Mürren train will be retained for the pallet transshipment between the aerial cable car and the train !

    The company Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen – Mürren (BLM) is for the aerial cable car solution, which is the less expensive. The Lauterbrunnen Town Council and the people of Mürren are for the rebuilt of the funicular but this solution is too expensive for BLM.

    A decision must be taken before the end of 2006.


    Lauterbrunnen bottom station. (April 2005)


    Track diformity (September 2000)

  • Molkenkurbahn & Koenigstuhlbahn… Here we go again!!!

    Heidelberg, Baden Wurttemberg, Germany.Since March 23, 2005 the two sections of the funicular of Heidelberg (Molkenkurbahn and Koenigstuhlbahn) are in use again !!!They were closed for modernization. The cars of the upper section, Koenigstuhlbahn, were restored with the same old-time appearance. The cars of the lower section, Molkenkurbahn, were replaced by modern Swoboda’s cars.The official site: www.bergbahn-heidelberg.de

    Here are the photos of the new cars…


    The cars of the upper section, Koenigstuhlbahn. (Photo Heidelberger Bergbahnen)


    The cars of the lower section, Molkenkurbahn. (Photo Heidelberger Bergbahnen)

  • Tréport- Terrasse, on the right track !

    Le Tréport, Seine maritime, France. March 23rd, 2005.Some news from Le Tréport…The new project is on the right track.

    The project is at the moment in the phase of consolidating the rocks on the cliff.

    The manufacturer of the inclined lifts will be chosen in June 2005, the construction will start on August 2005 and the opening is planed for June 2006.

    MDP Ingenierie Conseil, Meylan, France is managing the project.

    In fact the new funicular will be composed of two independent inclined automatic lifts. The two lifts will both pass thru the same tunnel (West tunnel). The other tunnel (East) will be unused unless it is necessary to increase the capacity. Each lift will be composed of a single cabin with a capacity of 14 passengers.


    A France 3 Television crew interviewing the workers on the top of the cliff.


    The same France 3 Television crew interviewing MDP engineer inside the tunnel.

  • The Fun’ambule is in use… of course!

    Oups…!! I just forgot to tell you that the Fun’ambule re-opened on December 12th, 2004!
    I remind you that the Fun’ambule was stopped since October 30th, 2004.

  • Mondovi, the first digging!

    On Monday February 28th, 2005 the first digging of the new funicular of Mondovi was done by Aldo Rabbia, the mayor of Mondovi in the presence of William Casoni, the vice-chairman of Piedmont County.The end of the works is planned for end of April 2006.The opening day is planned for end of 2006…


    Note the old funicular in the background! (Photo Unione Monregalese)

  • Funicolare di Mondovi – Reconstruction !!!

    Mondovi, Piemonte, Italy. February 28th, 2005.Monday February 28th, 2005 will be the first day of the reconstruction of the funicular of Mondovi which was stopped since 1973.The $ 7 Million project will be financed by Regione Piemonte, Provincia di Cuneo and Comune di Mondovi e cotributo Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo. The reconstruction will be carried out by Garboli Conicos and Dopplemayr.

    The new funicular will be composed of 2 cars of 70 passengers with a capacity of 800 passengers per hour. It will take 7 minutes to go from Breo to Piazza.


    The old funicular of Mondovi