Golmerbahn by Latschau, Tschagguns, Voralburg Like the Vermuntbahn the Golmerbahn was built and maintained by Voralberger Illwerke AG., the hydro-electric power company. However, unlike the Vermuntbahn, the Golmerbahn was built in two sections, both of which were funiculars. The whole works were originally part of the power station, and was built to build and maintain the dam enclosing the artificial lake, the Lünersee, high up the Golmer Joch, near Schruns. The funiculars followed the pipeline down from the dam, via the intermediate station Matschwitz, thence down to the hydro-electric power generating station at Latschau. Construction started in 1952, but the funicular was opened in 1954. Following completion of the building project, the lines were converted for passenger operation, and opened to the public in 1957. The 1,312 metre long lower section started at the Talstation Latschau, 995 metres above sea level, and rose 525 metres to the intermediate station. The average gradient was just under 50%, but there was a pronounced concave section in the route, so concave that the maximum gradient was 71.3%, and bridges with rollers on (porticoes) were placed over the track to stop the draw wire from pulling the front of the funicular up and off the track. There were two cars available on this lower section, but as the line was single track, only one could be used at a time. A crane at Latschau station swapped the two cars – one for summer use with cross-bench seats, taking 75 passengers in the open air, and a closed car for winter use, which seated 101 passengers. At the Bergstation Matschwitz on Golmerbahn 1, passengers alighted and walked across to Golmerbahn 2, which rose 370 metres to the Bergstation Grüneck along 1,224 metres of track. The maximum incline on this upper section was 40%, and was worked on the pendulum principle, with counterbalanced cars passing at a central loop on the otherwise single line. The vehicles could each take 75 passengers, who all faced downhill. Both lines were metre gauge, and journey times on the two sections was about the same at 9 minutes – the upper section travelling at a maximum of 2.4 metres per second, against the 2.6 metres / second for the lower part. Waagner Büro, Wien, constructed both parts of the line. By 1995 the equipment was becoming worn out, and the Golmerbahn closed in the September of that year, being replaced by a cable car. The lines were dismantled, and little trace remains today. The cable car is now in three sections, but the first section starts at Vandans, whilst the other two sections roughly follow the old Golmerbahn station sites. A large glass and steel structure was erected by Oksakowski, and is an architect’s idea of a reflection of the surrounding forest. The nearest railway stations are on the Montafonerbahn, at Vandans, Kaltenbrunnen and Tschagguns. Local bus services, and in winter ski bus routes, connect the stations with both Vandans and Latschau stations.

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updated 1st May 2006
Design and © Ron Ferguson