Evidence for several funiculars -
inclined railways with stationary
engines if you like - can be found
in the Kapruner Ache Valley, south
of Fürth-Kaprun station on the Pinzgauerbahn.
A goods funicular, taking supplies to the
hydro-electric dam above Kaprun, can be seen
from the road as it leaves the holiday resort.
The funicular, 1.1 km long, has an average gradient
of over 50%. A small "man-rider" vehicle is used to
ferry workers up the route.
8 km further on, the talstation
(base station) of the Gletscherbahnen
appears, and alongside, the base of the former
Gletscherbahn Kaprun 2 funicular. Built in 1974
by Waagner Biro of Wien, and upgraded in 1994
with new vehicles and winding gear, the funicular
rose 1556 m to the Alpin Centre, on the side of
the Gletscher Glacier (the Schmiedingerkees),
taking 7 minutes to transport 180 passengers
through a tunnel in the mountainside. 3.9km
long, of which 3.5 km was in tunnel. The line
had an average gradient of 42%. On the morning
of November 11 2000 a fire in the funicular
whilst inside the tunnel claimed the lives of
150 people, and the line has been closed since
that time.
On the Schmiedingerkees glacier, a single
car funicular, the Gletschershuttle,
carries skiers and walkers back to
the Gipfelstation from the end of
some of the ski runs, at the top
of the Magnetköpflifte, a twin "T-bar"
lift. Carrying 32 people at a time, and
running on a metre gauge track, the shuttle
is automatic, with a call button at each
end of the line. Journey time is under
90 seconds. From the circular Gipfelstation
a 540 metre-long tunnel downhill emerges at
the Panoramaterrasen (3029m high), and from
here it is possible to walk down to the lower
station. The Gletschershuttle is 212 metres
long, with an average gradient of 40%.
Access to the area is via three successive
cable cars from the Kapruner Ache valley -
the Gletscherjet 1 or the Panoramabahn -
which runs parallel; then Gletscherjet 2,
or the parallel Langweidbahn, and then the
Gipfelbahn, a cabin lift. Visitors should
be aware that the temperature is always below
freezing at this altitude, and that sturdy
footwear and adequate clothing including
gloves are a must if attempting the walk,
which crosses part of the glacier.
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The automated Gletschershuttle (leftarriving the circular
Gipfelstation on 02 July 2004. The Gletschershuttle
is 212 metres long, and can carry 30 walkers or skiers.
The journey time to the restaurant,
just visible, is around 1 minute.
Seen from a cabin on the Gipfelbahn on
2 July 2004 is the automated Gletschershuttle.
The single cabin is passing part of the
Schmiedingerkees glacier, and conveys
visitors between the top of two ski drag-lifts,
the Magnetköpflifte, and the restaurant, panorama
terrace, and top of the
Gipfelbahn, at an altitude of 3029 metres.
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text Stephen Ford
Source : http://www.kitzsteinhorn.at/english/default.htm
http://www.funimag.com/index.htm
tourist information from Tourist Office, Zell am See
Updated 20th August 2004
Design and © 20th August 2004 R Ferguson yewtreefm@aol.com
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