Jump to content

Fürigenbahn

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fürigenbahn
Fürigen with hotel, the funicular, the bay (1948)
Overview
Other name(s)Drahtseilbahn von der Harissenbucht bei Stansstad nach Fürigen
Statusceased operation
OwnerFürigen Hotel AG
LocaleStansstad, Nidwalden, Switzerland
Termini
  • Harissenbucht
  • Fürigen
Stations2
Websitehotel-fuerigen.ch (archived)
Service
TypeFunicular
Route number1552
Rolling stock2 for 14 passengers each
History
Openedspring 1924
Concession1927 (for 80 years)
Closure hotel2010
Closed31 October 2005
(18 years ago)
 (2005-10-31)
Technical
Line length380 m (1,250 ft)
Number of tracks1 with passing loop
Track gauge800 mm (2 ft 7+12 in)
Electrificationfrom opening
Highest elevation639 m (2,096 ft)
Maximum incline73%
Route map

elev
in m
Harissenbucht
(Stansstad)
 
437
Fürigen 
639

Fürigenbahn was a funicular railway above Lake Lucerne at Stansstad, Nidwalden, Switzerland. The line led from the resort in Harissenbucht, a bay of Lake Lucerne, at 437 m to the Hotel Fürigen at 639 m. The track had a length of 375 m with a difference of elevation of 202 m and a maximum incline of 73%.[1][2] The hotel built it for clients' use in spring 1924,[1][2] but opened it to the public in 1927, after the Swiss Federal Assembly granted a license for 80 years. The funicular ceased operations in October 2005, the license expired in March 2007, and the hotel closed in 2010.

History

[edit]

In 1910 a new resort hotel was opened at Stansstad and a funicular was built between the hotel and the sea for the hotel guests. This connection made the distance between the small public bath with bath and boat house more manageable for the hotel guests. The funicular opened in 1924 and was made available for public transport three years later. The construction of a road to the hotel began years of profit-losses for the operations. Paul Odermatt (1879-1970) forfeited the license in 1927. Following his death the hotel and the funicular were sold to the newly founded Fürigen Hotel AG. The last time the funicular operated was on October 31st, 2005.

Future

[edit]

An association founded in 2020, Interessengemeinschaft Erhalt Fürigen Bahn (IG-EFB) seeks to enable the line to be opperational for the 100th anniversary in 2024.[3]

Further reading

[edit]
  • Peter, H.H. (1925), "Elektr. Kleinseilbahn Harissenbucht-Fürigen", Schweizerische Bauzeitung (in German), 85/86: 45–49
  • Bernheim, R.C. (3 September 1994), "Recollections of the Fürigen Bahn", Swiss express: the Swiss Railways Society journal, 4 (3): 7
  • "61.018 Harissenbucht (Stansstad) – Fürigen", Schweizer Seilbahninventar (in German), Bundesamt für Kultur

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Botschaft des Bundesrates an die Bundesversammlung über die Erteilung einer Konzession für eine elektrische Drahtseilbahn von der Harissenbucht bei Stansstad nach Fürigen. (Vom 3. Dezember 1926.)", Bundesblatt (in German), 1926/2 (49): 777–783, 8 December 1926
  2. ^ a b "Message du Conseil fédéral à l'Assemblée fédérale concernant la concession d'un chemin de fer funiculaire électrique de la baie de Harissen près de Stansstad à Fürigen. (Du 3 décembre 1926.)", Feuille fédérale (in French), 1926/2 (49): 813–820, 8 December 1926
  3. ^ Interessengemeinschaft Erhalt Fürigen Bahn (IG-EFB) (in German)