Tyrolean Zugspitze Cable Car

The Zugspitzebahn was the first wire ropeway to open the summit of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain on the border of Austria. Designed and built by Adolf Bleichert & Co. of Leipzig, Germany, the system was a record-holder for highest altitude. Opening in 1926, the Zugspitzebahn connected the Austrian town of Ehrwald (1225 metres above sea level) with the top station at 2,950 metres above sea level next to the summit of Zugspitze.

Tyrolean Zugspitze Cable Car
Tiroler Zugspitzbahn
Location:Ehrwald-Zugspitze,  Tyrol  Austria
Mountainrange:Wetterstein, Alps
Track length:3600 m
Elevation:1725 m
1225 m2950 m
Trip
Duration:10 Minutes
Velocity:36 km/h
Background
Owner:Zillertaler Gletscherbahn
Opening:July 1926 (Renovation July 1991)
Contact:zugspitzbahn.at
View from Ehrwald to the top station
Tyrolean Zugspitze Wire Ropeway 90th Anniversary - Jubilee Medal
Share of the Zugspitzbahn AG, issued 5. December 1925
Tyrolean Zugspitze Cable Car near pylon 2
Cabin viewed from the top station
Old and new mountain station on the Zugspitze

Peter von Bleichert wrote a book on "Bleichert's Wire Ropeways" that contains information on the design, construction, and operation of the original Zugspitzebahn.[1]

The modern Tyrolean Zugspitze Cable Car has a top station opposite the one of the German Eibsee Cable Car system. It has a length of 3600 metres and an elevation gain of 1725 metres. The Tyrolean Zugspitze Cable Car runs over three aerial lift pylons. The double track ropes have a diameter of 62 mm each, and the hauling rope has a diameter of 38 mm. It runs on 2 x 500 kilowatts of power, generated in the valley station. The journey normally takes less than 10 minutes at a speed of 36 km/h. The tramway's two cabins can accommodate 100 persons each and have a transport capacity of 730 persons per hour each way.

There is a cable lift from Ehrwald to the base of Zugspitze in Austria where the resort Ehrwald Alm houses skiers, and a ski run down to Ehrwald starts. The resort has a dramatic view of the face of Zugspitze.

In 2016 the Tyrolean Zugspitze Wire Ropeway is celebrating its 90th anniversary, after it was inaugurated on 5 July 1926 as the first so called Austrian Zugspitze Wire Ropeway, which was built by the German company Adolf Bleichert & Co. from Leipzig. Many special events accompany this jubilee year, including a special exhibition in the mountain museum at the summit station, where the history of this magnificent and technologically outstanding passenger ropeway, as well as its changes and modernization in recent decades are represented.

Literature
  • Wunder der Technik – Tiroler Zugspitzbahn. Die Geschichte der ersten Seilbahn Tirols. Herausgegeben von der Zillertaler Gletscherbahn GmbH&Co KG, Innsbruck 2006
  • Peter von Bleichert: Bleichert's Wire Ropeways. Chapter: Zugspitze, Austria/Germany. Kindle Digital Press, 2013
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References
  1. Peter von Bleichert "Bleichert's Wire Ropeways"

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