Wuppertal Schwebebahn: Germany’s Hanging Train
Wuppertal Schwebebahn or Wuppertal Floating Tram is a
suspension monorail in Wuppertal, Germany. First opened in 1901, the
Wuppertal Schwebebahn is one of the oldest monorail still in operation
today. What is also interesting is that the Schwebebahn was never copied
as a model for ‘public transit’ anywhere else in the world. This is the
world’s first and the only suspended monorail in the world.
At
the end of the 19th century, Wuppertal was at its peak of
industrialization. The population had reached 400,000 individuals and
growing. Even before industrialization set in, Wuppertal was a
prosperous town, larger than Cologne, and fully built. The roads there
were meant for carriages and pedestrians, and there was no place for
laying tracks for tram without creating serious blockages. Underground
subway construction was also ruled out as the area was very rocky and
contained a lot of groundwater. The German engineers decided that taking
the aerial route was the only way.
Construction
of the Wuppertal Schwebebahn began in 1898 and the first test drive
took place the same year. In 1900 Kaiser Wilhelm II of the German Empire
was one of the first official visitors to go for a ride on the
suspension line. In 1901 transport was opened to the public. The
suspension line quickly became Wuppertal’s most prominent landmark and
after 100 years, it is still the easiest and fastest way to get around
in the city.
The suspension railway travels
along a route of 13.3 kilometers. Most of the track runs above the
Wupper river at a height of 12 meters. The 3 kilometer stretch between
Wohlwinkel and Sonnborner Strasse is called the overland track, which
runs above the streets at a height of about 8 meters. The over the river
route was one of the main reasons why the Schwebebahn survived World
War Two. Suspended above the river the Schwebebahn was able to escape
serious bomb damage.
Wuppertal Schwebebahn operated over 98
years before it recorded its first fatal accident and thus quite
correctly, called the safest public transit system in the world. The
only fatal accident occurred in April 1999 when the train derailed and
crashed down into the river Wupper, killing 5 passengers and leaving 49
injured.
In one bizarre incident, an elephant named Tuffi was
brought aboard the Schwebebahn in 1950 as a marketing stunt for the
Althoff Circus. Apparently Tuffi didn’t enjoy the ride because she soon
began stomping wildly throughout the cabin, eventually crashing through
the side and falling into the river below. Tuffi was injured but
survived. Today, the incident has become a famous tale in the history of
the Schwebebahn. There’s even a painting of Tuffi on a building near
the spot where the elephant jumped between stations Alter Markt und
Adlerbrücke.
The Wuppertal Schwebebahn nowadays carries up to
82,000 passengers a day through the city. Since 1997, the supporting
frame has been largely modernised, and many stations have been
reconstructed and brought technically up to date. The original
Kaiserwagen (Emperor's car), the train used by Emperor Wilhelm II during
a test ride on 24 October 1900, is still operated on scheduled
excursion services, special occasions and for charter events. The
beautifully restored Kaiserwagen offers guests a unique nostalgic
experience with treats like cushioned seats, gold decorative windows,
lamps, and a retro Art Nouveau ornament disc separating the first and
second class compartments. The train attendants even dress in period
costume and offer beverage service to make for a very enjoyable ride.
The
April 1999 accident that resulted in the death of 5 people, the only
such incident in the history of Wuppertaler Schwebebahn.
