What is it?

The funicular is a mode of transport that is sort of a cross between a train and a cable car.

• Attached to a cable that pulls it up/down a sleep slope or mountain
• Different designs - some cars are slanted with several levels inside, sometimes the whole thing is leveled, some have a wedge underneath
• Each is made specifically for the location and slope
• Stops at bottom/top at regular intervals
• Only reverses direction - never turns around
• Always 2 cars - stop at opposite ends of track at the same time, go up/down simultaneously
• Pass each other at a split in the tracks

Left: levels inside the funicular are visible

Right: wedge design

Locations

Funiculars have decreased in popularity over the years due to newer technology and forms of transport, but they are still used as an everyday commute by people in some parts of the world.

• Uncommon in U.S. - found only in select locations like Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Los Angeles, California (mainly for tourism)
• Austria - origin of the concept, 'inclined railways' are common there and in surrounding mountainous countries
• Switzerland - country where funiculars are most common today
• South America - found in countries like Chile with mountainous cities

Relationship to Location

• Connected places that used to be inaccessible to people
• Emerged in the early 1500s - before cable cars, gondolas, and regular trains
• Originally powered by a person or animal

The funicular was created specifically for hilly or mountainous regions. The concept is a lot older than you might think, and it was a revolutionary idea for people living in those types of areas.

'Awesome' Things About the Funicular

1. Wheels don't need traction, are only to direct the train
2. minimizes friction and drag.
3. Two cars - weight of car going up helps descending car maintain a controlled pace, weight of car doing down helps pull the other one up
4. extremely energy efficient - only additional power needed is to overcome weight difference (passengers) and friction
5. made the funicular possible before modern energy methods
6. Much more capable & energy efficient on sloped geography than regular trains

Above: two cars passing each other at the funicular's passing loop.

'Awful' Things About the Funicular

1. Very difficult to build - tracks must be laid all along the side of a steep hill or mountain
2. often difficult to get supplies to these places
3. stations may be very difficult to get to before construction
4. Tracks must be laid the whole way - funiculars can't cross ridges and ascend cliffs like cable cars & gondolas
5. less practical in places with extreme mountain terrain
6. Slope of the track needs to be consistent to keep the car level
7. more difficult construction in certain places
8. decreases versatility

My Ideas for Improvement

Additional idea: The rapid elevation gain on these is caused by pressure changes.

Proposed solution: a system inside the car that regulates pressure or changes it more gradually (or at least free gum!)

I think that the funicular would be a lot more practical if it had more versatility.

Proposed solution: an auto-leveling system that would keep the car level on tracks with a changing slope

• less limitations
• easier construction

Information Sources

Image Sources