Giessbach Funicular

This unique little train with its two wagons dates all the way back to that golden era at the turn of the previous century. At that time of change, of glitter, sparkle an of the awakening of pioneering achievements. This was when the Hauser brothers were given planning permission to improve the steep footpath which climbed up from the landing pier on the lakeside up to the Giessbach hotel, 100 meters above.

In many respects the opening of the Giessbach funicular in July 1879 caused a stir which led to the sustained development of funicular railway construction, not only because this was the first cable-driven funicular for tourists, but also because this was the first railway line which operated on a hydraulic system, and featured the ingenious «Abt» points developed by Roman Abt, the funicular pioneer, which enabled a railway connection to be built using only one railway line.

At the time, the discovery of this ingenious system for two cable-hauled railway wagons operating in a shuttle configuration was considered as revolutionary – and today it still finds applications. In Switzerland, before the turn of the last century, 15 other water-powered cable-hauled railways were built on the Giessbach model, and in the years to come suspension cable cars were developed, once again recalling those good old cable-hauled railways whose advantages today continue to be recognised, as can be witnessed in modern tourist developments where they are once again in vogue.

The Giessbach funicular was built at the Niklaus Riggenbach machine works in Aarau, and was later refurbished by the Bell Company based in Kriens. The line was electrified in 1948. Today it belongs to the «Giessbach to the Swiss People Foundation», created in 1983 by Swiss ecologist Franz Weber.

Further information is available in our Giessbach funicular brochure.