So Stoosbahn needed an upgrade. The line had been upgraded on several occasions with improved cars and terminals and, one would assume, better track and safety systems. In the end the Stoosbahn is a typical "funicular" - ("funiculus" Latin for "small rope", utterly inappropriate as the Stoos rope is a very long bit of string indeed!)
The principle is straightforward; you hang two cars on one piece of rope and, as one descends, the other rises. Because they balance, only a small amount of power is needed. As the cars pass at the mid point ...
... you only need one track plus the passing loop.
But after much debate (and much aggro about who foots the bill) it was decided not to upgrade this time but to build a completely new Stoosbahn.
For months and months you might drive out of Schwyz, past the Schattli "Talstation" ...
... and, a little further along the road you would find this:-
Swing your little peepers round to the right and you would espy the scar that would be the track of he new line.
Here is the finished product ...
... nearing the end of the construction phase.
Below is an "animated" GIF of the new line's stats. It may not work on all browsers!
Of course, the engineering is amazing, but you do tend to take that as "normal" in the land of cuckoo clocks** and cheese.
It is the trains themselves which are astounding, stunning and super smashing. Delivered at night by large lorry ...
... and unloaded by a very large crane and some very strong twine ...
... they were plonked on the track.
Those four cabins, plus one for freight, are where the secret lies. Each "can" rotates to keep its floor level. So at the start and finish of the run ...
... the cars are horizontal as is the chassis itself. As the train climbs out of the station and up the hill, that "carriage" slopes but the cabins remain horizontal. The maximum gradient is a tad over 45 degrees, but anticipatory skiers do not have to lead over or even fall in a tangled heap on the floor.
But do be very wary of publicity photos. "Artistic licence" (Artistic Lies-cense??) shows a much steeper slope.
The line opened on December 15th with due ceremony ...
... and with eager passengers.
The service runs every 30 minutes, even on Christmas Day ...
... with some seasonal variation to last journeys. Depite the wonders of the interwebnet, fbb could only find prices for a day's skiing. OUCH! The old man will stick to riding around on trains and buses.
The view from the "rear" cabin (up) or "front" (down) looks absolutely stunning!
Wowsers!
Talking of riding on buses and trains, bus route 1 runs from Schwyz to the Talstation ...
... running cross-town via the railway station which is off the map above to the left.
The disease of the departure list seems to be all-pervasive, but buses from the station are scheduled at 07 and 37 minutes past each hour seven days a week.
Another item for fbb's bucket list - now expanded to a skip list!
**Cuckoo clocks : mostly made in Germany!
... without the Child who grew up to change lives utterly ...
... where is the Hope of Christmas?
But the Magi are on their way and the shepherds will soon be at the cave.
But after much debate (and much aggro about who foots the bill) it was decided not to upgrade this time but to build a completely new Stoosbahn.
For months and months you might drive out of Schwyz, past the Schattli "Talstation" ...
Below is an "animated" GIF of the new line's stats. It may not work on all browsers!
It is the trains themselves which are astounding, stunning and super smashing. Delivered at night by large lorry ...
Those four cabins, plus one for freight, are where the secret lies. Each "can" rotates to keep its floor level. So at the start and finish of the run ...
The view from the "rear" cabin (up) or "front" (down) looks absolutely stunning!
Talking of riding on buses and trains, bus route 1 runs from Schwyz to the Talstation ...
**Cuckoo clocks : mostly made in Germany!
=================
ADVENT CALENDAR - 22
Festina Lente!
Another fbb boob under the influence of the "too much to do disease"! The mega church illustrated above is in South Korea, not China. Correspondent James raps fbb's knuckles - gently!
I fear that your sources may have misled you in putting together a recent post. You have a picture of Yoido Full Gospel Church, suggesting it is in China. However, the language at the top of the building is Korean and it is actually in Seoul, South Korea. Whilst there are a large number of people in South Korea who profess Christianity as their faith I think the 800,000 figure must include those who watch services at home by the church’s satellite broadcasts as it is physically not big enough for them all to go in person. You can read about it here: http://english.fgtv.com/ .
Thanks for the info. South Korea is one of the few "eastern" nations to have Christmas Day as a national holiday. Here are a few "santas".
They are celebrating their graduation from "Santa School" in order to "perform at a theme park over the festive season.
Like China, a mixture of Christmas and Christ Mas.
Is there really and point in celebrating, well, nothing at all? Presents are a good thing, of course, if well meant; having a good family get together at least once a year is a spiffing idea (despite the pressures and the arguments!) BUT ...
Another fbb boob under the influence of the "too much to do disease"! The mega church illustrated above is in South Korea, not China. Correspondent James raps fbb's knuckles - gently!
I fear that your sources may have misled you in putting together a recent post. You have a picture of Yoido Full Gospel Church, suggesting it is in China. However, the language at the top of the building is Korean and it is actually in Seoul, South Korea. Whilst there are a large number of people in South Korea who profess Christianity as their faith I think the 800,000 figure must include those who watch services at home by the church’s satellite broadcasts as it is physically not big enough for them all to go in person. You can read about it here: http://english.fgtv.com/ .
Thanks for the info. South Korea is one of the few "eastern" nations to have Christmas Day as a national holiday. Here are a few "santas".
Born in the night,
Mary's Child,
a long way from your home;
coming in need,
Mary's Child,
born in a borrowed room.
Clear shining light,
Mary's Child,
your face lights up our way;
light of the world,
Mary's Child,
dawn on our darkened day.
Truth of our life,
Mary's Child,
you tell us God is good;
prove it is true,
Mary's Child,
go to your cross of wood.
Hope of the world,
Mary's Child,
you're coming soon to reign;
King of the earth,
Mary's Child,
walk in our streets again
... without the Child who grew up to change lives utterly ...
... where is the Hope of Christmas?
But the Magi are on their way and the shepherds will soon be at the cave.
================
Next Christmas baubles blog : Saturday 24th December
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