The difference between pendulum cable cars and circular cable cars
There are many different types of cable cars, cable cars with 1 cable, with 2 cables or with 3 cables. Cable cars that only go back and forth and cable cars that go around and around. There are also variants with cabins in groups and there are trains that are pulled up the mountain by means of a cable. At Bergundbahn you will find a complete overview of the different types of cable cars.
Inclined lift
Inclined lift, German: Schrägaufzug – The inclined lift is officially an elevator but looks a lot like the funicular. The big difference is that there is only 1 train, or elevator, on the track.
Example: Schrägaufzug Bergisel in Innsbruck
Cable cars
pendulum cable car
Pendulum cable cars , German: Pendelseilbahn: Cable car with usually 2 cables and 2 cabins. The cabins of the pendulum cable car goes back and forth from top to bottom. This often concerns cabins where many people can sit at the same time. There are variants where only 1 gondola goes back and forth.
Group pendulum cable car, German: Gruppenpeldelbahn; In a group pendulum cable car, several cabins are connected to each other. This group of cabins goes entirely up and down.
Seilkletterbahn: the Seilkletterbahn is a cable car that can go up and down independently. The cable car's engine sits on top of the cabin.
Circular cable car
Circular cable cars, German:Umlaufseilbahn: The circular cable car has 1 cable that goes all the way around. Several smaller cabins are usually attached to the cable of a circular cable car. The circular cable car is also called a gondola lift.
Circular cable car with fixed grips: the cabins or seats are attached to the carrying cable, so they cannot be disconnected at the stations. The speed of these circular cable cars must therefore be adjusted if people want to get on or off.
Variants: chair lifts, basket lifts, drag lifts, group circuit cable cars
Circular cable car with detachable grips: the cabins or seats are removed from the carrying cable at the stations, so that the general speed can be much higher. The cabin enters the station at an adjusted speed, making it easy to get in and out.
Variants: chairlifts, telemix, funitel, 2s cable cars, 3s cable cars
Group circular cable car, German: Gruppenumlaufbahn: In a group circular cable car, several cabins are connected to each other.
Telemix: a combination of seats and cabins on the same cable. This variant is often used in winter sports areas. Inexperienced skiers and/or children can use a cabin and more experienced skiers can use a chair.
Funitel: Cabins that are attached to 1 carrying cable consisting of two parallel cables. This means that the cabin is less affected by the wind. See for example the Galzigbahn in st.Anton.
2s cable car: Cable car with 2 cables where the cabin hangs from 1 cable and the other cable is used as a pulling cable. In some cases the pulling cable is also a carrying cable.
3s cable car, German: Dreiseilumlaufbahn; A cable car with three cables, 2 carrying cables and 1 pulling cable. The advantage of a 3S cable car is that the cabin is more stable.
Chairlift, German: Sesselbahn; A chairlift is a type of cable car where there are no gondolas or cabins on the cable, but chairs.
Drag lift, German: Schlepplift: a drag lift is used to pull skiers up the mountain. The skier stands with the skis on the ground, has to hold on to a bar, and is thus dragged up the mountain.
Funicular
Funicular, German: Standseilbahn; A train / wagon that is pulled up a steep slope by a cable over a track. Nowadays a funicular usually has 1 track. In the middle of the route, where the trains have to pass each other, there is double track. The funiculars are usually attached to the cable and cannot be disconnected.
1-track variant: Hungerburgbahn Innsbruck.
Variant with 2 tracks: Funicular Sikló Budapest
Funicular with detachable grips: on a funicular with detachable grips, the train can connect and disconnect from the cable.
Variant: San Francisco funicular.
All in all, there are many different types of cable cars and thanks to technological developments, more and more modern types are being added.
