Harderbahn

File:Harderbahn.jpg passing the alpine wildlife park (2007)]]

In 1890 Dr. Fritz Michel gained a concession to build an "electrical cable railway" on the Harder, to the north of the city of Interlaken, however financial backing for such a project was difficult to obtain and it was not until November 1905 that construction started and was to last for three years. In order not to disfigure the landscape the track was laid in a quadrant rather than a straight line, the usual format for such railways.

With the aid of Lausanne banker Ernest Chavannes and engineers Gaston Boiceau and Henri Muret the funicular opened on 15 May 1908.{{cite web |author= |title=Eröffnung der Harderbahn |work=Der Bund |volume=59 |number=228 |date=15 May 1908 |url=https://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d=DBB19080515-01.2.12 |page=3 |language=de }} It has a length of {{convert|1435|m}} and climbs {{convert|734|m}} from the lower station (Interlaken Harderbahn), situated near to Interlaken Ost train station (a five-minute walk), to the upper station (Harder Kulm) near the viewpoint.{{cite book | last=Lambert | first=Anthony J. | title=Switzerland : rail, road, lake | publisher=Bradt Travel Guides | publication-place=Chalfont St. Peter | date=2005 | isbn=1-84162-132-3 | oclc=63168964 | page=163}} The journey takes ten minutes. A tourist attraction, an alpine wildlife park was opened in 1913 above the base station.{{cite book |last1=Bodmer-Jenny |first1=Margrit |last2=Gallati |first2=Rudolf |title=Gruss aus Interlaken: From Interlaken with love |url=https://archive.org/details/grussausinterlak0000unse |url-access=registration |year=1986 |oclc=1330341703 |publisher=Ott |location=Thun |isbn=9783722568966 |language=de, en }}

Modernisation of the funicular took place during the 1960s with a new engine and cable being installed in 1961,{{cite news |author= |title=Harderbahn wird modernisiert |newspaper=Oberländer Tagblatt |edition=85 |number=13 |date=17 January 1961 |url=https://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d=OTB19610117-01.2.35 |page=10 |language=de }} and new carriages coming to the line to commence operation on 14 May 1966. Until 1990 this had always been a summer only operation, but instead of closing at the end of September, the funicular continued through the winter. The funicular operates only a summer timetable, usually from mid-April to late October.{{cite web |title=Operating information:Harderbahn |url=https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/live/operating-info/ |website=Jungfrau top of Europe |access-date=18 October 2022 }}

In 1997 the wire rope was replaced.

In 2008 the two passenger carriages were replaced.

The line, with a gauge of {{RailGauge|1000mm|allk=on}}, is single track with a single passing point and is operated by two coaches. Power supply is by a 400 V three-phase system and the line uses the Stromsystem Drehstrom which controls the passing of the cars safely.

File:Harderbahn.JPG (May 2007): No.1, the vehicle shown was that damaged in the incident of 9.8.2007.]]

Two new passenger cars, numbered 1 and 2, were delivered in 1966. these were constructed by specialist builders Carrossiere Gangloff AG of Bern with under frames, brakes etc., by the von Roll company. Each carry 62 passengers in four compartments. After over 40 years service it was decided that these would be in need of replacement prior to the centenary of the railway in 2008 and the order was placed. The need became essential following the damage to one of the cars from a mudslide caused by extreme weather on the night of 8-9 August 2007.{{cite web |title=Funimag photoblog |url=https://www.funimag.com/photoblog/index.php/tag/harderbahn/ |website=Funimag photoblog: the web magazine about Funiculars |access-date=18 October 2022}}

The new "centenery" coaches, in the line's usual red livery, were delivered on 13 March 2008. These were lifted onto the line from the alpine wildlife park in readiness for the commencement of the season. The new coaches were built by Gongloff Cabins AG of Bern and hold 65 persons in three sections. The doors are power operated and the downhill-facing section has an area of staged seating which is accessed through the compartment above, where the driver controls are located. The vehicles, numbered as with the previous set, now also carry names and crests; No.1 is named Interlaken, No.2 Unterseen. They have glass roof panels which allow uninterrupted views of the mountains and the valley below.{{cite web |title=Railways crossing all the mountains |url=https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/jungfraujoch-top-of-europe/typology-of-the-mountain-railways/ |website=Jungfrau top of Europe |access-date=18 October 2022}}

• List of funicular railways
• List of funiculars in Switzerland

{{Citation| title= 2361: Interlaken - Harder | work= Fahrplanfelder.ch, Tableaux-horaires.ch | url= https://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/fileadmin/fap_pdf_fields/2022/2361.pdf | year= 2022 | language=de | id= {{Fahrplan-CH|2361}} }}

{{Citation |title=Botschaft des Bundesrates an die Bundesversammlung, betreffend Konzession einer Drahtseilbahn von Interlaken auf den Harder. (Vom 8. Oktober 1890.) |author=((Swiss Federal Council)) |journal= Bundesblatt |volume=1890/4 |issue= |pages=514–521 |df=dmy|date= |language=de }}

{{Citation |title=Botschaft des Bundesrates an die Bundesversammlung, betreffend Abänderung der Konzession einer Drahtseilbahn von Interlaken auf den Harder. (Vom 26. März 1891.) |author=((Swiss Federal Council)) |journal= Bundesblatt |volume=1891/1 |issue= |pages=745–747 |df=dmy|date= |language=de }}

{{Citation |title=Botschaft des Bundesrates an die Bundesversammlung betreffend Übertragung und Änderung der Konzession einer Drahtseilbahn von Interlaken auf den Harder. (Vom 20. Juni 1905.) |author=((Swiss Federal Council)) |journal= Bundesblatt |volume=1905/4 |issue= |pages=473–476 |df=dmy|date= |language=de }}

{{Citation |title=Botschaft des Bundesrates an die Bundesversammlung betreffend Erteilung einer neuen Konzession für die Drahtseilbahn von Interlaken auf den Harder. (Vom 10. Dezember 1906.) |author=((Swiss Federal Council)) |journal= Bundesblatt |volume=1906/6 |issue= |pages=170–178 |df=dmy|date= |language=de }}

{{Citation |title=Botschaft des Bundesrates an die Bundesversammlung über die Erteilung einer neuen Konzession für die Standseilbahn Interlaken-Harder (Vom 21. Mai 1969) |author=((Swiss Federal Council)) |journal= Bundesblatt |volume=1969/1 |issue= |pages=1215–1224 |df=dmy|date=1969-06-20 |url=https://www.amtsdruckschriften.bar.admin.ch/viewOrigDoc/10044367.pdf |language=de |id={{BAR-ADS|10044367}} }}

{{Citation |title=Message du conseil fédéral à l'assemblée fédérale concernant la concession d'un chemin de fer funiculaire d'Interlaken au sommet du Harder. (Du 8 octobre 1890.) |author=((Swiss Federal Council)) |journal= Feuille Fédérale |volume=1890/4 |issue=43 |pages=539–546 |df=dmy|date=1890-10-18|url=https://www.amtsdruckschriften.bar.admin.ch/viewOrigDoc/10069955.pdf |language=fr |id={{BAR-ADS|10069955}} }}

{{Citation |title=Message du conseil fédéral à l'assemblée fédérale relatif à une modification de la concession d'un chemin de fer funiculaire d'Interlaken au sommet du Harder. (Du 26 mars 1891.) |author=((Swiss Federal Council)) |journal= Feuille Fédérale |volume=1891/1 |issue=14 |pages=627–629 |df=dmy|date=1891-04-08 |url=https://www.amtsdruckschriften.bar.admin.ch/viewOrigDoc/10070142.pdf |language=fr |id={{BAR-ADS|10070142}} }}

{{Citation |title=Message du Conseil fédéral aux Chambres fédérales concernant un arrêté fédéral ayant pour objet de transférer et de modifier la concession d'un chemin de fer funiculaire d'Interlaken au Harder. (Du 20 juin 1905) |author=((Swiss Federal Council)) |journal= Feuille Fédérale |volume=1905/4 |issue=27 |pages=406–409 |df=dmy|date=2006 |url=https://www.amtsdruckschriften.bar.admin.ch/viewOrigDoc/10076399.pdf |language=fr |id={{BAR-ADS|10076399}} }}

{{Citation |title=Message du Conseil fédéral à l'Assemblée fédérale concernant l'octroi d'une nouvelle concession pour le chemin de fer funiculaire d'Interlaken au sommet du Harder. (Du 10 décembre 1906.) |author=((Swiss Federal Council)) |journal= Feuille Fédérale |volume=1906/6 |issue=51 |pages=418–426 |df=dmy|date=1906-12-19 |url=https://www.amtsdruckschriften.bar.admin.ch/viewOrigDoc/10077110.pdf |language=fr |id={{BAR-ADS|10077110}} }}

{{Citation |title=Message du Conseil fédéral à l'Assemblée fédérale concernant l'octroi d'une nouvelle concession au chemin de fer funiculaire d'Interlaken au sommet du Harder (Du 21 mai 1969) |author=((Swiss Federal Council)) |journal= Feuille Fédérale |volume=1969/1 |issue=24 |pages=1232–1241 |df=dmy|date=1969-06-20 |url=https://www.amtsdruckschriften.bar.admin.ch/viewOrigDoc/10099172.pdf |language=fr |id={{BAR-ADS|10099172}} }}

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• [http://www.jungfrau.ch/index.php?id=1296&tx_userjungfrautimetable_pi1%5Bfrom%5D=Interlaken+Harderbahn&tx_userjungfrautimetable_pi1%5Bto%5D=Harder+Kulm&tx_userjungfrautimetable_pi1%5Bsubmit%5D=Verbindungen+suche&L=2 Timetable of Harderbahn by Jungfrau.ch]
• [http://www.funimag.com/suisse/Harder01.htm Funimag]

{{Mountain railways of the Bernese Alps}}

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Category:Funicular railways in Switzerland

Category:Bernese Oberland

Category:Transport in Interlaken

Category:Metre-gauge railways in Switzerland

Category:Railway lines opened in 1908

Category:1908 establishments in Switzerland