Ritom funicular
{{Short description|Funicular railway in the north of the canton of Ticino, Switzerland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width =
| name = Ritom funicular
| other_name = Funicolare del Ritom
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = La funicolare del Ritom.jpg
| image_width =
| caption = Looking down the Ritom funicular
| type = funicular
| system =
| status = in operation
| locale = Ticino, Switzerland
| start = "Piotta Centrale (funicolare)"
| end = "Piora"
| stations = 3 (including Altanca (funicolare))
| routes =
| open = {{start date and age|1921|7|21|df=y}} (open to public)
| close =
| owner =
| operator =
| character =
| depot =
| stock = 1
| linelength =
| tracklength = {{convert|1369|m}}
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1000mm|lk=on}}
| minradius =
| maxincline = 87.8%
| racksystem =
| electrification = from opening
| speed =
| elevation =
| map =
| map_state =
}}
The Ritom funicular ({{langx|it|Funicolare del Ritom}}) is a funicular railway in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland. It links a lower terminus at Piotta, in the valley of the Ticino River near the southern portal of the Gotthard Tunnel, with an upper terminus at Piora, a {{convert|1|km}} walk from Ritom Lake. There is also an intermediate stop at Altanca.
History
The Ritom Lake is in fact a reservoir, constructed in 1917 in order collect the waters of the Saint-Gotthard Massif for a power station at Piotta, in order to produce electricity for the Gotthard railway. The funicular was originally constructed to facilitate the building of the pipeline carrying this water, which it parallels, but was opened for public use in 1921.{{cite web | url = http://www.ritom.ch/content/storia | title = Storia | language = Italian |trans-title=History | publisher = Region Ritom-Piora | accessdate = 2011-11-01}}
The line was extensively rebuilt in 1977/8, and the original car was replaced by a new one in 1985. The original car, replaced in 1985, is displayed at the lower station.
At its opening, and until the opening of the Gelmerbahn funicular, the Ritom funicular was the steepest funicular in Switzerland.
Operation
The line has the following parameters:
{{row hover highlight}}
| class="wikitable sortable mw-datatable plainrowheaders" |
| Feature
! Value |
|---|
| Number of cars
|1 |
| Number of stops
|3 (Piotta, Altanca, Piora) |
| Configuration |
| Track length
|{{convert|1369|m}} |
| Rise
|{{convert|785|m}} |
| Maximum gradient
|87.8% |
| Track gauge
|{{RailGauge|1000mm|lk=on}} |
| Speed
|{{convert|2.7|m/s}} |
| Journey time
|12 mins |
| Capacity
|50 passengers per car; 100 persons in each direction per hour |
See also
References
{{citation | url = https://www.seilbahninventar.ch/objekt.php?objid=40381&lang=it | title = 61.043 Piotta - Ritom, Quinto, Funiculare | language=it,de,fr | work = Schweizer Seilbahninventar = Inventaire suisse des installations à câbles = Inventario svizzero degli impianti a fune |trans-work=Swiss Inventory of Cableways | publisher = Federal Office of Culture | accessdate = 2010-11-03}}
External links
{{Commons category|Funicolare del Ritom|Ritom funicular}}
- [http://www.ritom.ch/ Web site of the Region Ritom-Piora with information on the funicular and surroundings]
- {{cite web | url = https://www.seilbahninventar.ch/objekt.php?objid=40381&lang=it | title = 61.043 Piotta - Ritom, Quinto, Funiculare | language=it,de | work = Schweizer Seilbahninventar = Inventaire suisse des installations à câbles = Inventario svizzero degli impianti a fune |trans-work=Swiss Inventory of Cableways | publisher = Federal Office of Culture | year=2011 }}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|46.517074|8.67524|region:CH_type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:Funicular railways in Switzerland