View source for Reichenbachfall Funicular

{{Short description|Funicular railway in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox rail line
 | box_width   =
 | name        = Reichenbachfall Funicular
 | color       = CA3525
 | logo        =
 | logo_width  =
 | image       = Reichenbachfall-Bahn 244.jpg
 | image_width = 250px
 | caption     = The lower station
 | type        = [[Funicular]]
 | system      =
 | status      = in operation
 | locale      = [[Bernese Oberland]],<br />[[Canton of Bern]],<br />[[Switzerland]]
 | start       = [[Willigen (Reichenbachfallbahn) bottom station|Willigen (Reichenbachfallbahn)]]
 | end         = [[Reichenbachfall top station|Reichenbachfall]]
 | stations    = 2
 | routes      =
 | daily_ridership = 
 | open        = {{start date and age|1899|9|8|df=y|br=y|p=y}}
 | event1label         = Enhancements
 | event1              = 1999
 | event2label         = 
 | event2              = 
 | event3label         = 
 | event3              = 
 | close       =
 | owner       = [[EWR Energie]]
 | operator    = [[Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG]]
 | character   =
 | depot       =
 | stock       = 2 for 24 passengers each
 | linelength  =
 | tracklength = {{convert|714|m}}
 | tracks      = 1 with [[passing loop]]
 | gauge       = [[Metre gauge|Metre]] ({{track gauge|1000mm|first=imp|disp=1}})
 | minradius   =
 | electrification = from opening
 | maxincline  = 61%
 | racksystem  = 
 | speed       = {{convert|2|m/s|1}}
 | elevation   = {{convert|843|m}}
 | map         = 
 | map_state   = uncollapsed
 | website = 
}}

The '''Reichenbachfall Funicular''' ({{langx|de|Reichenbachfall-Bahn}}; RfB) is a [[funicular]] in the [[Bernese Oberland]] region of the [[canton of Bern]], [[Switzerland]]. It links [[Willigen]], near [[Meiringen]], with the uppermost of the [[Reichenbach Falls]], famous as the site of the apparent death of [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s fictional hero, [[Sherlock Holmes]]. On its route the line follows and crosses the lower falls of the Reichenbach.<ref name=trfeb2007>Richard Green (2007). ''Railways in the Berner Oberland - Part 3''. ''Today's Railways Europe: Issue 134: February 2007''. Platform 5 Publishing Ltd.</ref><ref name=sir/>

The funicular was opened in 1899, and was rebuilt in 1999 to the original design. Between 1912 and 1956, it was linked to Meiringen by the [[Meiringen–Reichenbach–Aareschlucht tramway]]. Today it is owned by the [[EWR Energie]] company, which operates the adjacent [[hydroelectric]] power plant, but is maintained by the neighbouring [[Kraftwerke Oberhasli]] company, which also operates several other lines in the area. It has the following parameters:<ref name=trfeb2007/><ref name=sir/><ref name=gwtl>{{cite web | url = http://www.grimselwelt.ch/grimsel-experience/transport-lifts/ | title = Grimselwelt - Transport Lifts | publisher = KWO | accessdate = 2014-09-17}}</ref><ref name=bzrf>{{cite news | url = http://www.bernerzeitung.ch/region/thun/Kraftwerke-uebernehmen-Betrieb-der-ReichenbachfallBahn/story/17504782 | title = Kraftwerke übernehmen Betrieb der Reichenbachfall-Bahn | work = bernerzeitung.ch | publisher =[[Berner Zeitung]] | date = 2013-01-16 | accessdate = 2014-09-17}}</ref>

{{row hover highlight}}
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-datatable plainrowheaders"
! Feature
! Value
|-
|Number of cars
|2
|-
|Number of stops
|3
|-
|Configuration
|[[Single track (rail)|Single track]] with [[passing loop]]
|-
|Track length
|{{convert|714|m}}
|-
|Rise
|{{convert|242|m}}
|-
|Maximum [[Grade (slope)|gradient]]
|61%
|-
|[[Track gauge]]
||{{RailGauge|1000mm|allk=on}}
|-
|Capacity
|24 passengers per car
|-
|Traction
|Electric
|-
|Speed
|{{convert|2|m/s|1}}
|-
|Journey time
|7.5 mins
|-
|}

The funicular operates only between May and mid-October. During this period it operates every 15 minutes from 09:00 to 17:00. 

The lower station is some 20 minutes walk, or a 6-minute bus ride, from [[Meiringen railway station|Meiringen station]] on the [[Brünig railway line]].<ref name=trfeb2007/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/fileadmin/fap_pdf_fields/2014/2475.pdf | title = Meiringen RfB–Reichenbachfall | publisher = Bundesamt für Verkehr | accessdate = 2014-04-24}}</ref> It is 500 m from the [[Meiringen Alpbach railway station|Alpbach station]]. 

==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed>
File:The bottom station of the Reichenbachfall-Bahn.jpg|Car in lower station
File:110807 Reichenbachfall-Bahn.JPG|At the passing loop
File:Looking down on the Reichenbachfall-Bahn.jpg|Looking down on the upper station
File:Ans 05092-090.jpg|The line's longest bridge, {{circa|1910}}
</gallery>

== References ==
<references responsive>
<ref name=sir>{{citation | url = https://www.seilbahninventar.ch/objekt.php?objid=40367&lang=de | title = 61.036 Reichenbachfallbahn, Meiringen, Standseilbahn | language = it,de,fr | work = [[Schweizer Seilbahninventar]] = Inventaire suisse des installations à câbles = Inventario svizzero degli impianti a fune | publisher = [[Federal Office of Culture]] | year=2011 | accessdate = 2014-04-24}}</ref>
</references>

== External links ==
*{{commonscat-inline|Reichenbachfall-Bahn}}
*[http://www.funimag.com/suisse/reichenbach01.htm Reichenbachfall Bahn page from Funimag]
*[http://www.grimselwelt.ch/grimsel-experience/transport-lifts/reichenbach-funicular/ Reichenbachfall-Bahn page on Grimselwelt web site]

{{coord|46.7195|8.1877|type:railwaystation_region:CH|display=title}}

[[Category:Funicular railways in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Bernese Oberland]]
[[Category:Oberhasli]]
[[Category:Metre-gauge railways in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Transport in the canton of Bern]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1899]]
[[Category:1899 establishments in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Heritage railways in Switzerland]]

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{{Europe-rail-transport-stub}}