City with a Steampunk Spirit
December 11th, 2008 FunForever
The city I’m talking about is Wuppertal in western Germany. It’s home to Schwebebahn or suspended monorail which was opened in 1901. Its full name is the “Eugen Langen Monorail Suspension Railway” (Einschienige Hängebahn System Eugen Langen). Of course the city doesn’t have a steampunk look now. However, the old pictures of the town tell us a different story.
Here are some numbers and details about the monorail.
The route is 13.3 kilometers (about 8 miles) long, about 12 meters (36 feet) above the surface of the river Wupper between Oberbarmen and Sonnborner Strasse and 8 meters (24 feet) above the streets.
The train consist of 2 cars like trams in Eastern Europe. The cars are 24 meters long and have 4 doors. One carriage can seat 48 and stand approximately 130 passengers. The top speed of the monorail train is 60 km/h (40 mph).
The last 2 photos are of modern Wuppertal.
23 Comments Add your own
1. eric | January 4th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Why is there an elephant in photo #6, being pushed off the car?
Just wondering.
2. luisec | January 4th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Very very pretty but ummmmmm what is up with picture 6….. is that an elephant falling?
3. Stew | January 5th, 2009 at 12:15 am
That’s an elephant being pushed out of the carriage in pic #6, right?
4. I_Spy | January 5th, 2009 at 2:23 am
So uh… What’s with the elephant?
5. Anal_Avenger | January 5th, 2009 at 4:22 am
I fail to see where the ‘Steam’ part comes in, Punk.
6. NearWuppertal | January 5th, 2009 at 5:14 am
FYI:
The elephant incident happened on 07/21/1950.
Elephant Tuffi rode the Schwebebahn to promote a performance of the Circus Althoff.
After a short ride Tuffi broke through the side panels and landed in the River Wupper below.
No serious injury, only a scratch on his buttocks.
Source: Website of the City of Wuppertal (www.wuppertal.de)
7. anon | January 5th, 2009 at 6:46 am
You should upload the picture of the elephant jumping to wikipedia to be part of the entry on the elephant who jumped — her name was Tuffi.
Having a picture of the jump that made her famous in her article would fantastic!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuffi
8. Jason Wilder | January 5th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Wow, I think you may well be onto something here!
www.web-privacy.pro.tc
9. jody | January 5th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Why is there an elephant hanging off the car in the 6th photo?
10. JAX | January 5th, 2009 at 8:48 am
What is that elephant doing in the sixth image?
11. Roy | January 5th, 2009 at 9:03 am
What’s with the elephant in pic 6? Am I seeing things?
12. Adrian L | January 5th, 2009 at 9:33 am
That’s pretty cool, but what’s with picture #6? Is that an elephant?!?
13. ERock | January 5th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Amazing construction, but why the diving elephant in the 6th photo???
14. Zack | January 5th, 2009 at 10:21 am
Ok, so what is with the elephant jumping out of the train over the water?
15. Jack | January 5th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Germans rock!
16. dubaidan | January 5th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Is there an elephant falling out the carriage in picture 6?
17. dubaidan | January 5th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Is there an elephant falling out the carriage in picture 6?
18. Valek | January 6th, 2009 at 2:20 am
What the Hell? Is that an ELEPHANT jumping/falling out of the cart in pic #6?! Someone pls explain.
19. Bert | January 7th, 2009 at 1:26 am
Please just have a look three rows above
–> YES, it is an elephant…
20. Guy who can't read the older comments for the answer | January 16th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Why is there an elephant?
21. Chris | January 20th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Remember when this used to be a cool, regularly updated blog?
22. seer | January 24th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
whats up with blog?
23. Jose Carlos | January 25th, 2009 at 4:46 am
So uh… What’s with the elephant?
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