Mendel Funicular

The Mendel Funicular, (German: Mendelbahn, Italian: Funicolare della Mendola [funikoˈlaːre della ˈmendola]) is a funicular railway in Italy. It connects the Überetsch plateau with the Mendel Pass.

Track

In the twelve minutes of the journey trains rise 854 metres (2,802 ft). The whole track is located in a rocky region sometimes covered by a forest, and this needs many bridges and tunnels.

History

The funicular was planned by Emil Strub as part of a link to connect Bolzano with the Mendel Pass, by linking to the St. Anton terminus of the Überetsch Railway. In 1903 Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria opened the line itself after nearly one year of construction. The line was at the time one of the lengthiest funiculars in Europe. Until 1934 tourists could use the funicular and some other railways to make a journey around the Mendel.

Today

Today the line is still working, and often used by tourists to reach the Mendel Pass. In 2004 there was an accident on the funicular, in which a driver lost his life.

• 
  Arriving at Mendel Pass
• 
  On the line
• 
  View from behind the driver
• 
  At the Mendel Pass

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Funicolare della Mendola.

• List of funicular railways

Further reading

• Dultinger, Josef (1982). Vergessene Vergangenheit. Rum: Verlag Dr. Rudolf Erhard. 
• Dultinger, Josef (1982). Auf schmaler Spur durch Südtirol. Rum: Verlag Dr. Rudolf Erhard. 

Railway, Funicular and Rack railway around the Dolomites
Railways	Innsbruck-Verona Bolzano-Mals Toblach-Calalzo Auer-Predazzo Klausen-Plan de Gralba Lana-Meran Franzensfeste-Innichen Rittnerbahn Bolzano Tramway Meran Tramway Bruneck-Taufers Bolzano-Kaltern
Funiculars and Rack railways	Mendel Funicular Laas funicular Virgil funicular Schneeberg funicular Gardena Ronda Express Guncina funicular Bolzano-Maria Himmelfahrt

Coordinates: 46°24′45″N 11°13′10″E / 46.4125°N 11.2194°E / 46.4125; 11.2194