Schiefe Ebene
| Schiefe Ebene | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Steam special on the Schiefe Ebene (2010) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line number | 5100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Route number | 512, 820, 850 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating speed | 120 km/h (75 mph) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum incline | 2.5% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Schiefe Ebene (German pronunciation: [ˈʃiːfə ˈʔeːbənə] ⓘ; literally 'inclined plane') is a steep incline on Bamberg–Hof section of the Ludwig South-North Railway in the region of Upper Franconia, in Bavaria, Germany.
Location and construction
The Schiefe Ebene is located in the
Operation
In the era of steam, the ramp proved a real challenge for locomotives and crews. The majority of trains had to be reinforced by heavy
In the early 1970s, the route was one of the last stamping grounds of the
At the foot of the ramp in the former locomotive depot at Neuenmarkt-Wirsberg station – located in Neuenmarkt – is the German Steam Locomotive Museum (Deutsches Dampflokomotiv-Museum) or DDM. In the upper station, in the former waiting room of Marktschorgast station, there is a small museum and information centre on the history of the Schiefe Ebene. Entrance is free.
Marktschorgast station is also the start of a railway history trail that runs along the Schiefe Ebene and recounts the history of the line on display boards. The walk ends at Neuenmarkt-Wirsberg station. The trail should be walked with stout footwear and can be completed in a few hours (length 7–8 km, hilly terrain). On the road side of Marktschorgast station is an overview board of the trail; the first display board is on the road side of the former goods shed, about 20 m northeast (in the direction of Hof) next to the railway yard.
Accident in 1944
On 27 December 1944 a serious accident occurred when a military train derailed in Neuenmarkt station, after its brakes had been unable to reduce the speed of the train sufficiently coming down the Schiefe Ebene. The exact cause is unknown. The train was hauled by the locomotive 58 2813. The fireman, the engine driver and a non-commissioned officer died in the accident and an unknown number of people were injured.[1]
Literature
- Steffen Lüdecke: Die Schiefe Ebene. Eine legendäre Eisenbahnstrecke. EK-Verlag. Freiburg im Breisgau 1993 ISBN 3-88255-833-4
See also
- History of rail transport in Germany
- Royal Bavarian State Railways
- German Steam Locomotive Museum
- Other famous south-German ramps: the Geislinger Steige and the Spessart Ramp
References
- ^ Jürgen Goller, Wolfram Alteneder: Eisenbahnknotenpunkt Neuenmarkt-Wirsberg. Schiefe Ebene, Anschlußbahnen, Bahnbetriebswerk. Deutsches Dampflokomotiv-Museum, Neumarkt 1982.
External links
