[Germany/Wuppertal] Last B72 car on its last run

[Motorman]

Good morning.
On May 26th, the last B72 car of the famous suspension railway ("Schwebebahn") made its last run.
https://youtu.be/EhcsROoSv-M" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Most of the B72 will be conserved as static exhibits on various locations all over the country,
like these examples: https://www.drehscheibe-online.de/foren ... 56,8843156" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The new cars are already in service, but due to unforseen circumstances (a complete reconstruction of the third -or second- rail fixatures had to be made)
the full service with the new cars won't resume these days, it will take some more weeks.

[ExCon90]

Thanks very much for posting that. I remember when those cars were new; it's hard to get used to the idea that they're now museum pieces. I believe some of the original cars were preserved--are they still operated on special occasions?

[Motorman]

As far as I know, one or two of the B72 are to be kept in operating condition.
It's just a question of space, as these cars need to be kept "hanging" on the system and cannot be stored easy in other places.
The carbody construction isn't capable to carry the weight of the bogies when stored "on the ground", so the bogies have to be
disconnected from the carbody at first. So keeping the cars hanging, as in the link above, is the best (although most expensive) way. And it makes the cars
much lesser vulnerable for vandals.

To the admin: How can I upload some pictures? I tried to use an upload-link, but it doesn't work.
https://up.picr.de/35870799lw.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[David Benton]

Hi Motorman.
I don't think it is possible to upload pictures to Railroad.Net. All you can do is provide links, sorry.

Is this the sole hanging system in existence , or did they build more?

[Motorman]

Hi David,
it is the only system built "that" way, with cars hanging on one single rail where they can swing in curves. It is named after it's inventor, Eugen Langen, "System Langen".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuppertal ... on_Railway" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Some pictures (from 2013) follow:

https://up.picr.de/35873766im.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Car 14, departing at Vohwinkel terminal. https://www.google.de/maps/@51.2303982, ... a=!3m1!1e3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://up.picr.de/35874094ca.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Vohwinkel terminal, with a view into the main workshop.

https://up.picr.de/35874102ky.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Cars 24 and 16 embracing their grandfather, the "Kaiserwagen".

The Vohwinkel workshops can be reached via a special construction, so-called "turnout-carriages". I'll show this later again in detail on the other end of the journey.
Here you see it moving:
https://youtu.be/zQcWvMPcTxU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://youtu.be/4lXvSCHbtvo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://up.picr.de/35874318hn.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
On the bottom, left, there is the only and last remaining meter-gauge tramwaytrack in Vohwinkel.

https://up.picr.de/35873771rs.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Car 13, over the streets of Sonnborn. Note the warning-sign on the right. Yes, here are some dangerous conditions you won't expect anywhere else.

https://up.picr.de/35873800qs.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Car 12 underway in Sonnborn. Yes, there is a certain amount of noise coming from the structure, but with the complete rebuilding of the system over the last years
it is much lesser than before. The new cushioning of the rails did a good work, but it is still far away from "silent flying".

https://up.picr.de/35873809bk.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Here is the place where the "street trackage" is left for the "river cruise".
Nearby, there was a turntable (Yes!), for short runs to the stadium. https://www.google.de/maps/@51.2396069, ... a=!3m1!1e3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Due to high maintenance costs and the decline of the local soccer club, there was no need for the turntable anymore, so it was dismantled with the rebuilding of the system. https://youtu.be/Ok2WSp48EKQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://up.picr.de/35873842ud.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The famous Sonnborn Railway Viaduct, with two Schwebebahn trains passing.
In years long ago, you could get (almost) all local means of transport on one picture, tramway, bus, railway and Schwebebahn.
https://philaseiten.wavecdn.net/up/2017 ... 0c2_h.jpeg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://up.picr.de/35873874zd.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://up.picr.de/35873876te.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Cars 14 and 28 in "full swing".

Some technical details will follow:
https://up.picr.de/35873901yw.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://up.picr.de/35873903cq.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The "second rail pickup shoe". (No third rail here...)

https://up.picr.de/35873929me.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://up.picr.de/35873930ni.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Details of the bogie. Note the noise-absorbers inside the wheel. The cylindrical object on the right is the spring operated parking brake.

https://up.picr.de/35873957sx.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The temperature extension rail joint. The whole structure has some of these joints on several spots on the line.

As the Elberfeld Station was completely in rebuilding in 2013, I took the chance to get some views that would later be impossible:

https://up.picr.de/35873976ad.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The regular loop is in front of the carbarn. The carbarn itself can be reached via a so-called "turnout-carriage", a piece of rail that can be moved sideways to make either a curved (for the regular loop) or a straight (to the carbarn) connection.

https://up.picr.de/35873989om.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://up.picr.de/35873999ee.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The same, of course, on the opposite side, the exit of the carbarn.

Inside the carbarn, there are also "turnout carriages". When I took the pictures in 2013, the carriages weren't fitted yet, but the staging "tracks" (or rails?) can be seen in position.
https://up.picr.de/35874026iy.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://up.picr.de/35874030vv.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://up.picr.de/35874033la.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thankyou for watching.

[Benny]

In Dresden there is the little known "Bergschwebebahn" that, seemed me, use the same system.
https://youtu.be/-uBeyAs-NM0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ciao

[Motorman]

In Dresden there is the little known "Bergschwebebahn" that, seemed me, use the same system.
https://youtu.be/-uBeyAs-NM0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ciao

That's right,
a real strange adaption of the "Langen-System". In these days, nothing was impossible.