Last week I visited the suspension railway at Wuppertal Germany.

Built between 1901 and 1903, it operates over a route of 13.3 kms (8.5 mls). There are 20 stations along the route serviced by 27 two car trains running as close as 3 minute intervals during peak hours. The frequency of stations allows it to be used by the local population to travel the length of this long narrow city, following the river in a wooded valley. 6 miles of the line is suspended above the river Wupper, the rest over the main street. It carries an average of 82,000 passengers per day with high reliability in all weathers.

It is also a tourist attraction, and I rode terminus to terminus and back with my granddaughters. They really enjoyed the birds eye view of the town, and the way the trains swing into the curves and sway under acceleration down the main street. The cost of a 4 person ticket for unlimited travel in the day is just 16 Euro. Hardly surprising it is well used.

Around the same time as the line was built, Marklin made a model in Gauge 1. The first photo shows the box lid.

Here are some pictures I took, as well as the cover of the English language guidebook.

I can recommend a visit: it is in the Rhine/Ruhr region, easily accessible from Dusseldorf and the surrounding area.

There are many good photos on the web. If you google Wuppertal Images, you can view them

This is the Marklin box lid

w2 (800x450)

A train over the main street

w4 (800x450)

A train over the main road junction

w3 (800x450)

One of the terminal stations. The train on the right is just arriving.

w1 (488x800)

The guide book cover showing trains over the river section.