Bregenz: Pfänderbahn

 

 

1926 – 1927

Architect: Willibald Braun

Steinbruchgasse 4, Bregenz, Austria

Pfänderbahn

The Pfänderbahn is an aerial tramway located in Bregenz, Austria. Built from July 1926 to February 1927, it was Austria’s third passenger ropeway. It opened in March 1927.

The tramway connects the bottom station, located 419 meters above sea level, with the top station, which is located 1,022 meters above sea level near the Pfänderspitze.

Willibald Braun

The plans for the station buildings were designed by Bregenz architect Willibald Braun.

Braun initially studied at the building and construction school in Biberach an der Riß.

From 1901 to 1906, he studied under Theodor Fischer at the Technical University of Stuttgart.

In 1906, he opened his first office in Bregenz with Georg Natter. During this time, they built the Hotel Post in Bregenz, and in 1907, they built the elementary school in Rieden.

Braun collaborated with Franz Lukesch to design residential and commercial buildings in Dornbirn and Bregenz.

During the interwar period, Braun participated in numerous public and private building projects in Vorarlberg.

Building

Initially, the construction of a rack-and-pinion railroad was considered at the Pfänder, but ultimately, a suspension ropeway was chosen because it was cheaper and eliminated the need for snow clearing.

Construction was carried out by Adolf Bleichert & Co., a company based in Leipzig-Gohlis, Germany.

On December 4, 1924, a committee for the construction of the Pfänder cable car was established.

In October 1926, work began on erecting the cableway’s supports, which had to be set up to 14 meters deep into the ground.

By mid-January 1927, the nearly five-centimeter-thick cables could be hoisted, and the two cabins were hooked into place. Each cabin held 24 people.

The assembly work was completed on January 24, 1927.

Restoration and Renovation

As early as April 17 of the inaugural year, the 10,000th passenger had been carried. Five years later, on August 21, 1932, the one-millionth passenger was welcomed.

The ropeway system was extensively renovated in October 1994.

The Pfänderbahn Museum opened in the valley station of the cable car in 1998.