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The Oldest Suspension Railway In The World
You can still ride it today
The Wuppertal Schwebebahn is the world’s oldest and most famous suspension monorail, located in Wuppertal, Germany. It’s a unique form of urban transit where trains hang from a single elevated rail, gliding above the Wupper River and city streets. The idea for a suspended monorail was a novel one in the 19th century, and remains novel today. The idea was conceived in order to create a mass transit system that would not disrupt Wuppertal’s narrow winding streets. A traditional streetcar was seen as infeasible due to the terrain.
Construction on the line began in 1898 and was completed and opened to the public in 1901. The Schwebebahn, or floating railway, was elevated largely above the river in order to reduce the impact of construction on the local community. In 1901, the system was seen as a wonder. Even today, it remains deeply cool. In fact, suspended monorails remain relatively rare, especially compared to traditional trains and streetcars.
Despite being well over a hundred years old, the tracks of the Schwebebahn remain a poignant part of the Wuppertal urban landscape. You can still ride the train today.