Impression of the only reversible ropeway in the Baltics.

[Janis]

Here is a brief impression of the only reversible ropeway in the Baltics. It is located in Latvia and connects the town Sigulda with the village Krimulda. Both are about 60 kilometres away in eastern directions from Latvia’s capital Riga.

The ropeway was installed in 1969 during the Soviet era, when Latvia was part of the Soviet Union. Its original purpose was to connect the town Sigulda with the village Krimulda which are separated by the Gauja Valley, named after the river Guaja. This form of public transport became an alternative for an 11 kilometre long and partly steep road, which was and still is often inaccessible during the winter.

Sigulda is a tourist spot in Latvia. It is located near a national park and quite some tourists visit the area to enjoy nature, to see the castles and cave and to ride the ropeway for its view over the valley. The ropeway still serves as public transport, but has become more and more a tourist athaul.













Pictures above: views from the cabin.

Last year, the owner started to overhaul the installation. A “new” second hand cabin was installed. And this year the control and the drive system have been renewed. They, meaning without the help of ropeway specialist, have done everything them self.







Examining the ropes.







Load test with 4000 kilo of bricks. The maximum load of the cabin during normal operation is 2000 kilo, 25 people. But they allow only 20 passengers + 1 cabin guard to board.










The cabin and the Sigulda station. Platforms are real small. The cabin door is opened and closed by hand. Behind the round window is the operator. Until they renewed the control system, the ropeway was manually controlled by an operator in the Sigulda station. Nowadays operation is controlled by the cabin guard by means of pushing buttons on a simple PLC mounted inside the cabin.

The ropeway goes according to a time table: from Sigulda to Krimulda at 10,00 11,00 12,00 12,30 13,00 13,30 14,00 14,30 15,00 15,30 16,00 16,30 17,00 17,30 18,00 18,30 and on workingdays also at 19,00 19,30. After unloading and loading in the Krimulda station, the cabin returns directly to Sigulda. The ride goes extremely slowely and takes about 6 minutes. The slow speed might be appreciated by the many tourist who go to enjoy the view. After arraival in Krimulda, most pasengers (tourists) remain in the cabin for a direct return.

The unattended Krimulda station is nothing more than a small platform and a hollow concrete tower that houses the deflection wheels for the cable loop. The ropeway consists of one track. The haul rope returns above the track rope.








So, the installation has been overhauled. Fresh paint has been applied on the stations and the cabin, but it is not enough to hide to true age of the ropeway. From what I have seen, I believe that many parts are still in original shape and dating from the year it has been build. The running wheels and hanger are sure old.

My estimation is that the track rope has a diameter of about 50-60 mm and the haul rope 18 mm or less. The haul rope looks brown from corrosion. It is certainly not new.

The picture of this bypass is taken last week. It is a safety measure in case one of the poured sockets (cones) might come loose. The construction of the running wheels and hanger makes it unlikely that deropement will occur. But seeing all this gives me an unpleasant feeling.




Buffer in the Krimulda station. Buffer will not be used during normal operation. It will activate an end switch.




Mount of the track rope at the back of the concrete tower in the Krimulda station. One of the bars to perform adjustment is still present. This part is fully exposed to the weather.




Cabin leaving the Krimulda station.




Both stations are at the same level of height. There is hardly any rope tensioning, so the ride goes down and up again. Sometimes after normal operation times, Bungee Jumping is done at a height of 70 meters above the river.




The Sigulda station which houses the engine room, a shop for refreshments and the ticket desk. One way costs 1 Ls, which is about 1,60 Euro. To and return requires the purchase of two one-way tickets. When boarding in the unattended Krimulda station, tickets can be purchased from the cabin guard. Unfortunately, I got no permission to look in the engine room. Clearly visible is that the haul rope returns above the track rope.


And if someone feels the urge to reply, please do so in German. I’ll understand perfectly.

[starli]

Krasse Strecke...

Was ich mich bzgl. des Bungee-Jumpings wundert: Gibt es da nicht einen gewaltigen Rückstoß auf die Kabine, so daß die unheimlich zu schaukeln anfängt?

[Nuno]

Nette Kabine! Sieht ganz frisch aus so ins gelb

[Janis]

Was ich mich bzgl. des Bungee-Jumpings wundert: Gibt es da nicht einen gewaltigen Rückstoß auf die Kabine, so daß die unheimlich zu schaukeln anfängt?

Bungee Jumping can be seen from the bridge below, which is several hunderd meters away from the cabin. I have not seen the cabin going into a severe swing after jumping, but it is very well posible that it does. The cabin is small and light. When only 5 people have boarded in the station and they are all standing on the side that goes into the direction of travel, the cabin is fully out of balance. When you board after them, the cabin floor is under such a steep angle, that it looks if your feet are going to slip down on the cabin floor.

One time Bungee Jumping cost only 15 Ls (1 Ls = 1,6 EURO). A medical doctor, who will have a look on you directly after jumping, is a standard part of the the arrangement Jumping is for free is you go naked!