Urban Electric TransitAscensor da Glória
Lisbon
| Ascensor da Glória | |
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Another project by Raoul Mesnier, this time it is his second work for Nova Companhia dos Ascensores Mecânicos de Lisboa (NCAML) which was inauguarted on 24th October 1885. It is the Ascensor da Glória. This funicular connects Avenida da Liberdade to Rua de São Pedro de Alcântara in Bairro Alto, through Calçada da Glória with an average slope of 18%, a difference in level of 45 meters and a distance of 276 meters. The machanism is similar to Ascensor do Lavra using Riggenbach rack system, rail and cable embedded in the street. Initially water counterweights were used, that were connected by cable to each of the cars. Requiring around 400 cubic meters of water per day, there were many constraits in it's operation due to the constant cuts in water supply in Lisbon. Frequent cuts of operation forced NCAML opting to purchase a steam engine from Maschinenfabrick Esslingen AG to operate the cable, which were installed on a building built for this purpose on Largo da Oliveirinha (about mid-way of Calçada da Glória). The cars of this funicular were built from mahogany, and had two floors, with the upper floor being open, with bench seats facing the street, which allowed a greater view of the surrounding landscape. Access was via an internal spiral staircase on the platform. Light in the cars was created by stearin candles. And there was also a signaling oil lantern at the top. In mid-1912, the new funicular concession contract with the municipality allowed electrification project to be made. In 1915, work began on the electrification of this funicular. These new vehicles weighed around 10 tons, with a single floor, and each car operated by 1 General Electric GE59 auxiliary electric motor of 18 Kw (300 Volt dc) connected in serries, so that they could only start with the joint maneuver of the two elevator brakemen, using General Electric R38D controllers. Electricity was supplied by pantograph installed on the roof of each car. The rack system disappeared after electrification. The "new" cars are equipped with two types of brakes, one claw brake (still in operation today), which acts by pressing on the central rails with two shoes, and the other by pressure on the rails. The bodies of the cars are from the United Electric Car Company and the Maley & Taunton 234 chassis. Exactly as on Ascensor do Lavra, the two cars go up and down simultaneously, but in opposite directions along two parallel 900mm gauge rails which almost merge at the bottom. Between the rails is a central "slot" which holds the embeded cable under the street surface. Each car has two driver cabins at each end of the car and passenger seats in the middle of the car. Additional features have been taken from the electric trams, for example, warning bells for passersby. After NCAML was absorbed by Carris (CCFL), in the 1930ties the cars received the typical yellow color, which is used even today. In 2002 Ascensor da Glória, just like other funiculars in Lisbon, was classified as a National Monument. | |
| Information written by Karalis Arturs. Last updated 30th March 2024. | |
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