the Niesenbahn, Switzerland

The 3.6 km long Niesenbahn is one of the longest funiculars of Europe. The bottom station is in Mülenen, next to the BLS railway station at 693 metres altitude. Because of its length, the line is split into two sections. The first section, 2,111 metres long and with a maximum gradient of 68% leads up to the Schandegg station at 1,670 metres altitude. From there the 1,388-metre long second section with a maximum gradient of 66% goes to the mountain station of Niesen Kulm at 2,336 metres altitude.

The construction work began on 26 August 1906, and the first section Mülenen – Schwandegg was finished in 1908. On 8 June 1910 the second section as far as Niesen was operable.  At Niesen people get a good view of the Thunersee (Thun Lake).