Funicular rail derailment in Lisbon - at least 16 dead

[y_p_w]

Reports are that the counterbalanced cable for two cars snapped and one went out of control while the other stopped quickly. I’ve been on a few like the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island. And Angels Flight in Los Angeles,

https://apnews.com/article/streetcar-derails-lisbon-d63600ff5092969b088507bbccf44aab​

The yellow-and-white streetcar, which is known as Elevador da Gloria and goes up and down a steep downtown hill, was lying on its side on the narrow road that it travels on, its sides and top crumpled. It appeared to have crashed into a building where the road bends, leaving parts of the mostly metal vehicle crushed.​

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https://apnews.com/article/lisbon-s...what-to-know-c3637a52a4df5e3dd3563e845a342278​

The streetcar, technically called a funicular, is harnessed by steel cables, with the descending car helping with its weight to pull up the other one. It can carry more than 40 people, seated and standing. The service, up and down a hill on a curved, traffic-free road, was inaugurated in 1885.​

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It’s classified as a national monument, and it attracts many of the millions of tourists who visit Lisbon each year. People typically wait in long lines for the brief ride covering a few hundred meters.​

 

[Cujet]

Do we know what the cause was?

 

[AZjeff]

Do we know what the cause was?

Apparently the cable broke. They're supposed to have emergency brakes that engage automatically, obviously didn't work. This photo shows one car at the bottom and the crashed car just above it. If it broke when they were at top and bottom as it looks the track is about 850 feet long and apparently pretty steep from how tilted the cars are. If that turn wasn't there it would have come blasting out into the crowded streets. AP photo.

 

[y_p_w]

Having two counterbalanced cars makes it a lot easier to move compared to individual cars moved by a cable, which would also require a loop compared to a single unlooped cable. I would think it’s similar in principle to the tension in a spring loaded garage door. At least regarding reduction in effort.

 

[AZjeff]

Having two counterbalanced cars makes it a lot easier to move compared to individual cars moved by a cable, which would also require a loop compared to a single unlooped cable. I would think it’s similar in principle to the tension in a spring loaded garage door. At least regarding reduction in effort.

Works great until something breaks and the e-brake doesn't work. The possibility of 2 mechanical failures simultaneously doesn't look good for the maintenance program. Or maybe the design of the emergency stop equipment.