Hammetschwand Elevator
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The Hammetschwand Lift is the highest exterior elevator of Europe and is located in Switzerland. It connects the spectacular rock way with the lookout point Hammetschwand on the Buergenstock plateau overlooking Lake Lucerne.
History
The hotel resort Buergenstock located at 847 meters a.s.l. has been a popular vacation spot since 1872. Its attractiveness was enhanced by the spectacular path along the vertical rock face and by an outdoor open lift. To this day the lift and the path have lost none of their attraction. The new lift was built and opened by the Schindler company. It whisks passengers 153 meters up to the summit of the Hammetschwand in less than one minute. It was regarded as a pioneering feat in those days and is still a record holder, since the Hammetschwand lift is holding the number one position as Europe's highest exterior lift.
Design Specifications
At its time it had a speed of one meter per second and one could the travel nearly three minutes long enjoy. Its cab consisted of wood with zinc sheet had fitted and could carry 8 passengers. After the revision of 1935 the speed was increased to 2.7 meters per second and the cab was replaced by a light metal construction. It was not only the highest public external elevator of Europe, but also the fastest elevator of the world. The filigrane, metallic lattice tower has a surface area of 2×2 meter, is 118 meters high and is located on a 44 meter high rock pit. The elevator entrance, the engine room and the first 14 meters of this pit are completely the inside one the mountain, while the following 30 meters release against in front the view of the Vierwaldstaettersee. The whole trip lasts approximately 50 seconds and afterwards one has from the Hammetschwand on 1132 m ue. NN a breath-robbing outlook on the Vierwaldstaettersee and the alps.