Aerial tramway (called cable cars in UK): two passenger cabins fixed to a single moving cable; one or two stationary ropes give it support. Gondola lifts (continuous rotation) are a variant.
Cable car (mass transit): car grips (to start) or releases (to stop) a continuously moving cable underneath (San Francisco).
Cable ferry: ferry guided and usually propelled across a river by cables connected to both shores.
Funicular: two cars fixed to single moving cable, which runs through a pulley at the top of the incline. Counterbalancing of the two cars, one ascending and one descending, minimises the energy needed to lift the ascending car. Usually one track with a passing rail in the middle. (Cable railway: similar to a funicular, but the cars are not permanently fixed to the cable. Mainly used at quarries and mines. There can be a single direction, with the cable collected on a winding drum at the top of the incline.)
Rack (or rack and pinion) railway: railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with this rack rail, allowing the trains to operate on steep gradients.
Tram: draws power from both a track and an overhead wire.
Trolley bus: draws electricity from two overhead wires (suspended from roadside posts) using spring-loaded trolley poles. Thus no track.
February 12 2012 at 9:20 am
Aerial tramway (called cable cars in UK): two passenger cabins fixed to a single moving cable; one or two stationary ropes give it support. Gondola lifts (continuous rotation) are a variant.
Cable car (mass transit): car grips (to start) or releases (to stop) a continuously moving cable underneath (San Francisco).
Cable ferry: ferry guided and usually propelled across a river by cables connected to both shores.
Funicular: two cars fixed to single moving cable, which runs through a pulley at the top of the incline. Counterbalancing of the two cars, one ascending and one descending, minimises the energy needed to lift the ascending car. Usually one track with a passing rail in the middle. (Cable railway: similar to a funicular, but the cars are not permanently fixed to the cable. Mainly used at quarries and mines. There can be a single direction, with the cable collected on a winding drum at the top of the incline.)
Rack (or rack and pinion) railway: railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with this rack rail, allowing the trains to operate on steep gradients.
Tram: draws power from both a track and an overhead wire.
Trolley bus: draws electricity from two overhead wires (suspended from roadside posts) using spring-loaded trolley poles. Thus no track.