Let's Ride ... The Wuppertal Schwebebahn

It's time to go Dangling! When in Germany recently on the Siemens trip I realised that just a short ride away was a railway that was a suspended monorail up in the aie, and dangles down above a river, and that I really needed to go for a ride on it ...
Thanks to Chris & Nicole for joining me, and translating for me! The German word for 'Sway' is 'Schwanken' and Christ later told me that "See it, say it, sorted" should be "Sieh es, Sag es, Geregelt"
Tim Traveller's (it was his very first!) video:
• Schwebebahn: Why Wuppe...

[@geofftech2]

Chris later told me that "See it, say it, sorted" should actually be "Sieh es, Sag es, Geregelt" I also regret not 'Dangling' my video camera for a portion of this video (i.e. holding it upside down by the tripod), and perhaps calling it the 'Sway Ber Bahn' too!

[@Ro99]

I don’t think he would be the only person to misunderstand it and think it’s sort it rather than sorted (I mean the person misunderstanding I know it’s actually sorted)

[@djlewis5149]

Or the post office mantra see it, squash it, sort it 😅

[@guusjeeggen]

Dutch: Zie iets, Zeg iets, Opgelost

[@jnadkn]

Another possible translation could be "Gesehen. Gesagt. Geklärt.". Of course this is just a translation that transfers the meaning, not the exact translation for the words in English.

[@Jo553Nas]

Glad you rectified the phrase - actually not a call for vigilante justice! 😀

[@edwardlees4585]

It does seem that every transport KZbinr needs to make pilgrimage to Wuppertal at some point in their career. I'm glad Geoff made it. And he's the first I've seen to highlight the souvenir shop.

[@geofftech2]

Tom's been, Tim Traveller has been, DadRail has been ... yes! it was about time :-)

[@ixlnxs]

Einmal im leben.... .... oben Wuppertal schweben! @@geofftech2 (Sorry if my German isn't entirely grammatically correct)

[@BeeblebroxZaph]

When Geoff was counting the stairs, I was waiting for him to exclaim that it would be equivalent to 15 floors 🤣See It, Say It, Sorted.

[@johnlister]

That was my thought too!

[@Cowman9791]

Doing that would have been a case of 'climb it, count it, say it, sorted'

[@allthingsgerman]

I was waiting for information about the car parks ;-)

[@MirkoC407]

Fun fact, "Amtsgericht" is basically the same as a county court, i.e. also where you register and unregister a business. And, you might have noticed or not, but it is on an island. So when you have to give up something (today as a literal saying not only a business) you say "Es geht über die Wupper", i.e. "It goes over the Wupper. Because no matter from where you come, to get to the court and unregister your bust company, you have to go over a Wupper bridge onto that island. And instead of "My company is bankrupt" it sounded less ashaming to say "I have to go over the Wupper."

[@richiehoyt8487]

That is so interesting. Really, no sarcasm. 👍

[@roerd]

Sounds like a regional variant von "über den Jordan gehen" (to go over the Jordan) as slang for dying.

[@leDespicable]

@@roerd I think it kind of has leaked into general colloquial German, at least I've heard several people use it before that definitely aren't from Wuppertal

[@MirkoC407]

@@leDespicableI'm neither, although my brother moved there and told the background story. However, we both knew that phrase already before, when we lived at our parents' about 150 km away from Wuppertal.

[@chimefloon-w-4146]

​@@leDespicableI've absolutely never heard it in my life, and I'm even from NRW 😂

[@haraldselke]

I grew up in Wuppertal (not far from the Oberbarmen end of the Schwebebahn). We always knew that it was special (or as my best friend usually says: “a very funny concept”), but for us it was so normal to ride it. People who don’t know much about the Schwebebahn 🚟 often assume it is some tourist attraction - which in a way it is -, but at its core it is the main means of transport along the valley from east to west and vice versa and used by many commuters every day.

[@gormoboskos]

It's brilliant using the tight river sections like this

[@jmtubbs1639]

I remember seeing the braiding machines through windows in Barmen from the Schwebebahn in 1973. I worked for an English braiding company at the time.

[@MelissasArt]

I'm British. I have been to Wuppertal and have ridden the Schwebebahn. I thought it was complete madness until I realised Wuppertal is a city that straddles a valley alongside the river. Fond memories.

[@jonbingham4956]

Thanks

[@hymek7017]

Putting the rails so far up in the air is a great way to keep leaves off the line. 😉😉

[@poluki]

As a German viewer, I must say this is a must see for railway enthusiasts looking to discover Germany

[@robinparkes9]

I’ve travelled on the S-Bahn, U-Bahn and trains in and out of Cologne but never had the opportunity to ride the Wuppertal train. I’ve always been fascinated by it. Thank you for a very entertaining video.

[@icecranberry2148]

I was recently in Bremen riding their trams (Strassenbahn) amd they have their very own Bremen pattern! I'm sure Geoff would love this detail too.

[@erik_griswold]

Too bad! You can ride the Schwebebahn using the same NRW day ticket that works in Cologne

[@michaelz.7140]

@@icecranberry2148 whats so special about bremer straßenbahn?

[@michaelz.7140]

@@erik_griswold or the same day ticket that works in düsseldorf, then its a vrr-ticket. cologne would be vrs (local transport cooperations)

[@erik_griswold]

@@michaelz.7140 But I thought the VRS (Köln/Bonn) and the VRR (Wuppertal and Düsseldorf) tickets are different?

[@Tobi-ln9xr]

5:28 No, Germans don’t use the "English word for break“. German and English are both Germanic languages, so a lot of words are very similar or even the same in both languages and are just pronounced differently. I think a lot of English-speakers would be surprised if they knew how similar German and English actually are.

[@FindecanorNotGmail]

The word came to German and English from Latin, which had borrowed it from Greek.

[@roderickjoyce6716]

I lived in Germany and Italy when I was young. It took me about a year to learn German. It took me two years to learn Italian. It took a lot longer to learn both languages in depth but Italian was definitely harder. Forty-odd years later I'm equally as fluent in both languages as I am in English, but I still feel more at home in German (even though my wife is Italian).

[@benespection]

It's a very English thing to do, assuming it came from the English language and ignore the total mongrel of a language that English is itself, with all these borrowed words :)

[@fulknerra6116]

Except for the three genders, the declined nouns, the conjugated verbs, the 'verb 2' rule, the adjectival agreements, the word order and rules for subclauses, the pushing together of verbs and conjunctions, and compound nouns....yes, they are very similar. Hammer's German grammar is a very thick book.

[@Rutgerman95]

You could see the brief, well, pause on his face where he seemed to be considering explaining all that or just go "yeah sure lets go with that"

[@PhilSmith71]

I recently visited Wuppertal with a friend of mine who retired a year ago after 50 years on the railway. We both really enjoyed the whole Schwebebahn experience. We took the ICE back to Hamburg to visit Miniatur Wunderland which was fantastic. For anyone wanting to travel to/from Hamburg Hbf or the airport, use the S-bahn from Stadthausbrücke station for Miniature Wunderland for a quicker journey than the U-bahn. Great video Geoff! 👍

[@4307kettwig]

At Vohwinkel, the western terminus, you also can change from the Schwebebahn onto a line of the Solingen trolleybus, one of three remaining networks in Germany.

[@RichardWatt]

I know of Solingen from the scissor manufacturers - we ordered a pair of hairdressing scissors from them a few years ago.

[@MarceloBenoit-trenes]

I was here to comment the same.

[@Mreasyplay2]

"Einmal im Leben durch Wuppertal schweben" - Once in a lifetime, fly through Wuppertal!

[@LasseGreiner]

Nitpicking here: I would translate to "glide" in the context but that is debatable of course. Thanks for reminding me on this advertisment slogan.

[@bedri1]

@@LasseGreiner hover or levitate through wuppertal. gliding is for wings without engine - like para gliders or sailplanes

[@u1zha]

@@bedri1 In airplane context yes, but gliding is a word outside that context too. Gliding can be powered, e.g. a gondola in Venice

[@segawalilac]

I took the Shonan Monorail in Japan recently, which is twinned with this. I had more fun than I expected. It even went through a tunnel!

[@TSSaale]

This is a really nice video🎉 Because, I was in Wuppertal before, I have some Fun Facts for you: • The Schwebebahn is officially classified as a subway. • It uses ETCS. • Wuppertal was the last city in Germany to lose its tram network. Only a small part survives as a museum. Of course there are other tram networks in Germany, but Wuppertal was the last city to discontinue theirs. I hope, you learn something new.😄

[@enisra_bowman]

uh, you should note that Wuppertal was the last city that lost it's tram ... before they stopped doing that, since there are still many left

[@obelic71]

@@enisra_bowman Yes and its increasing. For example west Berlin did not have trams anymore before unification and the tramlines from East Berlin were extended and former old tram lines are being resurected. Also several cities like Aachen regret getting rid of their tramsystem now.

[@LasseGreiner]

Abolishing a perfectly working and useful tram network was one of the great losses due to car fetishism. They have regretted it.

[@sglenny001]

​@@obelic71did any other East German City's have trams I know the Eastern block and socialist politics values public transport ie trams

[@TSSaale]

​​@@enisra_bowmani hope its better now

[@fiveYqueue]

I have ridden this line half a dozen times and find it, and its history, to be enjoyable and absorbing. I especially like the Vohwinkel end of the line because of the over-street running and the fact that you can change here onto trolleybuses - all very fun. I love the way that the city is proud of its very unusual hanging railway and promote it. You clearly really enjoyed your visit to Wuppertal; loved the video, thank you.

[@stevewarner9095]

Rode this when based in Germany in the 1980’s. My kids loved it, and we visited Wuppertal Zoo, it’s one of the stops. Siemens test track is based at what was RAF Wildenrath where I was based. We loved our time in Germany.

[@memofromessex]

"So you use the British word 'Pause' to mean break" is such a Brit-abroad way of saying things!

[@norbitonflyer5625]

Austrian buses have "Kaffeepause" on the front when laying over. (Austrian buses have to be very wide to fit such displays on)

[@barvdw]

I'd say pause is originally French.

[@cr5418]

We were there a couple of weeks ago! I'm a Brit living in Germany and have wanted to visit the Schwebebahn since I saw Tim's video. My husband likes seeing different football stadiums so it was perfect for us - we rode the Schwebebahn, my husband went to the football there which has an amazing stadium and then I took my daughter to the zoo!! It was a great experience.

[@robbieandrew4075]

I went on holiday this year to Wuppertal for the Schwebebahn and it was honestly one of the best days of my life. I proposed to my boyfriend of 10 years of that day. What a magical place

[@RogerFleischer-p3f]

It is the German equivalent of the cable car system in San Franciscco (and elsewhere, presumably): an ancient mode of public transportation that is fun ride, but also eminently practical. It is a pit that the car took over and many such wonderfully useful and enjoyable forms of public transportation were abandoned (especially in the US). .

[@Gfynbcyiokbg8710]

Not at all

[@nixmixes770]

Ich haette "Sieh es, Sage es, Erledigt" gesagt. A marvel of engineering and transportation.

[@Eddyspeeder]

One of my best childhood memories was when we rode this train. I must have been only about 5 or 6 years old because everything else is a blur, except for this lightbulb memory where I vividly remember the experience of being on that train, it already getting dark outside, and I pressing myself up against the window to peek down. I was too fascinated to be scared. I really look forward to going back there some time!

[@leaholle6916]

As someone from Wuppertal I can confirm, it never gets old. I enjoy a good suspension railway ride so much. The problem is, that it's super overfilled sometimes. Something I'm very amazed by is that while I don't particularly have a problem with height, i get scared when the ground underneath me gets shaky, like the slight wobble you mentioned. I also don't really like things hanging above me too much. However, the suspension railway never gave me a feeling like that. I always felt super safe around it.

[@timor64]

Although it feels precarious it's been very safe. The only accident I know of happened when they put an elephant in one of the carriages.

[@acm_1985]

Sadly there had been a tragic accident in 1999. A train collidet with a construction site, derailed and crashed into the river killing 5 and severely woundet another 47 people.

[@singapuu7643]

This is a quite interesting recollection, especially because it's held by a lot of people. Yes the Schwebebahn is very safe, but it has had incidents and accidents. Most notably a tragically fallen Train in 1999. But for some reason people seem to forget that happened, I've had professors tell me the same thing in lectures that you just did.

[@MerleTrains]

Well it wasnt really an accident, the elephant jumped out of the carriage during a pr stunt in the year 1950 into the (quite shallow) river because she panicked. She wasnt really injured tho, and still lived with the circus for another 39 years until 1989. However there has actually been ONE fatal accident with the Schwebebahn in 1999 with 5 casulties and 47 injured because a construction piece was left on the track which the first train of the day hit and then completely fell into the river. The only other probably notable incident happened in 2018 where a part of the electrified rail (which would be the “third rail“ on some conventional train/metro lines) fell down onto a stopped car on a bridge below and hit the rear. Luckily neither the driver of the car nor anyone else was hurt.

[@another_pointless_account4130]

My mum, too, has been to Wuppertal.

[@KaterChris]

Also there have been a couple of incidents where unfamiliar drivers or operators of cranes and cherry pickers on the street underneath the line didn't pay attention and struck moving trains with their equipment.

[@edwinfeindt8055]

A funny video of the Wuppertaler Hängebahn. Wonderful! We have been there several times and drove with it. We never felt unsecure. It's an amazing event.

[@JamesFluker]

I did the same thing last year! It's a magnificent piece of engineering and a testament to a different period of time - perhaps to a future that never came to pass. But it's an incredibly effective piece of rapid transit and serves its purpose in the narrow Wupper valley perfectly.

[@Maxime_K-G]

You really hear the British health and safety mentality in everything you say. 😂 I visited there exactly one year and one day ago when I was going from Brussels to Vienna by train. It was only 20 minutes outside of Cologne so I just had to come. It definitely exceeded expectations for me. Very fun and I also met some lovely people from all over the world while riding it.

[@evabrinckmann3231]

I live in Wuppertal, we love our Schwebebahn! Next time you should tell the story of Tuffi the elephant baby which fell out of the Schwebebahn and lived.

[@atroposmoira5285]

Instantly thought about Tuffi too and asked myself if they told him the story 😂

[@u1zha]

​@@atroposmoira5285 I think the logo on the souvenir socks 1:20 might be elephant inspired. All in all I bet the story has not escaped Geoff's attention, but he wasn't going to repeat it on air because cliche. And guaranteed engagement. 😁

[@screwdriver5181]

I first saw a photo of this as a child in around 1950 . In 2000 I was on my way to the Harz and spent a night in Wuppertal. After my first ride I have managed several more, it’s an incredible system. There used to be a normal tramway in the parallel road as well ! At the western end where it runs over the street there is the end of a long trolley bus route from Solingen. There is also a small tramway museum in the country between Wuppertal and Solingen. At the eastern end one block north there is a “brauhaus” located in an old swimming pool. Excellent food and beer ! An area and railway well worth a visit.

[@Grid56]

I love this system. I wish I'd had chance to see it when i was in Europe. I like how you can see out the front and being suspended yuo get a good view down onto the city.

[@SolarisUrbinoFan]

As far as I know, the swaying used to be much more in the older trains on purpose so the trains could go faster around corners like a tilting train. The new trains are a bit slower I think because of their size there would be a risk if they would sway too much.

[@bobtudbury8505]

been here many times since the 6o's / never get tired of it

[@gordonbrown7063]

Great video Geoff. I visited the depot back in 2005, we were given a short film show about the line's history and its recovery after WW2 followed by a tour around the maintenance depot including some vintage dangle bahns! Really friendly people. Keep up the good work.

[@doughunt9621]

I was first aware of the Schwebebahn as it was pictured on a (PG Tips) tea card in the early 60s. I always wanted to visit it and did so a few years ago, and again only 2 days ago as we were visiting the Christmas Markets in Dusseldorf. I would love to ride it several times in one visit, but my wife and daughter were not terribly impressed.

[@lauppfrosch]

We had so much fun on this day! 😎 Thanks a lot!

[@tubefan93]

As you were in the area, I hope you visited the highest railway bridge of germany as well. The "Müngstener Brücke", which is located at the border of the two neighboring towns of Remscheid and Solingen.

[@graemecatty9921]

QQ: Is Solingen the steel making city?

[@catrachocolo]

​@@graemecatty9921Yes 😊

[@Steeler-wg5zo]

@@graemecatty9921 Sheffield is the 'English Solingen' or vice versa ...both well known for excellent cutlery products.

[@ThomasPickup]

I work for a company based out of Wuppertal, albeit remotely, and we spend most of January servicing the equipment as it comes back from trackside. Have always loved the Schwebebahn and have to admit I took a nerdy visit when I went out to Wuppertal to put pen to paper on my employment contract! Very good video!!

[@TheRailwayTourManager]

I love the dingley dangley Railway. Great for bird watching over the river!

[@danieleyre8913]

Geoff talked about something like this for London. You couldn’t build the superstructure needed across the Thames. However it could be practical up the Lea river Valley or above the old grand union canal.

[@MervynPartin]

Well done, Geoff. This has been the BEST coverage of this system that I have ever seen, not even knowing that it had a section over the street or the terminal arrangements. Chris and Nicole were great. Thank you also for introducing me to the word "Danglebahn" which I now can't get out of my head.

[@jeffbraun1968]

I too was 'swayed' to ride the Wuppertal Schwebebahn when I was staying nearby in Cologne in Dec 2022. Almost a bucket-list thing for me, glad to see I'm not the only nerd.

[@nebulaaah]

Geoff, your joy is infectious. I'm always left grinning whilst watching your videos. I need to visit Wuppertal now!

[@mehulygohil]

This, the Chiba and the Shonan are probably the worlds sexiest modes of transport. We are missing out for not having more of these cool things. Thanks Geoff for this.

[@PavanaBird]

I've been waiting for this video to happen for years. Love this for me

[@r.m.9450]

Born there in 1950, I rode the Schwebebahn on many occasions with the family on shopping trips. i was always amazed when i rode it, it brings back a lot of memories ". Thanks "

[@Stephen_Lafferty]

Excellent that you have finally been able to visit and make a video after Tom Scott and Tim!

[@raphaelbrasse1996]

I love that you have made a video about this! As a dutchman, I am such a fan of the system that I have a permanent tattoo of the GTW72 on my arm.

[@kenmorris100]

Geoff thanks for this video which brought back a memory of many years ago when I was in Wuppertal with my family and had a short ride on the old rolling stock before it was modernised. I have travelled on transit systems around the world and there is nowhere that can beat this experience.

[@young_diogenes]

As a Wuppertaler myself it's always great to see the excitement of tourist when they ride the Schwebebahn. I live a few minutes from Bruch so it's become a routine for me to ride this thing.

[@pb4rton]

It may have lift access, but I don't think I would like get a wheelchair over the gap with it wobbling like that! Thanks Geoff for this video!

[@Dragneel20]

You should come to Germany way more often, we have so many interesting railways and more, e.g. the automated Dortmund H-Bahn and Düsseldorf SkyTrain, Brockenbahn steam train, Stuttgart "Zacke" (cog railway), the Hamburg and Berlin U-Bahn to name a few.

[@richselby7878]

This should be a UNESCO world heritage site. Unique and amazing and historic.

[@neilcobb1731]

Great to see you go on the Schwebehahn Geoff! Went on it myself back in May, and will be going back on in June 2024 when I go back to Germany.

[@johnstanton6383]

I've watched a huge number of your videos and this one definitely ranks as one of your best. I travelled on this earlier this year and the timely and we'll-composed shots of the moving trains are right on point. Excellent!

[@76_SPZL]

You can see very old footage of people riding this on KZbin. It's incredible just how old and still operational the service is.

[@JasperJanssen]

I rode it back in the 80s, when I was small. And I came back a year or two ago. (Although to be fair, I regularly ride the Utrecht to Amsterdam line which started in the 1860s.)

[@feedtheflameforfacts]

Geoff, your enthusiasm is infectious.

[@MartinBrenner]

Haven't been riding in the new trains yet, definitely need to get to Wuppertal again and it is included in the Deutschlandticket.

[@FelixvonMontfort]

I'm totally shocked that a fun fact loving guy like Geoff didn't mention the Elephant Story of the Schwebebahn. Does he even know?? :D

[@ingemarolson3240]

Same here, and in fact neither did Tim, which is even more surprising. Wikipedia article: Tuffi

[@deansiracusa3966]

I was in Germany on business earlier this year and had to spend a day riding the Schwebebahn! So much fun!

[@scotgranger7205]

Thank you for a wonderful trip down memory lane. I'm a native Californian but my mom was born in Germany and grew up in Wuppertal up until being bombed out of her home during WWII (Americans during the day, British at night). She married my dad who was a U.S. serviceman. I still have family there and when I first visited my Oma (grandmother) in 1970, she made sure to take me on the Schwebebahn from one end to the other. I was always fascinated by trains and this one is the most unique. I really enjoy your videos, Geoff, but you forgot to mention that the Schwebebahn runs through the only place in the world where 5 forms of transportation intersect. So, I believe that you got to experience that but didn't event know it. LOL. I have many fond memories of riding the old train cars which had a unique, "squeeky" sound to them. There was nothing like it. The old cars were the best. I rode it again with family in 2019 and found it to be too "sanitized". The new cars are nice but too modern. They lost the unique sound and feel that were present back in the 1970s. Also, they swayed more. It is still fun but not the same. Thank you for all the cool videos you do.

[@havingalook2]

Oh how that would be fun!!! What a lovely couple to show you the way - wonderful. Loved this video.

[@richiangriff]

I came across the Schwebebahn on a Facebook Interrailing group and hopped over to KZbin to check it out. I picked this video and couldn't have asked for a better introduction, loved your enthusiasm, wonderfully matched by the bewilderment of your female friend. I will be visiting. Thank you 👍

[@GNTel313]

Geoff, the Schwebebahn is fantastic. Visited in march and like you, was astounded by the system. Was always looking up whenever I could hear a train approaching. Was able to find a hotel on the street running section and requested a room facing the track. It was surprisingly quiet and a good sleep was had. It was nice to be woken the next morning by the Schwebebahn !!

[@jdc327]

Ditto!! 😁🚟😊

[@TalesOfWar]

I like the name Danglebahn lol. It's very in keeping with the precise and literal meaning many German words tend to have lol.

[@JohnLeeming23]

I suspect that if it were a German word it would be Dangelbahn.

[@richardneale246]

I visited Wuppertal in the late 1960's and rode on the Schwebebahn. The trains were dark red and looked more like converted trams.

[@erxcrf49]

Such a brilliant watch, this, for a Geoff fan from Germany. Fantastic video!

[@anthonydefreitas6006]

Everyone is hanging around to find out , what is the least used station on the Wuppertal railway ?

[@RubbishGimpy]

And is there a bin bag blowing in the breeze.

[@HenrysAdventures]

Great to see you enjoying the Wuppertal Schwebebahn! About 10 years ago I was going to Dresden by train and spent a night in Wuppertal to do the Schwebebahn. Only problem was there were delays on the trains at I got to Wuppertal at about 22:30 . Not wanting to miss a trip on the Schwebebahn, I got up at 5am and did the line in the same order you say. I was the best early start I've ever had!

[@j.s.7335]

This was fascinating. I never had seen inside a train, and I never considered the swaying. I felt like I got the full experience. Thanks, Geoff.

[@nnadir__]

The in-line wheel arrangement does cause swaying, but on the other hand, look at that turning radius!

[@JimInRoses]

I visited Wuppertal as a birthday treat in 2019 to discover that the Schwebebahn was closed for refurbishment. It was cold comfort that we could watch the things go past on test trips. So for me, it was einmal in Leben durch Wuppertal mit dem Ersatzbusverkehr fahren. The birthplace of Engels was also closed, so my birthday was almost a complete washout. And why did nobody tell Geoff about the elephant?

[@robnicklas68]

You know you're going to have a good rest of your day when you see that Geoff uploads.

[@franz3091]

Hello Geoff, as a person who was born and who is still living in Wuppertal I would like to thank you for your beautiful video about my hometown. Best wishes, Franz

[@tramcrazy]

I went past this on the ICE in the summer, it is so cool to see a video on it!! Amazing!!

[@SaturnCanuck]

Oh Geoff, I am so jealous! I have known about this since the early 1970s, as one of our family friends was born in Wuppertal and rode it since he was a kid. I have always wanted to ride this and this video was amazing. Love the sounds. Thanks.

[@timwayne2256]

Dangle Bahn... That's going to be my word of 2023. 😊

[@tubataxidriver1959]

I like the advertising hoardings on the underneath of the carriages.

[@cosmic-fortytwo]

Geoff you are awesome! I am totally going to check this out next time I visit Germany. Thanks!

[@NeoDerGrose]

The old stock had an open driver cap, just like many old trams. You could stand next to the driver an look out front. Have you ridden the more modern suspended monorails in Düsseldorf and Dortmund? They aren't as long and have even smaller trains, but they are fully automated (not even any staff on board). This means you can sit or stand up front, just like at the DLR, but without the track under you. Especially the one at Dortmund University is really fun to ride. Btw. you have to come to Tyrol one time. We have some nice rail stuff here. We have beautiful mountain railways, we ate building the worlds longest rail tunnel (take that Switzerland) and we probably have Europe's smallest and highest subway and I'm pretty sure we have Europe's highest bus stop.

[@anokata-kd8oc]

I missed you.. I'm living here as well. The swinging of the Schwebebahn is something you get used to, at least after one month.

[@Platformtickets]

There is another one in Chiba Japan (not too far from Tokyo).... hint hint Geoff - lots and lots and lots to make films about in Japan!

[@TravelsWithCharlie]

Love the video Geoff, can't believe you haven't been before! We loved it when we went last summer, it's truly unique. My favourite part was when above the road, racing the cars below

[@grahamwhitworth9454]

Not surprising, as he hasn't even been to the Isle of Wight!

[@TravelsWithCharlie]

🤣

[@MegaBreadvan]

Excellent video. Brings back memories for me as I rode on it with a German friend back in 1994. I now live near Paris, so know the RER well too.

[@EdgyNumber1]

Geoff! You've gotta try the one in Japan. It cuts through hills, follows the ground then suddenly ends up in the air.. almost rollercoaster-like.

[@creativedlc]

I am so glad you’ve finally been! I have done the Wuppertal loop at both ends though...

[@Marenthyu]

They've really upgraded the trains, haven't they? It's been ages since i've lived in the Ruhrpott, but they definitely didn't look that fancy when I rode it.

[@benespection]

They're all new cars - they started coming into service at the end of 2016.

[@owensmith7530]

@@benespectionAnd broke shortly after introduction.

[@norman32949]

Great to see the Schwebebahn again, I last rode it in the early 80's when stationed in W.Germany with the BAOR , loved it then still love it today. 👍

[@nitehawk86]

So excited when I saw the title of this video. For some reason I had never looked at a map, I hadn't realized that Wuppertal just outside of Düsseldorf. That does sound like a fantastic adventure.

[@alexdavis5766]

Thank you for showing the accessibility. I’ve always wanted to visit and as a wheelie, I’ve always wondered if I could

[@icecranberry2148]

Oh, you're in Germany! I also want to visit Wuppertal for that exact reason. I love how fascinated you were by the white line. Sometimes trains go just through the stations (don't stop at yours, tbf, that happens in the UK too) so it's best to stay behind at all times. Although the last time I heard an annoucement to please mind the gap was in London in October when a guy sounded frustrated "You, yes you, you know who you are, please stay behind the line." (To a woman not far from me)

[@merbertancriwalli8622]

I need to go to that railway. I remember having a book when I was a child (in the 70s) that had everything from Cugnot's wagon to the Wuppertal monorail (and obviously stuff that was going to happen in the future that didn't). Great to see it from a modern perspective

[@SiVlog1989]

I remember in Tim's video, he briefly talked about the Kaiserwagen, I hope I spelled it right. This was a special train built specifically for Kaiser Wilhelm II for the opening of the line in 1901. It has (correct to the timing of his upload) been preserved and can be hired out for a fee. Imagine something like that on the Tube, having a special train people can hire and ride on the active network

[@letsplaypetrus4802]

You spelled it correctly

[@k.r.baylor8825]

In Helsinki, Finland, there is a special tram that runs on the city network that is simply a "pub tram." Seating 24, one can get drinks on the SparaKoff and give oneself a cheap tour of the city. Here is the Wiki on this fabulous concept, which should be replicated on every subway and tram network in the world: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sp%C3%A5raKoff

[@SiVlog1989]

@@letsplaypetrus4802 danke schön :)

[@marksullivan6400]

Very interesting film. Many photos of the Schwebebahn appear in magazines and posters but there are no films like this one of what it is like to travel on it. The film at 10:30 onwards shows why elevated railways did not become common. If the structure is elevated along a street with houses on each side, people have trains outside their windows at 3-4 floors above ground. Not surprising that nearly all the elevated railways in the USA (notably in New York) were eventually dismantled. The 'Loop' on the 'EL' in Chicago's central area is a rare survivor, and its elevated sections do not run along residential streets.

[@PianoKwanMan]

I love how the platform is always on the same side. No guessing, or pushing through the mass of people to get from the left door to the right door

[@HenrysAdventures]

If Oberbarmen is like the Kennington Loop, there's also the equivalent on the Northern Line's long disused Embankment Loop at Zoo/Stadion. The loop took the turning trains down below the main line.

[@maniak1768]

Wuppertal is such an otherworldly city, a very very odd place to even exist. It's around a 45 minute-drive from my home, yet it feels like a steampunk parallel universe.

[@nomadMik]

I've been wanting to go to see this anyhow, but Geoff's video moved it up the list. I'll probably get there next time I'm in Europe. Awesome.

[@tristanjager6793]

Nice surprise to see you visited the town where I live now. The suspension railway is a regular ride for me now 😊

[@psprog]

Yeah I went there for the suspension railway when I was in Dusseldorf a few years ago. Amazing stuff, was super surprised to find out when it was originally built!