Inclined Plane - Covasna, Transilvania

Inclined Plane - Covasna - details and images

Technical monument unique in Europe, situated in Covasna, Covasna town in Fairy Valley area. Şiclăul hoists or as called by locals, was built at the initiative of David Horn by engineer Emil Lux in 1886.

The objective was completed by Baron Groedel. This inclined plane used to carry the force of gravity wagons loaded with wood on a slope without using other energy sources. Although it works in 1889, official inauguration took place in 1890. Exceptional technical layout of the monument was presented at the Universal Exhibition in 1896.

Technical data of the plan are: level difference between stations: 327 m, length: 1236 m, track: 1450 mm, cable diameter 28 mm wheel. Its components have been ordered from Austrian company Obach.

The operating principle is: use two platforms tilted plane by 3 feet wide and 6 feet long that were tied to each other via a cable 28 mm thick and a complex pulley system operated from the control cabin of the upper inclined plane. When the platform was located above a car full of wood platform was placed below an empty wagon. Gravity wagon full force to make him pull up on the empty platform below. In the mid-plane the two platforms is avoided, there is a bifurcation of the tracks here. The whole process was controlled from the cabin of the plane breaking the top tilted.

The volume of timber transported by plane tilted back when running at full capacity approaching 30 cars of 10 cubic meters. Transport persons are occasionally at the beginning when conditions for the movement of Covasna and Order were very heavy. But in the last period of its operation to transport people inclined plane was strictly forbidden.

At the lower end of the plan were descended from the carriages and platforms were made to train hauled by steam locomotives were to Covasna station where they were transferred to standard gauge railway. At the upper end of the timber is still on the railway narrow road, this time in command. And here there Mocăniţă (steam locomotives) that brought all the wood in the upper basin of the river Basque. The narrow gauge railways that extend for tens of kilometers on each river and even passing over the mountain valley Goru, until Naruja where there is a smaller version of the inclined plane.

On opening it was the most important railroad system in the Carpathians narrow uniting three major components: the horse-drawn wagons, steam locomotives and inclined plane. Doboraturi catastrofalele in 1995 with trees in the Covasna inclined plane was affected but not enough to be destroyed. On May 17, 1997 order from the top flight of the inclined plane was destroyed in a fire that also included the surrounding forest. Due to the intervention and help those who have worked on inclined plane cabin was rebuilt, and restored plane was inclined to continue operating until 1999 when due to the reduction of the exploitation of timber, pitched the plan was passed in conservation.

Doborâturile 1995 greatly affected the slope and then in mysterious circumstances on May 17, 1997 cabin is consumed by a fire command. Woodworking enterprise Târgu Secuiesc (SETTPL) owner at the time an inclined plane rebuilt in a short time and put back into service.

But by reducing the holdings because doborâturilor Inclined Plane runs out of work and is subject to conservation passed in 1999.
Plane tilted at work, can be visited and on the railway Covasna - Subşiclău (inclined plane) occasionally when there is demand, a move Mocăniţă (steam engine) that is used for recreation (walking tourists).

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