New rope for the Gotschnabahn cable car

At the Gotschnabahn valley station in Klosters, a remarkable sight awaits: a massive “bobbin” (reel) holding the new track rope for the Gotschnabahn cable car. The majority of the rope has already been unwound and is on its way up the mountain. Ingeniously, the old rope – connected to the new one using a “king connector” – now plays the crucial role of pulling the latter upwards. To ensure the heavy rope doesn’t touch the ground on its mountain climb, it is fastened to the second suspension rope (suspension rope B) using auxiliary connectors.

“The work involved in the rope hoist, including preparation and follow-up, is highly time-consuming and spans approximately two months,” explains Tschibi (Andrea Margadant), Gotschna’s technical manager. “Initially, we had to securely fasten the 44-ton reel holding the delivered rope at the bottom station in Klosters. Subsequently, the actual rope hoisting process commenced, which remarkably only takes three days to complete.”

Approximately 513 meters higher up, just below the Gotschnaboden mountain station, we encounter the opposite end of the new rope. The king connector, which links the old and new ropes, is clearly visible. The impressive process of pulling up the 2,180-meter-long rope has been underway for three days already. At this moment, only a few meters remain until it reaches the mountain station.

The process of pulling up the rope section by section, affectionately known as “milking,” involves using a specialised trolley called the milking machine. This small, lightweight trolley is attached to rope A. High above – 55 metres from the ground – two workers confidently resume their duties after a snack break, securely harnessed for safety. They manoeuvre the milking machine up to the last support, carefully fastening the rope with a clamp before pulling it up slightly. The trolley shuttles back and forth an impressive 28 times over several days until the rope finally reaches its destination at the top station. The task demands considerable time and attention, as the heavy rope must never be released. The steel rope weighs a substantial 18.1 kilograms per metre.

Despite nearing the completion of the rope change, there’s still a lot to be done. The new rope is pulled onto a large reel, known as the Boller, situated at the top station, and firmly secured there. For this crucial final pull, a nine-ton pulley block is used. Notably, the massive reel accommodates 200 meters of extra rope, serving a vital purpose every 12 years. The reserve becomes essential when the rope is moved 20 metres downhill during regular maintenance. This strategic relocation allows for thorough inspections and relief of heavily loaded areas. In the coming spring, this process will be carried out on the other three track ropes, which is set to be completed before the summer season. The teams from Davos Klosters Mountains and Inauen-Schätti AG are diligently working on the rope hoist and conducting meticulous inspections to guarantee safe and reliable cable car operations.

We continue to follow the rope to the top station, and as we arrive behind the station building, we are able to witness the process of removing the old rope. The rope is carefully rolled up from the opposite side and expertly cut off using a flame cutter. These segmented wire rolls, each weighing three tons, are now ready for transport. A truck takes the old rope, roll by roll, across bumpy terrain back down to the valley, where it will be properly disposed of. Surprisingly, the rope’s tenure has come to an end after 36 years – much sooner than expected. Typically, a suspension rope of this kind has a lifespan of 70 to 80 years. However, unforeseen damage detected on March 3 of this year forced the immediate suspension of all Gotschnabahn cable car operations. Regrettably, the suspension rope was beyond repair, and a new one had to be ordered from the reputable company Fatzer.

We are looking forward to your visit to the Parsenn Klosters area this summer. Whether you prefer mountain biking, climbing peaks or enjoying the mountain spring on the panorama trail: The Gotschnabahn cable car promises a safe and swift journey up the mountain to a breathtaking altitude of 2,285 meters above sea level.

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