Ascensor da Glória

Funicular railway in Lisbon, Portugal

38°42′58″N 9°8′34″W / 38.71611°N 9.14278°W / 38.71611; -9.14278OwnerPortuguese RepublicManagementCarrisTechnical detailsMaterialSteelDesign and constructionArchitect(s)Raoul Mesnier du PonsardWebsitewww.carris.pt/en/ascensor-da-gloria/

Portuguese National Monument

TypeNon-movableCriteriaNational MonumentDesignated19 February 2002Reference no.IPA.00003986

The Glória Funicular (Portuguese: Ascensor da Glória), sometimes known as the Elevador da Glória (Glória Lift), is a funicular railway line in the civil parish of Santo António, in the municipality of Lisbon, Portugal. It connects the Pombaline downtown (at the Restauradores Square) with the Bairro Alto (Garden/ Overlook of São Pedro de Alcântara), operated by Carris.

The line conforms to the funicular principle, with two cars permanently attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable, which is looped over a pulley at the upper end of the track. Unusually, traction is provided by electric motors on the two cars, which are themselves powered through an overhead wire. The cable links the two cars together so that they ascend and descend simultaneously, each car acting as a counterweight for the other one.^{[citation needed]}

History

Video

In 1875, a concession authorized the Nova Companhia dos Ascensores Mecânicos de Lisboa to construct a tram along the Calçada da Glória.^[1] This concession was donated to engineer Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard in 1882.^[1]

The final lift was inaugurated on 24 October 1885, propelled by a water-powered counterweight system, and replaced with a steam-powered mechanism by 1886.^[1] The track included two cars with exterior wheels, and a central cable that was held by protective shoes. The interior was divided into two floors, with two bunks on the lower facing the interior and two on the superior back-to-back.^[1]

In 1912, the Nova Companhia dos Ascensores Mecânicos de Lisboa (NCAML) signed with the Municipal Council of Lisbon a contract that allowed them to electrify the lines.^[1] These repairs and installations occurred between 1914 and 1915, before returning to operation.^[1]

In 1926, the Nova Companhia dos Ascensores Mecânicos de Lisboa was dissolved, and the funicular became a property of the Companhia Carris.^[1] As part of the change, in 1927, a shelter was inaugurated for passengers, which was constructed along the Praça dos Restauradores, which was contested. It was demolished in 1934.^[1]

On 1 August 1995, Carris presented a proposal to classify the line as a heritage site, to which the IPPAR consultative council proposed the classification of the tram as a National Monument on 11 March 1997.^[1] A dispatch on 9 April 1997 ordered the approval by the Minister of Culture. The DRLisboa proposed the expansion of the classification a building on Travessa do Fala-Só and rectification of the law, which was approved on 7 January 2003 by IPPAR.^[1]

Architecture

The tram system is situated in an urban area, along an axis that slopes 17.7%, that extends from the Avenida da Liberdade to the Rua de São Pedro de Alcântara, crossing a built-up area of 19th century buildings, including the Palácio Foz and the Misericórdia of Lisboa.^[1]

The funicular includes two cars that operate parallel along two axes, that descend and climb simultaneously.^[1] The trams are inclined to allow patrons to maintain a level perspective, with seats oriented longitudinally.^[1]

References

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Vale, Teresa; Ferreira, Maria; Matias, Cecília (1999), SIPA (ed.), Ascensor da Glória (IPA.00003986/PT031106150376) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA –Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, archived from the original on 17 February 2016, retrieved 11 February 2016

Sources

O Occidente, vol. VIII, 1885
Capitão, Maria Amélia Motta (1974), Subsídios para a História dos Transportes Terrestres em Lisboa no Século XIX (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Larange, José (1993), O Ascensor da Glória. Lisboa (in Portuguese) (Série II, Ano III ed.), CCFL
Larange, José (1993), O Ascensor da Glória. Lisboa (in Portuguese), O Livro da Carris

Railway lines⁺ in Portugal
including trolleybuses, cable cars and elevators

IP
Iberian-gauge
railwaysᴮ^#

Wyes	Agualva Águas de Moura Bombel Ermidas Funcheira Nine† Norte Setil Poceirão São Gemil Sete Rios Tunes† Verride Xabregas

IP
metre-gauge
railways¹^#

Linha do Douro branch lines	Ave/Basto‡† Côa‡† Corgo† Lamego‡† Sabor† Tâmega† Tua†‡ Metro de Mirandela†° Transversal do Minho‡† Chacim‡† Valpaços‡† Vinhais‡† Crestuma‡†
Porto-Minho network	Alto Minho‡† Braga-Chaves‡† Braga-Guimarães‡† Guimarães↑ Lima‡†° Matosinhos† Póvoa e Famalicão↑ São Pedro da Cova‡† Litoral do Minho‡† Lanhoso‡† Transversal do Minho‡† Famalicão‡† Cávado‡†
Vouga/Viseu network	Aveiro Aveiro-Mar† Dão† Vouga
Other	Chamusca‡† Penafiel† Avis‡† Cacilhas‡† Pedreiras de Caxias†

Other
heavy-rail
lines^#

High-speed linesⁱ	Aveiro-Salamancaⁱ‡† Évora-Faro-Huelvaⁱ‡† Lisboa-Madridⁱ‡† Lisboa-Portoⁱ‡† Porto-Vigoⁱ‡†
Isolated port railways	Horta²†° Lena¹⁶†° Monges⁶†° Pego do Altar⁶†° Pejão⁶†° Ponta Delgada²†° Pomarão¹†° Funchal¹†° Aljustrel (mines)³†° Alfeite† São Pedro da Cova mine† Leixões (port)† Panasqueira† Lousal†

Tourist, urban,
industrial and
military lines

Metros

Lisbon Metroⁱ	Blue Yellow Green Red
Porto Metroⁱ	A B C D E F G‡

Trams

Braga⁹†
Coimbra¹†
Faro¹‡†
Lisbon⁹
Portoⁱ
Sintra¹††

Trolleybuses

Amadora‡
Braga†
Coimbra
Porto†

Beach railways

Caparica⁶
Barril⁶

Other mechanical
non-electric systems

Larmanjat⁴⁺†
Braga⁹↑
Póvoa de Varzim†
Mira†
Torres Novas†
Pinhal de Leiria†
Escola de Engenharia in Tancos†
Ponta Delgada a Furnas e RibeirA Grande‡†
Palácio de Cristal†

Horsecars

Aveiro†
Braçal†
Braga⁹↑
Coimbra↑
Linha do Corgo↑
Elvas†
Figueira da Foz†
Funchal⁶†
Lisbon↑
Portoⁱ↑
Póvoa de Varzim↑
S. Jacinto†
S. Pedro Muel†
Torreira†
Campo Entrincheirado de Lisboa†
Fort of Trafaria†
Fort of São Julião da Barra†
Polígono de Tancos†
Funchal - Câmara Lobos‡†
São Martinho de Porto†
Fábrica de Pólvora†
Companhia das Lezírias†
São Vicente - Santana‡†

Funiculars

Bica⁹
Bom Jesusⁱ
Castelo Branco‡
Freiras†
Glória⁹
Guindais††
Lavra⁹
Nazaré
Ourém‡
Santa Luzia††
Sintra‡†
Tomar‡†
Viseu

Cable cars and
rack railways
(including aerial lifts
and people movers)

Surface	Estrela↑ Graça↑ Monte¹†‡ S. J. Malta‡ São Sebastião† SATUOeiras†
Gondola lifts	Achadas da Cruz Aroeira‡† Botânico Cabo Girão Cântaro Covão Expo Fajã dos Padres Funchal-Monte Gaia Garajau Lagoa Penha Rocha do Navio Sete Fontes‡ Skiparque Torre Viriato Zoo