Turmmuseum Schwebebahn

The Dresden Suspension Railway (Schwebebahn Dresden) is a historic cable-driven suspended railway that connects the Loschwitz district with Oberloschwitz. One of Dresden's two mountain railways, it climbs more than 84 meters over a route of just under 274 meters. Technically, it is a monorail system based on the design of Eugen Langen, which opened in 1901 and has been a protected landmark since 1975. The railway is operated by the Dresden public transport company (Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe) and runs daily, with a ride time today of four and a half minutes. It is considered a technical monument and was nominated in 2007 as a Historic Landmark of Engineering.

Visitors experience a fascinating blend of historic technology and modern operation. The cars, in service since 1991, consist of steel car bodies with stepped compartments that can be entered only from the outside. They have no drive of their own and are instead pulled by a long haul rope driven by a hoisting machine in the upper station. The track rests on 32 so-called pendulum supports, which compensate for thermal movement, while a central anchor support forms the fixed point. The lower station at Körnerplatz recalls Flemish Renaissance style in its architecture, while the upper station is built in the style of the turn of the 20th century.

The upper station houses the machine room with the hoisting machine as well as the workshop. A special feature is the elevator on the outside of the building, which provides access to the station's roof as an observation platform. The route passes over Veilchenweg, where a height restriction applies because the railway crosses above it. The system underwent a major renovation in the 1980s, with helicopters used to install the girders. Extensive repairs to the support structure and a partial rebuilding of the upper station were also carried out in the 2000s. The Schwebebahn thus offers a unique glimpse into the history of engineering while still serving as a working means of transportation.