Bergamo: Funicolare Città Alta

[Adlington]

Technical question about that funicular: carriages have on the roof something closely resembling a pantograph. It touches one of the two overhead wires. What it it? Obviously it isn't a power supply to the motor in the carriage (there isn't any).

 

[stuu]

Lighting/saloon power supply I would have thought. Which makes me wonder what other funiculars do for that, presumably batteries?

 

[JRT]

I have been on this but can't remember seeing it, however I do remember seeing something similar on the funicular in Lugano town centre? At the time I was thinking it was a telephone wire for communication but as you say more likely saloon lighting supply

 

[Adlington]

At the time I was thinking it was a telephone wire for communication

This was my first thought too, based on the original communication system for the Great Orme Tramway. But then the Bergamo funicular overhead wires/cables and the pantograph are grossly over-engineered for telephone/telegraph purposes.

 

[stuu]

This photo on Wikipedia shows the wiring more clearly, given the use of two wires and the insulators I would have thought it must be electrical supply