Giant Wheel Which is Part of the Pulley System of the Funicular at Istanbul
I was done visiting the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul and I thought that it was time for me to head back to the hotel to rest before I get dinner. It turns out that there is a funicular to ferry passengers to the top of the hill, which is conveniently where I need to go back to. The funicular is mostly underground so there was little to see here which is a shame since it is always interesting to see the rest of the world rotated at an angle relative to your point of view. The cars were surprisingly modern and very comfortable. The trip took less than three minutes but there is more after that.
Funicular Approaching the Station
The Taksim Funicular Station is the main station which operates the funicular. Here you can see the pulley which controls the two cars which go up and down the hill. The wheel is large but it is kept behind glass walls so people won’t accidentally lose an arm because of a need for a selfie. It was fascinating to see the pulley in operation. At the same time, it makes your realize how simple this thing actually is. The two cars are counterbalanced and the pulley here basically pulls on the cable letting one car climb up the hill and the other go down.
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